INDIANAPOLIS — In a groundbreaking move, Indianapolis is set to debut a unique parking solution for individuals living in their vehicles. WTHR recently spoke with two residents who are thankful for this initiative.
In Noblesville, Ryan Warner drives around with every possession packed into a nine-year-old Toyota Corolla. The car has been Warner's transportation during the day and a place to sleep since May.
“It’s been a long 4 months. (There's) not much space to turn around really, but just enough for someone my size to spin around if needed," Warner said.
Warner earns $15.50 an hour at a fast-food restaurant in Westfield. But when Warner's hours got cut, deciding where to spend money became a daily dilemma.
“Do I want to be comfortable in my car? Do I want to save money to get out of it? It seems like an obvious answer, but living day-to-day makes it complicated,” Warner said.
This year, the Indianapolis “Point in Time” Count identified 1,700 unhoused individuals—but that number doesn’t include all the people living in vehicles. It's estimated nationally 100,000 people are living in their cars.
“They're not the folks you might think of when you hear 'homeless.' Vehicle residents often work in plain sight and struggle during the night,” said Elizabeth Friedland, from Safe Park Indy.
Friedland is heading up the new initiative, providing 10 parking spots at a northeast Indianapolis church, where qualified applicants may safely park overnight for up to 60 days.
“We know this is just a temporary solution. It’s a band-aid on the bullet wound of homelessness in Indianapolis," Friedland said.
Accepted residents must be in by 8 p.m. and out by 7 a.m. and follow a code of conduct. While parked, individuals can access restrooms, charge their phones, and utilize free Wi-Fi and support services.
“We have a waitlist of over 60 individuals, so the need is significant,” Friedland said.
Teresa Whittern secured one of the 10 spots. She is staying in a friend's vehicle for now, while her toddler is living with a host family.
“This is my home for now. I’m houseless, not homeless," Whittern said.
Whittern says the arrangement requires her to always be on alert.
“You need to stay awake all night; that's when the danger usually occurs. Six to ten in the morning is the safest time to rest," Whittern said.
She'll move into her spot Tuesday, Oct. 1.
But Warner sometimes works night shifts, which conflicts with the Safe Park curfew. Warner also needs more than 60 days to save up for a deposit.
“It’ll take me over eight months to save enough for an apartment,” Warner said.
So while Safe Park Indy isn't a solution for everyone, it is a step to securing more permanent housing for some. The site, which launches next week, is not made public, to protect the safety of the residents.
Right now, Safe Park Indy is looking to add more space and is recruiting more churches and businesses to participate in the program by opening up parking lots and facilities at night.
