The city’s progress in building supportive housing units has not kept up with the rising numbers of residents experiencing homelessness.
An article in Mirror Indy describes how the city and local organizations in Indianapolis are working to build supportive housing facilities that offer wraparound services to unhoused residents that can help them transition into more stable housing. “Despite success with supportive housing projects that bring people out of homelessness and provide a safe place to work through issues, Indianapolis fell short of an ambitious goal set by stakeholders six years ago.”
The goal was to end homelessness longer than 30 days by 2023. But in January 2024, the number of people experiencing homelessness counted in the city stood at 1,701. Meanwhile, it can take up to 90 days for housing voucher recipients to access housing. The city is maintaining its efforts to build supportive housing while also working with landlords to make more existing housing units available to people using vouchers.
The city is attempting to take a ‘Housing First’ approach, a strategy that prioritizes getting people into housing as soon as possible while providing access to supportive services. “There’s local evidence that shows permanent supportive housing works. Leaders at DMD, CHIP, and Horizon House all said retention rates are higher than the national average — above 90 percent.”
Officials say complicated funding streams and a “tough environment to do development” slowed the city’s progress. The local housing authority is also in the process of being reorganized “after years of mismanagement and dysfunction.”
FULL STORY: Ending homelessness: Indianapolis’s struggle to build more supportive housing
A Decade of Progress on Homelessness in Milwaukee County
Unlike most U.S. communities, Milwaukee County has managed to make significant progress toward assisting unhoused residents through a Housing First approach.
Milwaukee Homelessness Dropped in 2024
Bucking national trends, Milwaukee reduced homelessness in 2024 through Housing First policies and supportive services, but local advocates warn high housing costs will likely lead to an increase in the unhoused population in the coming year.
More Cities, States Criminalizing Homelessness
As the number of unhoused Americans grows, some jurisdictions are going against the advice of advocates and imposing harsh penalties for sleeping in public spaces.
Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?
Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?
Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
Updating LA’s Tree Rules Could Bring More Shade to Underserved Neighborhoods
A new USC study finds that relaxing Los Angeles’ outdated tree planting guidelines could significantly expand urban tree canopy and reduce shade disparities in lower-income neighborhoods, though infrastructure investments are also needed.
California's Canal Solar Projects Aim to Conserve Resources and Expand Clean Energy
California’s Project Nexus has begun generating electricity from solar panels installed over irrigation canals, with researchers and state agencies exploring statewide expansion to conserve water and boost clean energy production.
HHS Staff Cuts Gut Energy Assistance Program
The full staff of a federal program that distributes heating and cooling assistance for low-income families was laid off, jeopardizing the program’s operations.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
City of Moreno Valley
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland