Marion County Homeless Point-in-Time Count Released

Results from the annual Point-in-Time count have been released. The count is a snapshot of how many people experienced homelessness on a winter night in Indianapolis.

Taken on Jan. 22, before the pandemic hit, this year’s count found the number of people -- sheltered or unsheltered that night -- ticked up slightly from the previous year, to 1,588 individuals.

The Marion County count is done in partnership with the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention, called CHIP, and the IU Public Policy Institute. It is required for communities to be eligible for federal housing funds.

The number of black individuals experiencing homelessness continues to be disproportionately high. Other findings include more people with felonies living on the streets, an increase in older people, and a decrease in families

Many service providers report an increase in people experiencing homelessness since the pandemic began in March.

CHIP Executive Director Chelsea Haring-Cozzi said in a written statement that COVID-19 has laid bare issues of disparity.

“Homelessness does not happen in isolation, but is rather symptomatic of systemic inequities, changes in housing markets, shifts in the local economy and workforce, a national healthcare crisis and public policy decisions,” Haring-Cozzi said.

The next count will be in January 2021.