WFYI's Drew Daudelin sat down with Matthew Morton, a researcher on youth homelessness, to talk about traditional approaches to homelessness and what new research tells him about how it could change.

Some who support the ordinance say downtown panhandlers are creating safety concerns and hurting business.

The permanent supportive housing approach made national headlines in 2015, when Utah announced its housing initiative reduced homelessness by 91 percent.

The 32-page plan focuses on the creation of permanent housing for those experiencing homelessness.

Wheeler Mission hopes to raise awareness while raising money to expand its Women and Children's Shelter on Indianapolis' eastside.

The renovation will cost about $8.7 million, paid for by federal tax credits through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The pilot program, available to officers in the Downtown District, is part of Mayor Joe Hogsett's larger criminal justice reform effort.

The number represents money spent by health care providers, shelters, donations, and the criminal justice system.

Hundreds of school liaisons, superintendents, and other education professionals met in Indianapolis this week for training focused on ways to help homeless children and youth. It's the first year the state has offered a training of this magnitude.

It's called a point-in-time count, a one-time survey of the homeless population meant to inform the city on how many people might require services on any given day.