TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Over half a million people go homeless on any given night in the United States. That's according to a report from the White House.
Around 65% of these people are found in homeless shelters. However, around 35% are found unsheltered on the streets. One local organization hopes to fight statistics like this.
Mental Health America of West Central Indiana was selected for a fast-tracked funding program. This program, administered by the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority in partnership with the Corporation for Supportive Housing, will provide the funding and technical assistance necessary to develop an apartment complex that provides supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness in the Wabash valley.
"It's not to say that we are going to end homelessness," said Myra Wilkey, CEO of MHA of West Central Indiana, "But that so our community in region seven doesn't have people in it any longer that are chronically homeless."
MHA of West Central Indiana will put together a team to participate in the program--the Indiana Permanent Supportive Housing Institute. Participation and graduation of the program are needed to become eligible for funding. They will begin the program in February.
Wilkey says they are scheduled to graduate in May. After graduation, the first round of funding will be in November which MHA will submit for. They expect to hear back in January, and construction could begin as early as February 2021.
MHA of West Central Indiana already operates three complexes that provide housing for the homeless in Terre Haute. The new apartment complex will be an addition to one of those developments--Liberty Village.
Liberty Village is one of their most recent complexes that primarily houses homeless veterans. The new addition will be attached to the east side of the building which is located at 2800 Elm Street in Terre Haute. Wilkey says it's phase two of an existing project.
Overall, Wilkey says they are extremely excited for this to come to fruition and help those who are homeless reintegrate in our community. "What we are really hoping to do with this next addition is to try to meet the housing demands of people experiencing chronic homelessness in our community."
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