Indy's winter contingency plan has expanded shelter space but a late start

Indianapolis' winter contingency plans are laid out every year to help people without a home during the coldest months of the year. This year's plan didn't go into effect until December 1. That decreased shelter availability during the city's first serious cold snap in November.

This is the second year the city has taken the lead to manage additional shelter space over the winter. Wheeler Mission previously coordinated most plans for added winter shelter space.

The city said this year's changes came after a review of several other peer city plans, including from Kansas City, Pittsburg, and Cleveland.

"We were also looking at the climate change that’s occurring, and we know that November is becoming a warmer month," said Office of Health and Public Safety Director Andrew Merkley.

Merkley said data from Wheeler Mission reaffirms the delayed start. It shows the months of December and January experience an increase in requests for overflow shelter from individuals and families.

Here's what the 2025-26 plan includes this year.

Extreme temperature shelter

This year’s plan includes a weather activated shelter set up for single men who need to get out of the extreme cold. The city will follow temperature guidelines to activate the overflow shelter. It will open from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. when temperatures meet a certain criteria, including 25 degrees or lower.

The city will work with Aspire Health to run the overflow shelter at the West Morris St. Methodist Church. It can house up to 70 men per night.

The space was first activated on Monday, Dec. 1, as a winter storm moved through central Indiana. It has been activated numerous nights since then as thresholds were met.

Families & women's shelter

This year the city set up a new designated space for the Families with Children and Single Women’s overflow shelter.

For several weeks the city has worked to convert an empty warehouse on the west side into a temporary home for up to 180 people — 40 pods with four beds each, and 20 beds for single women. The shelter will be open 24/7.

With pods for families and individuals, the building also includes a lounge and child play area, a cafeteria, an electronic charging station, and indoor shower trailers.

Aspire will also manage this facility and help connect residents with resources.

“The Aspire mobile clinic will be here twice a week to provide physical health care services,” Merkley said.

He said in recent years there’s been an increased number of families experiencing homelessness.

"So only time will tell how many families we have calling us and needing this service," Merkley said. "We will be triaging families to this facility who are literally living outside or in places not meant for human habitation."

Last year the city housed people in the empty School 68 on Indianapolis’ east side. The facility received criticism that it was not properly equipped — i was only able to house up to 40 families, and providers said there was a waitlist.
 

Other shelter space and warming stations

The Assessment and Intervention Center will also be used to house people. The facility on the campus of the Community Justice Center on Indianapolis’ east side was primarily built for people in crisis and who may have involvement in the criminal justice system with mental health or substance abuse issues. 

Wheeler Mission will continue to provide shelter for men and women at its locations. The organization announced in 2024 that it would not be able to continue to provide overflow shelter space because of limited capacity

Horizon House and Outreach Inc., an organization that serves youth and young adults, will offer day-center services during the day with extended hours during extreme cold weather.

Indy Parks Family Center locations will be open during regular hours for people to warm up. In past years the city also opened parks locations after hours, as needed, as designated warming centers.

Libraries are also a place that people experiencing homelessness often go to when it’s cold outside. These spaces only have open hours during the daytime, with no overnight options.

Groups working to fill the gaps

Even with its increased efforts, the city could still struggle to meet demand.

The Point in Time Count taken every January aims to track the number of unhoused persons. In Indianapolis 1,815 people were reported to be experiencing homelessness in 2025. That’s up from the previous year, when about 1,700 people were counted. In many urban areas, including Indianapolis, the number of people experiencing homelessness is up since the pandemic. 

The city's current plan for the winter has a capacity of less than 700 beds. 

“That’s a pretty big gap,” said Pastor Aaron Hobbs of Broadway United Methodist. 

Hobbs notes that while some will seek temporary shelter with friends or family, the church in partnership with Allies for Humanity and Sanctuary City will provide additional space. 

“The city has kind of asked congregations and community members and volunteers to supplement their efforts to care for unhoused neighbors here in Indianapolis,” Hobbs said.

United Methodist appears to be the only group currently assisting in the city’s winter plan. But WFYI received conflicting information about whether or not that partnership was moving forward. 

The Coalition for Homeless Intervention and Prevention, or CHIP, coordinates assistance and programs for people experiencing homelessness in Indianapolis. CHIP offers a handbook of help that provides comprehensive information on services available to anyone at risk of homelessness. 

Indianapolis also recently broke ground on the city’s first low-barrier shelter, or housing hub. The facility will provide shelter without strict requirements and connect people with other services

Contact WFYI All Things Considered newscaster and reporter Samantha Horton at shorton@wfyi.org or on Signal at SamHorton.05

Contact WFYI Managing City Editor Jill Sheridan at jsheridan@wfyi.org