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Moves Taken To Help Those Experiencing Homelessness During COVID-19 Pandemic

Indianapolis’ Office of Public Health and Safety announced measures to help residents experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 crisis.

While shelters and service providers have stayed open, they now have to limit the number of people.

Starting Monday, Horizon House Center will offer essential services on a walk through basis, once a day. The facility is one of the city’s largest that provides food, clothing, mail service and health referrals to people experiencing homelessness.

“In many ways, our community is facing unprecedented challenges that affect every resident in Indianapolis,” Mayor Joe Hogsett says in a written statement.

The City of Indianapolis will also set up 15 hand washing stations downtown for people who do not have regular access to facilities.

Outreach street teams will continue efforts to reach unsheltered people and provide blankets, hygiene kits and health screenings.

Last year, more than 1,500 people were found to be without shelter in Indianapolis.

Jill Sheridan Poulos is the managing city editor at WFYI. She was previously a member of the IPB News teams covering health and science, and at WFYI as a reporter and anchor.
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