Mayor Hogsett Commits Funds for Homeless Initiative Amid Activism

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett addressed a packed church on the north side of the city on March 12, 2024, promising continued support for the new Streets to Home initiative aimed at helping the unhoused. With approximately 550 attendees present and many more in an overflow area, Hogsett pledged to allocate funding to assist those in need and engage with local leaders to further strengthen community support for immigrants and refugees.

During the event, Hogsett made three key commitments. He reiterated his dedication to the Streets to Home initiative, which has successfully assisted over one hundred individuals in finding stable housing. He also vowed to reach out to the Lilly Endowment to encourage their participation in a public-private partnership and promised to reconvene with organizers within three weeks to further develop plans addressing the needs of immigrant and refugee communities.

Hogsett’s speech resonated with the crowd as he passionately referenced a biblical lesson about loving one’s neighbor. He emphasized, “We don’t get to choose who ‘neighbor’ is. ‘Neighbor’ has been chosen for us,” reinforcing the importance of community solidarity.

While his promises garnered applause, Hogsett notably refrained from commenting on recent actions and policies by Republicans in both the Statehouse and the White House, which had galvanized many attendees. This gathering, organized by the Indy Action Coalition, marked the group’s first significant public event. Formed just over a year ago, the coalition comprises congregants, community organizers, and activists who have historically operated independently but are now collaborating on key issues.

The coalition has focused on pressing topics, including the mass detention and deportation of immigrants under former President Donald Trump, rising healthcare costs, and the impact of new state laws criminalizing public camping. The evening’s gathering served as a call to action for attendees to engage in organizing activities, support mutual aid groups, and participate in the upcoming get-out-the-vote efforts aimed at defeating candidates aligned with Trump and opposing restrictive bail measures.

The slogan “We Keep Us Safe” echoed throughout the event, uniting the crowd in a shared mission. Organizers voiced strong opposition to the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), particularly in response to recent tragedies involving ICE operations, including the deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

Scott Severns, a participant at the event, shared his experiences organizing vigils and protests, reflecting on his earlier activism during the Vietnam War. He expressed concern for the future, stating, “I don’t have that same confidence for my grandsons,” highlighting the urgency felt within the community.

In his remarks, Hogsett pointed to the initiatives his administration has implemented over the past decade, such as Peacemaker teams and clinician-led response teams, which aim to proactively address crime. He noted a decline in criminal homicides in the city and reaffirmed his commitment to a housing-first approach for the unhoused, stating, “Our work together continues to bring positive change to our city.”

Despite the positive reception, some attendees voiced disappointment over Hogsett’s lack of critique regarding external policies that sparked their mobilization. Shari Himes, a community member, expressed her desire for more clarity on local responses to ICE activities, questioning whether Hogsett’s silence indicated a lack of action.

Volunteers, like Corben Havener, emphasized that Hogsett’s presence at the event was significant in itself. “Hogsett showing up is a respect for the power of our group,” he said, noting the importance of building collective influence. This was underscored by the memory of a previous event where Hogsett did not attend, highlighting a shift in engagement from city leadership.

The evening concluded with a reaffirmation of the coalition’s mission and the promise of future collaboration. As the community continues to address pressing issues surrounding immigration, healthcare, and homelessness, the collective voice of the Indy Action Coalition seeks to foster change and advocate for the vulnerable in Indianapolis.