INDIANAPOLIS — The Office of Public Health and Safety (OPHS) recently announced plans to provide non-congregate housing and health services to Indianapolis residents experiencing homelessness to address the gap left by the temporary health-related closure of the Reuben Engagement Center (REC). The REC, which provides a safe, secure place to stay and supportive services for people experiencing homelessness who are also experiencing substance abuse issues, has been closed since March due to the facility providing congregate housing, which makes spacing for social distancing challenging and inadequate ventilation to protect staff and clients during the COVID-19 pandemic. The City has established partnerships with the Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center (SEMHC), Coalition for Homelessness Intervention & Prevention (CHIP), and Indianapolis Continuum of Care (Indy CoC) to continue to offer REC services in a new setting.
Using funds allocated by the City-County Council, the City and its partners have already set up a non-congregate hotel housing project to help fill a gap that has been created by social distancing limitations in many congregate settings. The REC’s staff will soon relocate to one of these hotel facilities, enabling them to resume their vital withdrawal-management services in a manner that is consistent with COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
REC staff is now accepting referrals for the Center’s services, which will be provided on-site to clients housed in individual hotel rooms. The REC has resumed its previous referral and intake process, and will accept referrals of clients through hospital emergency departments, inpatient health care providers, community organizations, shelters that serve homeless neighbors, and other primary care settings. SEMHC, which employs the REC’s staff members, has tailored its service model to ensure that the Center’s clients receive care that fits their needs and conforms to the unique requirements of the hotel setting.
The City is also taking necessary steps to make the REC’s new home at the newly constructed Assessment and Intervention Center at the Community Justice Campus safe for clients and staff when it opens its doors later in 2020.