Indianapolis will open a low barrier homeless shelter in 2027, following two years of construction
The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority approved a $20 million grant to cover the costs of building and operating a new, low barrier homeless shelter in Indianapolis. Following a recommendation from the Low Barrier Homeless Shelter Task Force, the City of Indianapolis’s Office of Public Health and Safety will administer the grant and act as owner for the shelter.
“This project will fill gaps in the local system, make it easier for homeless individuals to find shelter and establish necessary supportive services in the community,” Governor Eric Holcomb said in a statement. “I commend the Low Barrier Homeless Shelter Task Force for their tireless efforts in bringing this to fruition for Hoosiers experiencing homelessness.”
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The Low Barrier Homeless Shelter Task Force was established by Indiana Code 5-20-10 and was responsible for determining the development and operational costs for a “low barrier homeless shelter in a consolidated city,” according to a press release. The task force met seven times throughout 2022 before submitting its final report to the governor and legislative council in December 2022.
A $20 million line item for the program was included in the state’s biennial budget, which was passed in 2023. The total proposed developmental cost for the shelter is $32 million — $20 million of which will be covered by the grant while the remaining $12 million will be funded by the city.
The proposed shelter will be 63,000 sq. ft, providing a non-congregate, low-barrier shelter operated by Aspire Indiana Health on the third and fourth floors. The shelter itself will feature 20 family pods with four beds each, 10 couple pods with two beds each and 50 single pods with one bed each for a total of 150 beds.
The first floor will be home to a day center operated by Horizon House, as well as a reception area, food pantry and cafeteria, while the second floor will house administrative offices, a housing navigation center and an employment lab. Horizon House, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, the Marion County Public Health Department, HomeNow Indy and other homeless and health service providers will also have offices on the second floor.
Construction of the shelter is estimated to begin this fall and finish by late 2026, with the shelter’s official opening slated for early 2027.
The new shelter will provide 24/7 access at no cost to clients, in compliance with the National Alliance to End Homelessness’ definition of a low barrier shelter.
“This proposed homeless shelter will fill a critical gap in Indianapolis by ensuring immediate and easy access to those in need,” Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development, said in a statement. “By lowering barriers to entry and remaining open around the clock, this shelter can uplift one of the city’s most vulnerable populations.”
For more information about the shelter or the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, visit in.gov/ihcda.
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.
Chloe McGowan is the Arts & Culture Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Columbus, OH, Chloe has a bachelor's in journalism from The Ohio State University. She is a former IndyStar Pulliam Fellow, and has previously worked for Indy Maven, The Lantern, and CityScene Media Group. In her free time, Chloe enjoys live theatre, reading, baking and keeping her plants alive.
