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Item Homelessness in Indiana (2024)(Center for Research on Inclusion and Social Policy, 2024-10-04) Mullin, Hannah; Gomez, Cecilia; Rapolu, Sreemayi; Arun, Nidhi; Bow, Brendan; Schultz, Kristi; Van Allen, Elizabeth J.; Menard, Claire; Thakur, MedhaviOver the past six years, rising eviction rates, stagnant state minimum wage, and a statewide shortage of affordable housing have impacted Hoosiers. During the COVID-19 pandemic, federal funding alleviated some effects of housing instability and homelessness. Without meaningful intervention and prevention, Indiana is at risk of worsening racial discrimination in the housing market, increasing the homeless population, and neglecting those affected by chronic homelessness. Housing instability and homelessness may also lead to new problems, including increases in continuously unhoused youth and incarceration stemming from discriminatory policies related to panhandling, loitering, and vagrancy. Research shows that targeting tenant rights, legal representation, minimum wage, and affordable housing effectively addresses housing problems and homelessness statewide.Item Food insecurity in Indiana (2024)(Center for Research on Inclusion and Social Policy, 2024-10-04) Eckert, Marissa; Rapolu, Sreemayi; Gomez, Cecilia; Mullin, Hannah; Bow, Brendan; Schultz, Kristi; Menard, Claire; Van Allen, Elizabeth J.; Vargas, EmanuelFood insecurity is a public health concern affecting Hoosiers’ well-being and their ability to contribute effectively to their work and society. In 2022, more than 950,000 Hoosiers struggled to access nutritious food, often due to a lack of adequate or stable income. Food insecurity leads to hunger, malnutrition, and increased risks for chronic diseases. Socially, food insecurity reduces people’s cognitive ability by making it more difficult to concentrate and work effectively. Legislation strengthening funding for the availability of and access to fresh food and assistance programs are positive ways to address food insecurity in Indiana.Item LGBTQ+ Hoosiers: Barriers to student success(Center for Research on Inclusion and Social Policy, 2024-10-04) Dietz, Ted; Morris, Cheyenne; Gomez, Cecilia; Mullin, Hannah; Rapolu, Sreemayi; Bow, Brendan; Schultz, Kristi; Van Allen, Elizabeth J.; Menard, Claire; Thakur, MedhaviYoung Hoosiers rely on school systems and educators to develop safe and supportive learning environments and expose them to diverse voices. Having access to these environments is particularly important for youth who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or other sexual and gender identities (LGBTQ+). This population experiences increased rates of high-risk behavior1—like alcohol, drug use, and suicide—often due to feelings of isolation or exposure to bullying. Supporting professional development for educators, funding research regarding LGBTQ+ youth in Indiana, and promoting existing youth-based programs will help to meet the needs of young Hoosiers.Item Addressing Unequal Access to Energy in Indiana(Center for Research on Inclusion and Social Policy, 2022-12-12) Schultz, Kristi; Deitz, Ted; Morris, Cheyenne; Eckert, MarissaIn 2019, state leaders formed the 21st Century Energy Policy Development Task Force to explore and make policy recommendations addressing Indiana’s energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy alternatives. As part of their charge, the task force is researching the affordability and reliability of energy as well as how these energy issues impact low-income and racially minoritized communities. The definition of energy access varies but often includes the delivery and use of a minimum level of energy a household requires for basic needs, such as heating a home or cooking meals. As renewable energy sources become more widely available, it is important that all communities have equitable access to these resources. Addressing these concerns early and proactively deploying strategies focused on energy transition could foster more equitable access to clean energy. This report discusses unequal access to energy in Indiana and the resulting impact on underserved communities. This brief also highlights several strategies to address these disparities.Item Maternal Mortality in Indiana (2022): Contributing factors and policy recommendations(Center for Research on Inclusion and Social Policy, 2022-12-12) Arun, Nidhi; Sharma, Vatsla; Thuranira, ElizabethIndiana has the third highest maternal mortality rate in the nation, at 44 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births. In 2020, the rate was 23 per 100,000, up from 12 per 100,000 in 2018. The Center for Research on Inclusion and Social Policy found that contributing factors to this high rate include a lack of access to maternal health services and OB/GYNs around the state, inadequate care for maternal mental health and substance use disorders, and a lack of diversity and cultural awareness among Indiana’s health care workforce. The researchers recommend expanding equitable access to health care coverage, creating more diverse and inclusive health care environments, co-locating maternal and mental health care services, integrating mental health and substance use treatment services in prenatal settings, and bridging gaps in communities that face health care issues, such as those without access to adequate maternal and delivery care in hospitals.Item Affordable Housing in Indiana (2022): Policy considerations and recommendations(Center for Research on Inclusion and Social Policy, 2022-12-12) Bow, Brendan; Mullin, Hannah; Rapolu, Sreemayi Reddy; Eckert, MarissaThe Indiana General Assembly passed House Bill 1306 in 2022. When it was signed into law in March 2022, Indiana Public Law 99 established a task force to review housing related issues and housing shortages in Indiana. This task force must issue a report to the general assembly and governor no later than November 1, 2022. In August 2022, researchers from the Center for Research on Inclusion and Social Policy produced a policy brief containing recommendations for local and state officials to address homelessness, much of which concerned housing issues in Indianapolis. This brief expands on the previous report by examining housing availability and affordability in Indiana, while also comparing Indiana to four other similar states. Using this information, the research team provides policy suggestions to address housing shortages in Indiana.Item Refugee Resettlement in Indiana (2022)(Center for Research on Inclusion and Social Policy, 2022-08-23) Arun, Nidhi; Schultz, Kristi; Lawrence, RoxyThere are approximately 27,800 refugees in Indiana. From 1970–2007, between 200 and 500 refugees resettled in Indiana each year. The Syrian civil war led to a 63% increase in refugee arrivals in the Hoosier State from 2011 to 2015. In 2016 alone, 1,934 primary refugees—those who entered the United States through Indiana—resettled in the state. In the most recent count, 202 refugees arrived in the state between October 2020 and September 2021. As refugee populations grow, states must have the necessary infrastructure in place to resettle and support these individuals. This brief describes the unique challenges and barriers of resettling refugees in Indiana, highlights gaps in services, and pinpoints practices and policies that may effectively and sustainably address refugee needs in Indiana.Item Addressing Homelessness in Marion County: Policy Considerations and Recommendations(Center for Research on Inclusion and Social Policy, 2022-08-16) Bow, Brendan; Lawrence, Roxy; Eckert, MarissaIn July of 2022, the Center for Research on Inclusion and Social Policy—in collaboration with the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention—released a brief describing the findings of the 2022 Marion County Point-in-Time (PIT) Count. In this follow-up report, researchers compared Indianapolis to four similar cities—Charlotte, North Carolina; Columbus, Ohio; Fort Worth, Texas; and Nashville, Tennessee—to examine homeless populations. This report also examines factors affecting homelessness in Marion County. Those include a dwindling housing/rental market combined with rising housing/rental costs, specific laws and ordinances that criminalize homelessness, recent increases in youth homelessness, and a lack of facilities and support systems to house and help those experiencing homelessness.Item Homelessness in Indianapolis: 2022 Marion County Point-in-Time Count(Center for Research on Inclusion & Social Policy, 2022-07-21) Bow, Brendan; Beebe, Gwen; Arun, Nidhi; Cope, Jacquelynn; Lawrence, Roxy; Camacho-Reyes, Karla; Gibson, Amy; Eckert, MarissaFor more than a decade, the IU Public Policy Institute (PPI) and the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention (CHIP) have collaborated with local organizations to conduct Marion County’s annual Point-in-Time (PIT) Count. As mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the PIT Count reports the number of people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January. This report highlights key findings and takeaways from the PIT Count to inform policy decisions and service provision.Item Inclusive growth in Indianapolis: a framework for equitable economic growth(Center for Research on Inclusion & Social Policy, 2021-08) Holcomb, Chris; Arun, Nidhi; Camacho Reyes, KarlaSince 2017, the Indy Chamber has worked with Brookings Institute and other partners to assess Indianapolis’ progress on achieving inclusive economic growth. They found that while the area’s job growth exceeded national trends in recent years, the city was falling short in wage growth and providing high-quality jobs and services. Given this context, this brief introduces a new data-driven framework for measuring inclusive growth and applies it to Indianapolis to track the city’s progress on these goals. It identifies significant challenges facing communities of color in the city and outlines key recommendations for policy makers to consider as they work to foster economic inclusion.
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