Indianapolis Homelessness: Police To Move Homeless For Super Bowl (UPDATE)

UPDATE: Jan. 13 12 p.m.
Indianapolis' homeless people will not be rounded up and forced out as Super Bowl fans throng to the city in February, according to Indystar.com,but officials say they will try to encourage them to seek out shelter. "We're actually going out well in advance of the Super Bowl, just making contact with them, talking to them and trying to convince them to go to a proper facility, shelter or hospital," Deputy Chief Michael Bates of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department told the news outlet.

Indianapolis police plan to clear its streets of homeless people for the Super Bowl, angering advocates who want to see money for the million-dollar event help those without a place to live.

According to WRTV, Indianapolis will step up its efforts to disband the city's unofficial homeless camp and remove panhandlers from the sidewalks. Law enforcement officials say they're not just pushing the homeless out of sight and are trying to find them shelter. But advocates want additional resources for the homeless from the funding the city is allocating for the Super Bowl.

"We've observed that the Super Bowl committees have spent an awful lot of money to do things to make our city attractive," Gilbert Holmes, executive director of the Indiana Civil Liberties Union, told the news outlet. "But how much of those resources are being dedicated to help those people who are homeless?"

The Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention, however, told WTHR that it's concerned about the number of people who will "pose" as homeless once the travelers arrive to the city, up to two to three times as many as usual.

According to the organization, about 1,500 people are actually homeless each day in Indianapolis and 100 sleep on the streets at night.

Officials say that they're going to rely on local agencies to help find the area's homeless people a place to stay.

"There certainly won't be any forced relocation," Dep. Chief Mike Bates told WRTV. "We will approach these individuals and work with these individuals in cooperation with other agencies."

While the city will set up eight donation boxes for those living on the streets, some would like to see more of a charitable effort, as other Super Bowl cities have done in the past.

Last year, NFL Charities and the Super Bowl host committee funded Youth Education Town in Arlington, a center run by the Salvation Army that helps Arlington's estimated 2,000 homeless children, according to WFAA.

"Supporting our communities is an important part of what the NFL stands for," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told the Dallas News. "This Youth Education Town is a good example of how a Super Bowl can have a meaningful legacy beyond a great game on the field."

Flickr photo by Pearson,KyleD

Comments

[Karma2U]

03:34 PM on 01/17/2012

Recall the governor.

[gov111w]

02:40 PM on 01/16/2012

Perhaps these people could be employed in the half time show ??

[LHoney]

06:03 PM on 01/13/2012

The shame and shambles of HUD testify to Reagan's commitment to "the truly needy." The

administration also assisted in the creation of millions of new poverty-stricken citizens;

it allowed social Darwinism to replace social consciousness; it allowed individualism to

replace community.

The need for public and affordable houseing was never more apparent than during the Reagan

years. Under President Jimmy Carter, we got 300,000 units; under President Gerald Ford

200,000; under President Ronald Reagan 25,000. HUD, originally set up specifically for

housing needs, reduced 67% of it's budget from 1982 to 1987. Thirty-two billion dollars was

removed. "They sleep on grates because - well - they like to," said Reagan of the homeless.

"They go to soup kitchens not because they're hungry, but because they want a free meal. "

http://books.google.com/books?id=7-m8L9wfzTkC&pg=PA654&lpg=PA654&dq=%22They+sleep+on+grates+because+%E2%80%94+well+%E2%80%94+they+like+to,%22&source=bl&ots=3yVlqeJBhN&sig=h7SPBB1Cf5xDe7SYND-9s8k4oA4&hl=en&sa=X&ei=0LYQT5SFHOn10gHik7GtAw&sqi=2&ved=0CCIQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22They%20sleep%20on%20grates%20because%20%E2%80%94%20well%20%E2%80%94%20they%20like%20to%2C%22&f=false

[ronniesbrain]

02:32 PM on 01/13/2012

Moving the homeless and panhandlers before the superbowl crowd shows up. What's the matter Gov. Daniels you don't want the rest of the world to know how uncaring you are. The problem you are going to have is that while you are rounding up the homeless, the union workers you are about to screw with your BS right to work law, will be out protesting too. Looks like you have made a mess of things once again. It's a shame you can't run for Govenor again. I'm sure the fine people of Indiana would love an opportunity to vote you out of office.

[gov111w]

02:39 PM on 01/16/2012

He is trying to avoid race or social based crime.

[Tammy Bick]

06:29 PM on 01/11/2012

this country is disgusting sweeping a national/worldwide problem under the rug so they can make their money from the dumbed down masses

[SMB Indy]

10:48 AM on 01/06/2012

The Indianapolis community as a whole generally does a pretty good job for our homeless neighbors throughout the year. There are those that regularly refuse shelter and services because of the rules and requirements that come along with these services. As a whole we have made a concerted policy to try and bring people in for services.

Organizations like Horizon House provide a full service approach with showers, laundry, case management, employment, addiction, health and mental health services. If you're interested in homelessness, check out their FB page: www.facebook.com/horizonhouseindy; or their twitter: www.twitter.com/inhorizonhouse

[MonikaMagick]

04:40 PM on 01/17/2012

Sorry, but that is bull. I live in Indianapolis and I have had occasion to try to contact ALL the shelters in Indianapolis several times in the last two years. Each time, there was no room for the people that I was trying to help. Indianapolis is NOT doing a fine job for the homeless.

[CHIPIndy]

12:21 PM on 01/05/2012

IMPD officers work with eight social service outreach teams and medical and mental health providers to engage the chronically homeless and unsheltered in our community. This is something that occurs every night of the year. Visit us on Facebook at CHIP Indianapolis to learn more.

[bentlyboy]

02:54 PM on 01/04/2012

As they should.

[beardown]

07:45 AM on 01/04/2012

Good for Indianapolis!!!!

[Bilal Houri]

12:35 AM on 01/04/2012

"officials say they're not just pushing the homeless out of sight and are trying to find them shelter", why can't they try to find them shelter 365 days a year?

[hell in a bucket]

01:00 AM on 01/04/2012

I live in "the home of the homeless". The city can try all they want, 365 days a year, it won't work. A great many of these people don't want shelter. They are mental cases and/or drug addled. The more success you have helping them, the more you do to insure that more come and replace those who recover. Other cities will even ship them to you.

An interesting if not obvious side effect is the creation of the homeless industrial complex...high-paying city and non-profit jobs, sweetheart real estate deals, perpetuation of the status-quo.

[bmcombs]

07:34 AM on 01/04/2012

The "homeless industrial complex" came about as a result of the HUD budget being slashed under Reagan and his disastrous economic policies that resulted in constant homelessness - something that was incredibly rare prior to his presidency.

As for "high-paying" jobs in that sector - can you provide some examples? I use to work at a homeless service organization, it was hardly "high-paying" for the vast majority of its employees.

As for "other cities will even ship them to you" - there was a time that sadly happened - it is now illegal for cities to do that.

Lastly, have you been to many shelters? The reason people don't want to go is because they are unsafe - people have their things stolen, children molested or are raped themselves and are treated poorly. The system that has been put in place is designed to deter people from seeking help.

[KaliKross]

12:19 PM on 01/04/2012

The "why help if they don't want help" argument? That's noble. o_O

You say: "They are mental cases and/or drug addled"
Who needs truth when you have stereotypes?
Even if true, is this an excuse not to help or have compassion?

Perhaps it would behoove you to research. MANY of our nation's "crazy" homeless people are VETERANS with PTSD or addiction issues. You know, the people who fought for YOU, regardless of whether or not you had mental health or substance abuse issues or lived in "the home of the homeless"?

[Okechukwu Ofili]

11:51 PM on 01/03/2012

Crap! Hopefully Peyton Manning would have found a home by then =/

[buffaloon]

11:46 PM on 01/03/2012

If it is good enough for Beijing during the Olympics, it's good enough for Indianapolis. Can't have dirty, smelly people hanging around during the Holy Week of Football bothering the quality folk.

[wagwag]

11:40 PM on 01/03/2012

Indiana, this one is going to blow up in your face.

[alleykat444]

11:10 PM on 01/03/2012

Seems to me it wouldn't cost any more money to just buy them some dress clothes.... give them a good meal and free tickets to the game.... It's the least we as a country could do... My goodness.... it just doesn't seem fair.... and I'm sure a little good will would go a long way....

[missingwmd]

11:31 PM on 01/03/2012

give homeless people tickets to the super bowl when working people can't afford to go? heads will explode...you know people get angry when poor people get stuff for free...

[bola47]

10:43 PM on 01/03/2012

where are all of these "christian" candidates for president on the issue homelessness? nowhere because they homeless do not give political contributions.

[4everright]

11:00 PM on 01/03/2012

where is Obama? He's caused more homelessness than ANY president.

[LeftNutt]

11:10 PM on 01/03/2012

Hahahahahhaa Come on guy.

[rkzrb]

11:34 PM on 01/03/2012

obtuse

[KaliKross]

12:26 PM on 01/04/2012

...and the homeless do not sell media headlines or make for captivating sound bytes. Not sexy enough, I guess.