It sounds simple, but collaboration and transparency are the biggest barriers to success. If all sectors aren't working in unison, this won't work.

The homeless services world is universally siloed and doesn't collaborate because the system forces them to compete rather than collaborate. As Don mentioned, we have to change the system that promotes competition rather than collaboration. Aaron Spiegel

No, as we mentioned in the conversation we can't rely on vouchers for the time being. We're hopeful IHA becomes functional and that the federal government doesn't reduce voucher support any more than it already has. Aaron Spiegel

Yes, indirectly! Family Promise is already doing what we're trying to mirror for the whole city so in a way we're learning from them!

Family Promise is a great organization and doing really great work to provide safe sheltering, referrals to housing, and aftercare for families. They have a wonderful apartment/shelter model (i.e. short-term master leasing). They are a critical part of the homeless response system serving families.

Family Promise does a fantastic job with families and if we're lucky, we'll be able to replicate what they do for everyone. Aaron Spiegel

We'd love to bring the film to government officials. The one attempt so far was to city/county council and only 2 council members showed up. Aaron Spiegel

Each participant gets a case manager whose job is to connect them with the services they identify they need. This includes all you've cited plus access to any benefits they might be eligible for. Aaron Spiegel

That is absolutely right, and the louder and more consistent your voices are that you WANT to invest in these solutions, the more that reinforces that housing and not jail is the right answer. Yes, the Mayor does seem to understand this. We need to continue to push for the investment to show it. Chelsea Harring-Cozi

We're setting up the ability to provide move-in kits - beds, furniture, bedding, kitchen items, etc. We'll need a volunteer base to gather and distribute these as people move into housing. Aaron Spiegel

The media is working with us but not always as much as we would like.

We are working on that now and just announced today that we will be taking Streets to Home to Leonard Street. The Office of Public Health and Safety has given us more time and space to do just that. Engaging the media today and need to continue to partner with the media to show this work and the impact so that we can challenge misinformation and misleading narratives. Chelsea Harring-Cozi

Of course! Please do what you can. Aaron Spiegel

In my opinion, this is where the faith-based community must continue to play a part. We must speak truth to power. Charity without justice is sentiment, but charity with justice is transformation. Pastor David Greene

Yes, I believe there is and will be so long as we all stay committed and show outcomes! Chelsea Harring-Cozi

Master leasing is a big part of the solution which is being worked on by the city. Chelsea Harring-Cozi

There is a landing page on CHIP's website. This will continue to be built out and a place to learn more, get information, and see progress. https://www.chipindy.org/streetstohomeindy/ Chelsea Harring-Cozi

Yes, and once we have the chronic homeless population housed we can focus the dollars on prevention. Aaron Spiegel

Indiana is one of the most landlord-friendly states in the country and number 1 in the midwest. While there is a tenants bill of rights, it's unenforceable for tenants. Indiana is one of only 6 states where a tenant can't leverage their rent to enforce a lease. Evictions are a direct pipeline to homelessness and the fastest growing homeless population is families, directly related to the most represented demographic in eviction court - young, Black, women with children.

If we can keep people housed we don't have to worry about them losing their housing. Aaron Spiegel

Services are dictated by the clients. If they want educational resources, we make sure we connect them with those resources. Aaron Spiegel

Nothing, to my knowledge. It's an issue. Rents have increased almost 30% over the last few years. People are absolutely being priced out of housing. Aaron Spiegel

As a result of advocacy work, the city has reversed course. All of these people are going to be part of the Streets to Home Initiative. They will be housed in the next 4 to 6 weeks. Chelsea Harring-Cozi

In addition to rental assistance, every household is assigned a housing case manager who will be walking alongside the person to work on housing stabilization, resource connection and coordination, connection with health care, and longer-term stability. Aaron Spiegel

Connect with your McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act folks in school systems and make sure they're getting what they need! Aaron Spiegel

Preach it! If we don't talk about the problem AND the solution, no one knows. Aaron Spiegel

Self-support is a natural outcome of Housing First. We see in other cities that once an individual gets secure, stable housing and the services they need (which include any eligible benefits), they start contributing. If they have an income, they're required to spend up to 30% towards their housing. Once settled, many folks go back to work. Aaron Spiegel

We're working on it! At the legislative level, 2025 was the 4th session to have rent escrow proposed. Unfortunately, it's the 4th time it didn't get a hearing.

At the local level, eviction court watching is changing judge behavior. While they still have to follow Indiana law, they have discretion in how they follow it. Along with programs like Tenant Advocacy Program (TAP) and Eviction Diversion Initiative (EDI), we see slightly better outcomes.

The most important thing we can do is public education. More people need to understand the unfair tenant/landlord dynamic in Indiana and advocate for change. Aaron Spiegel

The plan is a total of 1,400 people housed by 2028, starting with the chronically unhoused, then those with long stays in shelters, families, domestic abuse victims, etc. This can't be a one-and-done. Once people are housed with services we have to make sure they are able to stay securely housed. Aaron Spiegel

We put out a bulletin insert and you'll find here https://www.indymultifaith.org/streets-to-home-indy (box with resources). We're working on more and will make those available. If you filled out the form (https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/BqiTkfA9V2xizhKKrNWzyg) and designated a point person we'll connect with them directly. Aaron Spiegel

Funding for the first phase is coming from three areas: $2.7 million City of Indianapolis, $2.7 million from the Indianapolis Foundation Housing to Recovery Fund, and the last $2.7 million actively being fundraised within the faith, philanthropic, and corporate communities. Aaron Spiegel

There is a serious shortage, and for STHI we've eliminated one of the primary barriers which is voucher subsidized housing. The limited inventory is exacerbated by the number of landlords who are unwilling to participate in subsidy programs. Since this is private money, landlords have no disincentive to participate and early contacts with landlords has affirmed this. Aaron Spiegel