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A program that distributed more than $100 million in rental assistance in Indianapolis closes for now.
The federal funds that fueled Indy Rents for more than two years are gone. Tens of thousands of households benefited from the program that was set up when the pandemic first hit.
The city would like to create a permanent program, said Deputy Mayor of Community Development Jeff Bennett.
“Figuring out what a permanent program looks like is going to be really important,” Bennett said.
The city and nonprofit Prosperity Indiana currently have a grant to study the matter. Indianapolis has one of the highest eviction rates in the county.
Attempts to create more tenant assistance support in Indianapolis are ongoing.
Bennett says the study of a permanent rental assistance program seeks to focus on housing solutions.
“How much rental assistance do we need over the course of the year if we’re doing eviction prevention? What do the numbers look like? Everything from application process to eligibility standards to level of funding necessary to keep the program going,” Bennett said, “We’re going to know that.”
That process will continue over the next couple months. In the meantime, the city is prioritizing active eviction cases before the Nov. 30 end date.
Contact WFYI city government and policy reporter Jill Sheridan at jsheridan@wfyi.org.
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