Michael Hurst's Page

Visit http://www.indianahousingnow.org or call toll free 1-877-428-8844 if you are looking for affordable housing or if you are assisting someone in finding affordable housing.

Visit http://www.chipindy.org/WishList/AgencyWishList.asp to access the Community Wish List. The Community Wish List is an online search tool that links homeless service providers with donations and volunteers. You can end homelessness in Indianapolis simply by donating to and volunteering with agencies that work with people experiencing homelessness to overcome their challenges and to rebuild their lives. The Community Wish List will connect you with organizations that are changing lives every day.

Visit http://www.endhomelessnessindy.org to view stories and videos of people who are experiencing homelessness, were formerly homeless, or who are helping to end or prevent homelessness in your community.

Visit http://www.chipindy.org/facts.aspx to download a copy of the 2009 Homeless Count Report. Homelessness does not have just one face. Homelessness affects entire familes, women, children, mentally and physically disabled, veterans, and many more of our neighbors. On January 29, 2009, in collaboration with the Center for Health Policy at IUPUI, local homeless programs and organizations, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, and volunteers, CHIP conducted a point-in-time homeless street and shelter count. The count found 1,454 homeless individuals staying on the street and in emergency shelters. This is 70 fewer than were counted in 2008. That modest decrease in the total number of people experiencing homelessness is eclisped by a significant increase in homeless families. The number of homeless families jumped by 78%, from 120 families in 2008, to 213 families in 2009. Indeed, 605 of the 1,454 individuals counted were members of a homeless family. Among the total number of people experiencing homelessness, 25% of the individuals counted were employed while they were homeless (slightly up from 2008), and 14% were in school (down from 2008). Loss of employment was the most often reported cause for homelessness, and lack of available jobs and disability/heath issues were the most often reported reasons explaining why people were unemployed and or not in school. Many were not receiving aid or all of the aid for which they were likely eligible. Twenty-five percent of the individuals counted had been released within the last year from a state institution such as a prison, hospital or other facility following a stay of at least one week.
Based on this most recent count, it is estimated that between 4,300 and 7,300 individuals in Marion County experience homelessness during the course of a year. Additional counts will be conducted in July 2009 and January 2010, and area service providers anticipate a significant increase in homelessness due to our economic downturn and a recent increase in people seeking services and support. Let these facts be your call to action.