Housing for Veterans
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If you or someone you know is experiencing homelessness and needs housing or emergency shelter and does not have access to a computer or the internet, call or have them call Indiana 2-1-1 by dialing 2-1-1 or (866)-211-9966 on any phone. Indiana 2-1-1 is available 24/7 and can facilitate connections with various social services a person may need. Indiana 2-1-1 can determine shelter availability and directly connect households to an emergency shelter provider.
Public Libraries: All city & county libraries have computers and internet service available to anyone. You do not need a library card to use their computers. If you do not know how to use a computer, ask one of the librarians or the library staff to help you.
Need Help: If you are a Veteran or the friend or family member of a Veteran who requires housing or is in jeopardy of losing their current housing, you should contact one or more of the below organizations that act as an Access Point to start the process of getting the Veteran housed or remain at their current location.All of the organizations below will require the Veteran to go in for a formal screening/interview before they can help them. The main reason for this is these organizations understand that no Veterans “just need housing”; there may be other supportive services they may need or be entitled to.Please Note: We suggest that when calling any of the below service providers, if they say they can not help you for one reason or another while you have them on the phone, ask them if they know someone else who can help you. DO NOT RELY ON ONLY ONE SOURCE WHEN LOOKING FOR SERVICES FOR OUR VETERANS. NO ONE SERVICE ORGANIZATION CAN BE EVERYTHING TO EVERYBODY.
- H.V.A.F. of Indiana (Hoosier Veterans & Families)
- H.I.P. (Homeless Initative Program)
- V.O.A. (Volunteers of America)
(has SSVF funds)9425 Delegates Row, Indianapolis, IN 46240 | (855) 896-4345 (Intake Hotline)
Researching Information on Homelessness In Indianapolis
The information below is for anyone interested in helping our homeless Veteran community. Private Investors, Corporate Investors, Real Estate Investors, Real Estate Companies, General Contractors, Landlords, Veterans Service Providers, Volunteers, Government (City, State & Federal) Agencies, and any homeless Veterans are all welcome to suggest and have input on how we as a community can solve this problem of getting all Veterans housed with the supportive services, they need to help them succeed.
VSC's monthly networking meetings will always talk about Veterans Housing and Employment for Veterans at every meeting on some level. We meet on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at the Marriott-East (21st & Shadeland Ave) from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. Everyone is always welcome. * Stacy Dieckman, Chairman, VSC's Networking Committee | (317) 344-9767 | StacyDieckman@gmail.com * Don Hawkins, Co-Chairman, VSC's Networking Committee | (317) 632-0500 | Hawkins@Veterans.ooo
Information on Indy's Homeless
Information on Housing for Veterans on Government Agencies
1. Transitional HomelessnessThere is a popular misconception that homelessness is a chronic condition. While it’s true in some cases, in reality, the most common type of homelessness is transitional.Transitional homelessness is “a state of homelessness that’s a result of a major life change or catastrophic event”. These life changes might be job loss, a health condition, divorce, domestic abuse, a substance use disorder, or personal or family crisis, among many others, resulting in people being in unhoused situations for less than a year.People who experience transitional homelessness may enter a transitional housing program for a limited time. They may also sleep in their cars or outside. Oftentimes people experiencing transitional homelessness still have jobs, but cannot afford housing and other expenses.Many people experiencing transitional homelessness tend to be younger. Youth are often harassed and discriminated against when they seek alternative housing, contributing to their disproportionately high rate of homelessness. Compared to older people, young people are often considered "invisible homeless," and statistics about them are scarce as they don't typically access services. The first sign of homelessness for them may be couch surfing or sleeping over with friends, which is considered less serious and obvious than sleeping on the street. About 8% of those who are experiencing homelessness identify as youth or young adults. On average, there are around 550,000 people under the age of 24 and 380,000 under the age of 18 experiencing homelessness per year.The LGBTQ community faces unique challenges and is often more likely to face violence, abuse, and exploitation. According to the Williams Institute, the most common factor to LGBTQ homelessness is family rejection based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
2. Episodic HomelessnessPeople can also experience “episodic homelessness”, whether they are currently unhoused or experienced at least three periods of homelessness within the last 12 months. In contrast, those confronting the realities of “chronic homelessness” usually experience four periods within a calendar year without a home.Like transitional homelessness, many of those facing episodic homelessness are younger or dealing with a disabling condition. These conditions could be substance use disorder, mental illness, and other mental and/or physical health conditions. In some cases, some episodically unhoused people have seasonal or minimum wage income jobs.Episodic homelessness can eventually become chronic homelessness without adequate resources and support.
3. Chronic HomelessnessPeople experiencing chronic homelessness is defined as "an unaccompanied homeless individual with a disabling condition" who has been homeless for more than one year. It’s more common for people experiencing chronic homelessness to also deal with a certain disability, mental health condition, addiction, and other debilitating conditions that restrict their ability to escape homelessness.According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, chronically homeless people tend to be older and makeup about 17% of the homeless population. Many chronically unhoused people have complex, long-term health issues and live on the street, in parks, in cars, or in other places that are not suitable or safe for living.
4. Hidden HomelessnessPeople who live with others temporarily without a permanent home are considered “hidden homeless,” as it is often most unnoticed. Since they lack access to housing support resources and cannot be identified, they are 'hidden' from national statistics on homelessness.Since they lack access to housing support resources and cannot be identified, they are 'hidden' from national statistics on homelessness.CouchSurfing: People who experience hidden homelessness, often turn to friends, family, and neighbors for a shelter or a place of refuge. In a lot of cases, many of these people cannot afford to pay rent or afford other living expenses.Many in the “hidden homeless” population are younger people who have experienced a sudden catastrophic life change, trauma, or challenges as a result. Youth are often harassed and discriminated against when they seek alternative housing, which contributes to their disproportionately high rate of homelessness. Compared to older people, young people are often considered "invisible homeless" - and statistics about them are scarce as they don't typically access services. The first sign of homelessness for them may be couch surfing or sleeping over with friends, which is considered to be less serious — and obvious — than sleeping on the street.
1. Emergency Shelters (ES)Emergency Shelters are often the first place people turn to during or after experiencing an economic or domestic crisis. Emergency shelters provide support services and short-term stabilization for individuals and families before finding appropriate housing that meets their long-term needs.
- Examples: Wheler Mission (men & women) | Good News Mission (men only) | Queen of Peace | Family Promise of Greater Indianapolis | Holy Family Shelter | Stopover (youth) | Dayspring Center | Salvation Army | Julian Center
2. Safe Havens (SH)A Safe Haven is where someone who is homeless needs a place to stay while seeking housing. Additionally, the phrase Safe Haven can refer more generally to a place, situation, or activity in which one finds an escape from things that they may find unpleasant or problematic, such as a battered spouse.
- Examples: A friends or family members house | Hotels or Motels |
3. Transitional (Temporary or Short-Term) Housing (TH)Transitional shelters are a program that provides temporary residence, ranging from six to 24 months, for people experiencing homelessness. It is often called a “transitional” or “interim” shelter. Transitional shelters typically include supportive services to improve employability and to help individuals obtain permanent housing as quickly as possible.
- Examples: Pathway to Recovery | Progress House | Stopover | Coburn Place
4. Rapid Rehousing Housing (RRH)Rapid Re-Housing is a housing model that provides assistance to help individuals and/or families find a home of their own as quickly as possible. It is a housing-first solution for non-chronic homelessness where individuals or families rent an apartment and are provided temporary community support services, which can include case management and time-limited financial assistance, to bring them quickly out of homelessness.
- Examples:
5. Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH)Permanent Supportive Housing is a program designed to provide housing and supportive services on a long-term basis to formerly chronically homeless people. These are individuals who have a diagnosed disability and who have been continuously homeless for one year or more for one reason or another. For a significant number of homeless Americans with physical or mental disabilities, long-term homelessness can only be addressed by providing permanent housing combined with intensive supportive services. Permanent Supportive Housing offers safe and stable housing environments with flexible and voluntary services.
- Examples: Subsidized housing in supportive housing, apartments, condos, or homes
6. Affordable & Obtainable Permanent Housing (APH)Affordable Permanent Housing is when a person and/or family has recovered from homelessness and can afford to buy their own home.
- Examples: Usually obtained after a full recovery from homelessness, addictions, etc., being employed, and a good credit score.
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For Medical, Physical Emergencies & Suicide Prevention:
- Dial 988 from any phone and your call will be immediately routed to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Hit #1 if you are a Veteran.
- The current Lifeline phone number (1-800-273-8255) is always available to people in emotional distress or suicidal crisis, even after 988 is launched nationally.,
- If you or someone you are helping is hurt or in imminent danger, please get to a phone and dial 9-1-1 for immediate help.
- If you or someone you know is feeling suicidal or facing a crisis, dial 2-1-1 in Indy or 1-(866) 211-9966 for immediate help.
- If you are a victim of domestic violence, dial 1-(800) 332-7385 in Indy for help.
For Non-Emergencies:
- If you are a Veteran, or a family member of a Veteran, in search of information on how to get goods or services you/they may need, you can dial 2-1-1 or contact one of the Service Providers or Veterans Organizations listed on our "Resources" page.
- Cellphone users in Marion County may now dial 3-1-1 to reach the non-emergency line for IMPD and other Marion County dispatchers. The non-emergency phone number for callers using landlines is (317) 327-3811.
Please Note:
- VSC is not a provider of any financial assistance or direct services other than Information and Referrals on where to get goods, services, programs, and benefits for Veterans, the Military, and their families.
Disclaimer:
- This is a private website and is NOT affiliated with any U.S. government or U.S. Armed Forces agencies.
- We reserve the right to monitor the content of this website and regret that some suggested or recommended resources may not be accepted for one reason or another.
- The information and organizations listed on this website do not necessarily mean that we endorse their information, data, or their resources. We have done our best to include information and resources that benefit our Veterans, the Military Community, and their Families.
