IU Public Policy Institute and Center for Homeless Intervention and Prevention, 2011 Homeless Count

Abstract

Since 2007, the Indiana University Public Policy Institute (PPI) under contract from the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention (CHIP) has conducted a count of the persons experiencing homelessness in Marion County. On January 27, 2011, a team coordinated by CHIP administered the annual point-in-time count of homeless individuals. Our research discusses the details and background of the count as well as findings and thoughts for policymakers concerned with improving services for the Indianapolis community homeless population. The street count was carried out by teams assigned to designated areas of the county. The teams consist of outreach workers and at least one Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) student. The shelter count was administered by employees of the facility or by a survey assistant, usually an IUPUI student. The IUPUI students volunteered as part of the course Do the Homeless Count in which part of their coursework is to observe and participate in the annual homeless count. The students from the class were trained by outreach workers and practiced interviews in preparation for the count. Four teams consisting of two officers from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, one IUPUI student, and one employee from CHIP, searched abandoned buildings and aided in areas outside the immediate downtown area.