Senator Messmer on Helping Homeless Hoosiers

Indiana - Many Hoosiers continue to struggle with homelessness. On any given night, more than 5,000 people in Indiana have no place to call home. While 85% of them do end up finding shelter, this leaves 15% without a roof over their head.

To further close this gap and help homeless Hoosiers get back on their feet, I supported Senate Enrolled Act 218 this session. This new law will allow township trustees to temporarily place a homeless individual in a county home or provide temporary township assistance.

SEA 218 also requires township trustees to collaborate and prepare a list of public and private resources available to the homeless population. This information will be distributed to the public and be published on the county's website. This will help facilitate a healthy relationship between local governments and community shelters, foodbanks and addiction recovery centers. 

Connecting local residents with helpful resources is a fundamental service provided by township trustees. SEA 218 improves upon the current role of township trustees, increasing their resources and enabling them to better serve their neighbors.  

In addition, SEA 218 establishes a low-barrier homeless task force composed of nonprofit and business leaders, the governor and the mayor of Indianapolis. This committee will investigate the need for a low-barrier homeless shelter in Indianapolis. Low-barrier shelters typically have limited entry requirements, providing a welcoming and safe place for those who have no other option.

Any number of misfortunes, including a lack of affordable housing, unemployment, domestic violence, mental illness and substance abuse, can cause homelessness. We are blessed to have a number of wonderful shelters, foodbanks, churches and countless other organizations in our community that help those in need. I commend them for the service and their impact. By working together, we can assist those without a place to call home