Indianapolis City-County councilors are considering a spending package that would provide close to $20 million for public safety, homelessness and housing efforts.
The fiscal proposal designates $19.49 million towards efforts to strengthen Indianapolis neighborhoods. Projects targeted include road work, home repairs, the new Indianapolis low-barrier shelter and the Circle City Readers program.
The added money comes from supplemental income tax revenue distributed in the spring. Councilors worked with the mayor’s office to identify where funds should go.
Mayor Joe Hogsett in a statement thanked the council for its continued collaboration.
“The fiscal package introduced tonight contains investments in the things that matter most to Indianapolis community members: safe neighborhoods, better roads, and a vibrant quality of life,” Hogsett said.
Last year the city approved a $27 million spending plan that targeted neighborhoods through many of the same initiatives. In both years the largest sum of money is allocated towards infrastructure projects.
This year the city plans to allocate an additional $1 million to the Streets to Home Indy initiative, which aims to end chronic homelessness.
Other highlights of the funding proposal include:
- $9.7 million for infrastructure, including $8 million for the resurfacing and repair of residential streets
- $600,000 for additional security cameras at multiple Indy Parks
- More than $300,000 for youth violence prevention programming, including the Youth Violence Reduction Initiative and an expansion continuation of Summer in the City for the fall and winter months
- $5 million to ensure the long-term operational stability of the Housing Hub, the City’s first low-barrier shelter and housing navigation hub
- $1 million to expand outreach and housing navigation services as part of Streets to Home Indy Phase 2. This will bring the total investment from the City to almost $11 million. This rapid housing initiative has so far helped more than 150 individuals get off the streets and into stable housing
- $500,000 to complete 180 active repair applications as part of DMD’s Homeowner Repair program
- $600,000 to fully fund the Circle City Readers tutoring program through the end of 2026
- $530,000 to support quality of life, including parks beautification
Contact WFYI Managing City Editor Jill Sheridan at jsheridan@wfyi.org
