Last year, hundreds of our neighbors in Indianapolis were living without a roof over their heads. Not because they chose it. Not because help isn’t possible. But because the path from streets to stability has been too long and filled with barriers. 

That’s what Streets to Home Indy is working to change. Launched in July 2025, this public-private partnership has a bold goal: to end chronic and unsheltered homelessness in Indianapolis by 2028. And St. Luke’s has been part of it from the very beginning.

An Evidence-Based Approach, and a Local Coalition

Streets to Home Indy isn’t a new idea. It’s a proven national framework that has worked in cities like Cleveland, New Orleans, and Dallas. The approach is intensive and coordinated: street outreach teams engage unhoused individuals and connect them with housing navigators, housing acquisition specialists move people from the street into stable housing, and case workers support each person with wraparound support. And all of this happens in weeks, not months or years.

Perhaps more importantly though, this approach is based on the belief that housing is the prerequisite for someone to overcome their other life challenges. The safety of a warm bed and a locked door provides a basis for addressing addiction, mental health, employment readiness, and family brokenness.

Phase 1 of Streets to Home is led by the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention (CHIP),and aims to house 300–350 unsheltered individuals over 12 months. It’s funded by $8.1 million in local, flexible dollars from 1) the City of Indianapolis, 2) Indianapolis Foundation’s Housing to Recovery Fund, and 3) the philanthropy and faith communities.

As of April 6, 135 neighbors have been housed through Streets to Home, with 100% connected to supportive services and 94% remaining housed. The program takes an average of 26 days from initial contact to house each person, which is an incredible improvement over the 125+ days it takes in other programs. You can check back at this link each month to follow progress. Each person housed and recovering is a life worth celebrating!

St. Luke’s Has Been There Every Step

From convening conversations to organizing with Indy Action Coalition to ensure city funding, to hosting a screening of Beyond the Bridge: A Solution to Homelessness, to providing Thanksgiving meals to newly housed individuals, St. Luke’s has shown up for this work in real and tangible ways.

During the fall of 2025, our congregation raised over $80,000 and provided 30 Move-In Kits for newly housed neighbors. And during the 2026 Lent season, we collected supplies and funds to provide 100 more Move-In Kits. THANK YOU St. Luke’s for your generosity!

You Can Get Involved

You don’t have to be an expert in housing policy or social services to make a difference. Some of the most meaningful ways to get involved are simple ones: assemble a Move-In Kit, make a financial donation, or simply take the time to learn more about the reality of homelessness in our city.

There are also deeper questions worth sitting with. What do we believe about why people experience homelessness? What does our faith call us to do? How do we engage with the policy debates shaping what happens in Indianapolis and Indiana? I believe that understanding leads to action — and that action, rooted in love, changes lives.

To explore stories, videos, updates, and ways to get involved, visit our Streets to Home page at stlukesumc.com/streetstohome.

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