As Indianapolis-area residents respond to the winter storm that has brought more than half a foot of snow to much of Central Indiana, few people are more vulnerable than those experiencing homelessness. With the National Weather Service’s storm warning lasting into Monday evening, multiple Indianapolis organizations are working to keep the city’s homeless population safe.
Wheeler Mission among sites open to single men, women
Several Indianapolis-area shelters are open to individuals and families in need of a place to stay. Wheeler Mission, the area’s largest shelter provider, has cots and floor mats available to accommodate visitors beyond its normal capacity as part of a “Winter Contingency Plan” in partnership with the Coalition for Homelessness Prevention and City of Indianapolis.
Senior Director of Community Relations and Development Brian Crispin told IndyStar Monday that the Wheeler Mission Shelter for Men (SFM) had filled its 250-bed capacity but that roughly half of its 100 overflow mats were still available.
The Center for Women and Children is presently at capacity for families, but Crispin said there are many beds available for single women. In addition to sleeping accommodations, occupants at both Wheeler shelters receive lunch and dinner administered by full-time staff and volunteers.
While the Center for Women and Children saw a small influx of about 10 extra people Sunday night, the SFM has maintained fairly even occupancy since the contingency plan, which runs through the end of March, started in November. Many of those whom Wheeler cannot admit can seek shelter at the former site of Susan Leach School 68 on the east side, which Crispin said has limited spaces available.
While Wheeler was well-prepared for the storm, staffing and resource management remain a challenge, Crispin said.
“Obviously, it’s a drain on our staff,” he said. “Volunteers are typically unable to get to our shelters to help on a day like this, so our staff picks up the pieces on that as well.”
Wheeler also goes through food and money much faster during the winter since more people come in for meals so the shelter has to pay staffers overtime. Crispin said donations of food, clothing, toiletries and money, as well as time, are hugely helpful to Wheeler this time of year.
“You’re right in front of people who are experiencing homelessness, serving them a meal,” Crispin said. “So it’s a great experience, but it’s also helpful to us.”
IMPD Homeless Unit fanning out to camps with supplies
Elsewhere in Indianapolis, others experiencing homelessness occupy outdoor camps, trying to keep warm with tents, blankets and layered clothing. On a snowy day like Monday, IMPD Officer Phil Smiley and his fellow patrolmen on the IMPD Homeless Unit rumble along sludge-smeared streets in massive Ford F-150 trucks to deliver supplies like water bottles, blankets, boots and hand warmers to people at those camps.
While Smiley said it appeared Monday that most of the camps’ populace had relocated to shelters, some remained in their makeshift homes. People at the camps might stay put due to a distrust of shelters, aversion to a shelter’s religious affiliation or because shelters do not allow them to use a drug on which they have a dependency, Smiley said. Nevertheless, Smiley and the rest of the Homeless Unit — comprised of one sergeant and three patrolmen split into two teams — encourage people at the camps to go to a shelter.
IMPD Homeless Unit Patrolmen Phil Smiley, from left, and Shawn Holmes give Robin Witham supplies, including water, hand warmers and blankets, at one of the largest homeless sites Monday, Jan. 6, 2025 in Indianapolis. Officer Smiley says that they have seen that most of the homeless have moved to shelters, but some are still in their makeshift homes.
Smiley said among the people choosing to remain at the camps, most appear to have heating sources to ward off the cold. As of Monday morning, the Homeless Unit had not had to transport anyone at a camp to a hospital. Still, the need to locate those in dire condition looms over the four-person squad.
“We can drive all over the place, but unless somebody directs us to a place we’re not always gonna find everybody,” Smiley said. “And that’s what really bothers us — someone suffering or passing away needlessly.”
Both Smiley and Crispin emphasized the importance of people experiencing homeless to seek refuge at a professional shelter as well as shelters’ need for money and goods.
More information on finding shelter in Indianapolis
Indianapolis has multiple emergency shelters for individuals and families. You can find a list of them here. If you wish to donate to an emergency shelter, most accept monetary donations on their websites and offer information on how to donate physical goods.
This page also includes a list of warming centers. For updates on which warming centers are open, you can check Indy Parks and Recreation’s Facebook page.
You can find a map of shelters, community centers and warming shelters on the Indianapolis Office of Public Health and Safety’s website here.
Contact IndyStar reporter Bradley Hohulin at bhohulin@indystar.com. You can follow him on Twitter/X @BradleyHohulin.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: How Indy orgs are keeping homeless population safe during winter storm