COLUMBUS, Ind. -United Way of Bartholomew County has released a report on homelessness, capturing community insights shared this year. An upcoming forum will review these findings and discuss the next steps to making homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring.
The non-profit is collaborating with the City of Columbus to leverage the social service sector in a comprehensive approach to address homelessness in the community. Their strategy includes a multi-step, multi-year plan aimed at significantly reducing homelessness.
Mark Stewart, President of United Way of Bartholomew County, said, “This report is the result of community voices coming together and it represents the first step to everyone coming together to ensure that everyone – no matter their circumstances, has a chance at a stable, dignified life.”
United Way of Bartholomew County conducted multiple forums in 2024 to gather community input, with hundreds of participants representing various sectors of the County. Attendees shared their perspectives, concerns, and opinions on homelessness in the area. The input gathered has been compiled into a report, now available at uwbarthco.org under “Homelessness Initiative.”
The key findings from the report include:
- There is a significant lack of affordable rental housing available for less than $700 a month. Even less housing is available for less than $500 a month
- Unhoused people often face multiple, interconnected challenges that make it difficult to secure stable housing
- There is a stigma attached to homelessness, which can hinder understanding and support in the community
- The social service sector needs community support and better alignment of resources to effectively support those in need
- Services for people in need should encourage self-sufficiency and independence rather than reliance on services
- Homelessness in Columbus is becoming more visible and will likely worsen if immediate action is not taken
The next step is to seek solutions to the key issues identified through community collaboration. The community is invited to a forum from 5 to 7 p.m. on November 20 at the Yes Cinema Kalsi Center, 222 4th St, Columbus, to initiate this process. During the meeting, strategies successfully implemented in other U.S. communities will be presented and open for discussion. Everyone is welcome to attend.
