A new report on homeless by the Department of Housing and Urban Development shows a decrease in the state’s homeless population.
In 2020, the state’s homeless population was 5,625. In 2022, that number dropped to 5,449.
The drop was part of a decrease in the Midwest overall.
The report found 46,213 people were experiencing homelessness on a single night in January 2022 in the Midwest (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin), with a national total of 582,462. COVID-19 and its economic impacts could have led to significant increases in homelessness; however, investments, partnerships and government agency outreach resulted in a 3.3% decline in the Midwest and only a .3% increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness from 2020 to 2022 across the nation.
Compared with 2020, homelessness among people in shelters declined 2.1% (-1.6% nationally) and, in contrast to the 3.4% national increase, there was a 9.3% decrease for homelessness among people in unsheltered settings in the Midwest.
“This decrease is due in part to HUD’s investment and its collaboration with other branches of government, federal, state, and local, and community organizations. HUD is committed to working together, mobilizing and continuing to guide in solving the problem of homelessness,” HUD Midwest Regional Administrator Diane M. Shelley said.
Indiana saw decreases in the number of homeless veterans (530 in 2020, 482 in 2022) as well as homeless families (482 in 2022, 470 in 2022).
However, there were increases in the chronically homeless (370 in 2022, 470 in 2022).
And the number of homeless youth remained virtually unchanged (266 in 2020, 267 in 2022).
Here’s a breakdown of Indiana’s homeless demographics.
Here’s a breakdown of the city of Indianapolis’ homeless demographics.
