House passes bipartisan bill providing support to homeless population

INDIANAPOLIS – State Representative Justin Moed (D-Indianapolis) today applauded the passage of House Bill 1095, establishing a task force to create the city’s first low barrier homeless shelter. Moed authored the bill to provide more support for those experiencing homelessness in Indianapolis.

The task force will be co-chaired by the Governor and Mayor, and will bring together Indianapolis community leaders in both nonprofit and business sectors. Low barrier shelters give homeless Hoosiers a warm place to stay 24 hours a day, seven days a week without the requirements of other shelters. They also connect people to employment, treatment and other critical wrap-around services. 

Additionally, the bill gives local law enforcement the tools to better address trespassing, keeping more people safe from the dangers of uninhabitable buildings. 

“I am pleased to see our chamber come together to provide vital support to our homeless neighbors,” Moed said. “For too long, these people in our communities have been overlooked and their struggles ignored. This task force is the first step in rectifying the relationship between those experiencing homelessness and their community. 

“The COVID-19 pandemic continues to exacerbate the struggles faced by our homeless population. A safe place to stay is more important now than ever. By coming together as a community, we can begin to work toward solutions that aid our homeless population, rather than pushing them away.” 

The 2020 point-in-time count had 1,588 individuals experiencing homelessness on a given night in Indianapolis. The PIT count is the best approximate snapshot due to the inherent fluidity of the population.

The bill passed 92-2, and now heads to the Senate for further consideration.