INDIANAPOLIS — The Marion County Prosecutor's Office and Horizon House have developed a new pilot program that aims to reduce future criminal behavior.
"We know from research, a huge correlation between criminal justice involvement and homelessness," Leslie Kelly, director of programming at Horizon House, said.
Thanks to an elevation grant by the Indianapolis Foundation, the pilot program will use so-called "barrier buster funding" to help pay for things like first month's rent, security deposits, and utility payments.
"I was talking to a woman who was unhoused and she shared with me, 'I don't know how you want me to work on my addiction issues, or my mental health issues when I don't know where I'm going to sleep at night.' And that was a very fair point," Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said.
Up to 30 families, or up to 35 Hoosiers with lower level offenses would be referred to the program by the Prosecutor's Office based on various eligibility requirements.
"They might be literally homeless by the time they're referred. They might be in shelter or on the street. Or they might be unstably housed with family or friends," Kelly said.
The Marion County Public Defender Agency and HealthNet's Homeless Initiative Program will also collaborate with the program.
Victim advocates in the prosecutor's office will be equipped to identify victims and witnesses facing housing instability and refer them to the program.
"We are going to be in a position to reduce those initial barriers that often times keep people out of housing," Mears said.
Mears says the fastest growing number of people currently unhoused is women and children.
"...and that's why we feel this grant is so incredibly essential right now is because we are literally trying to get women and children housed who are in really difficult circumstances," Mears said.
The goal is to help change the fate of their future, away from the criminal justice system.