Democratic members of the Indianapolis City-County Council announced a new initiative that will bring vacant properties and empty lots back to life and provide rent-free homes for public safety officers, including IMPD officers and sheriff’s deputies.
The proposal will be introduced at the July 14 meeting of the City-County Council.
Councilor John Barth said, “Blighted homes and empty lots are more than an eyesore that decrease property values. They attract vandalism and other crime that can affect the entire neighborhood. What better resident of a rehabbed house in a high-crime area than an IMPD officer or a sheriff’s deputy whose presence will strengthen a neighborhood.”
With Indianapolis’ current murder count at 75, the city has the highest murder rate at this point of the year dating back to 2008. At the current pace, the murder count is projected to hit 162, or 19.19 deaths per 100,000 people. This initiative is aimed at reducing crime and stabilizing neighborhoods by encouraging IMPD officers and sheriff’s deputies to live in redeveloped or newly constructed houses on vacant lots in high crime areas, where they can reside for two years rent-free.
Council President Maggie Lewis said, “Indianapolis neighborhoods have suffered far too long from the ongoing violent crime wave. This proposal will be the cornerstone of the council’s plan to ensure IMPD and sheriff resources are where they are needed most – close to home.”
The program – called “Safe Neighborhoods Now!” – will begin as a pilot to test the effectiveness of the concept. The first pilot round of housing will be developed in partnership with the Mapleton-Fall Creek Community Development Corp. (MFCCDC) in the Mapleton-Fall Creek neighborhood. The program will construct or rehab up to five houses in high-crime areas of the city, partnering with different community development corps., using $1 million in funds repurposed from Rebuild Indy.
At the end of an officer’s Safe Neighborhoods Now! two-year residency, the officer will be offered the opportunity to buy the house. This will create a permanent public safety presence in the neighborhood and put the house back on the property tax rolls.
Marion County Sheriff John Layton said, “I support community policing, neighborhood preservation, and better compensation for our law enforcement officers. Thus, the council’s proposal seems to be a win-win-win situation. Therefore, I look forward to working with the council and other public safety officials, throughout the legislative process.”
