Lent Group Service Project

Streets to Home Move-In Kits

Launched in Indianapolis in July 2025, Streets to Home Indy is a public-private partnership that aims to end chronic and unsheltered homelessness in Indianapolis by 2028. The first phase of the initiative, led by the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention & Prevention (CHIP), aims to house 300-350 unsheltered individuals over the next 12 months.

Streets to Home Indy is grounded in the belief that everyone has the right to be housed and connected to care. Through housing, supportive services, and strategic partnerships, we will make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring in Indianapolis. We all have a role to play. With your support, we can ensure every neighbor has a safe, stable place to call home.

Streets to Home Indy Phase 1

Phase 1 of Streets to Home Indy is using a proven national framework to resolve encampments and reduce unsheltered homelessness in cities across the country like Cleveland, New Orleans, and Dallas. Powered by $8.1 million in local, unrestricted funding from our community, Streets to Home Indy is positioned to get individuals off the streets into stability and recovery within weeks, instead of months or years.

Through targeted, intensive, and highly coordinated street outreach, housing navigation, unit acquisition, and case management, individuals at an encampment are engaged in a 4-6 week process to move directly from the streets into housing with the services they need to recover and thrive. Once individuals are housed from a site or zone, that area gets cleaned, cleared, restored to its original use, and maintained by the City of Indianapolis.

The Indianapolis Department of Public Works, Office of Public Health & Safety (OPHS), and IMPD's Homeless Unit all contribute to this effort with public resources. Phase 1's $8.1 million budget comes entirely from local, flexible sources:

  • $2.7 million from the Housing to Recovery Fund for supportive services
  • $2.7 million from the City of Indianapolis for rental assistance and operations
  • $2.7 million through philanthropic, corporate, and individual donations

St. Luke's has been involved since the inception of this plan. From bringing together partners, to organizing with Indy Action Coalition for funding, to meeting with local politicians, to hosting a screening of the film Beyond the Bridge: A Solution to Homelessness, to providing Thanksgiving meals to recently housed individuals, St. Luke's has been involved every step of the way.

Last year we raised over $80,000 towards the Faith Partner commitment to Streets to Home, with more coming in each week. We have also taken a leadership role in organizing the faith community's collection of Move-In Kits, and our congregation has already given nearly 30 move-in kits. We have set a goal of 50 more kits to be collected during Lent 2026. We hope every Lent group will get involved in this incredible community-wide project!

Make a donation to Streets to Home!
Resources

Weekly Lent Group Activities

Click on a week below to view activities and discussion topics for your group.

Weekly Lent Group Activities
Week 1 Week of Feb 22

Introduce your group to the Streets to Home Initiative and the opportunity for Lent Groups to participate in a church-wide goal to collect 50 move-in kits!

2026 Lent Service Project Overview

  1. What is Streets to Home Indy? How is St. Luke's involved? (review description on the page above)
  2. How can Lent Groups get involved?
    1. We hope that every lent group will participate at some level in providing a Move-In Kit. Our goal is to collect 50 Move-In Kits by Easter Sunday!
    2. Some groups may choose to collect all items for 1 or more kits. Some groups may collect and donate funds and let us do the shopping for you. Other groups may contribute a partial kit by selecting some of the items on the list.
    3. Bring your completed kit (or partial kit) to the North Indy campus anytime during Lent.
  3. Where can I find the list of items for a Move-In Kit? Download the Move-In Kit flyer (PDF)
Week 2 Week of March 1

Explore your group's knowledge about homelessness, both the facts and also the myths and biases.

  • Take the quiz (PDF) — it may be helpful to work through it together rather than having people take it individually.
  • Watch video story: Sherry's Story
  • Ask the group to begin thinking about what items they can sign up to bring. Be ready to make commitments next week!
Week 3 Week of March 8

This week, celebrate the success of Streets to Home so far.

  1. Review the progress report. If possible, share it on your TV, laptop, or tablet. Streets to Home Progress Report
  2. Go around the group and have people share the blessings they see.
  3. Read the journal entry/testimony of one of the first individuals who was housed by Streets to Home.
  4. Decide how your group will participate in putting together a move-in kit. Mark down the item(s) each person will bring. Set a date for when you will bring items to your group meeting.
Week 4 Week of March 15

This week we will explore the story of one family that escaped homelessness thanks to the support of a volunteer with a non-profit legal group.

Read the story here (PDF)

  1. What challenges did Maria experience that led to her eviction filing?
  2. What barriers did she experience in trying to overcome this challenge? Some are named in the story, and others can be imagined.
  3. What resources…and resourcefulness…can you identify in this story?

Get a progress report on move-in kits!

Week 5 Week of March 22

Recap your journey!

Go around your group and share something that surprised you or that you learned about homelessness during the past few weeks.

Finish up your collection of Move-In Kit items. Write a note of encouragement to the individual who will receive your kit, and pray as a group for this person.

Digging Deeper Optional extension

Streets to Home represents one approach to homelessness. Another approach focuses on public safety, treatment first, and accountability. Provocative language describes these positions as criminalization of homelessness vs. free housing for all. Perhaps more fair, although still simplified, is Housing First vs. Treatment First. In our own Indiana State legislature, this debate has been fierce for the past 2 legislative sessions. As of 2/16/26, SB285 containing language that favors the Treatment First position passed out of the Indiana Senate and is headed to the House.

There are some common values and some very different values at the core of these approaches. We don’t want people living—and dying—on our streets. Should we arrest people for sleeping outdoors? Should people have to clean up their act before receiving free housing? If you aren’t treating your own mental health or addiction, should someone do it for you? How can someone even begin to treat mental health or addiction while living on the street? Are shelters the answer?

If you or your group want to explore the political landscape of the treatment of homelessness, here are some resources and next steps for you to consider.

Getting Started

Schedule a time to gather with others in your group who are interested in this conversation. Caution, this will likely be a lively discussion! Commit to each other to approach with prayer and humility.

Explore These Resources

Consider exploring these on your own, in advance of the conversation:

Questions to Consider

Add your own questions too!

  1. Which information resonated more with you? Can you identify your underlying beliefs or worldview that support this?
  2. Can you name 3 tenets or facts about each viewpoint?
  3. Can you name 2–3 positive attributes of each? How about 2–3 downsides?
  4. Do you have Scripture to support your views? Life experiences?
  5. Is safe and affordable housing a fundamental human right, or a pillar of capitalism? How is that reflected currently? What changes would you like to see?

Guidelines for Discussion

  1. Commit to learning vs. debating. Practically speaking, decide to learn at least one new thing from the conversation. Let go of changing anyone’s mind (you probably won’t anyway!)
  2. Thoughtfully prepare for the conversation. You might want to name a facilitator in your group. Read the suggested material. Pray for humility and gentleness.
  3. Listen without interrupting, then repeat back what you heard before commenting yourself. Not every view or opinion needs to be responded to.
  4. Allow each person the opportunity to speak. If some are dominating, you can agree to set a timer, or go around the circle in order.
  5. Create a “parking lot” for things people share that are not quite on topic—physically write down a list! If you don’t return to these topics, at least acknowledge that there are other issues and views that didn’t get covered.
  6. Affirm each other as individuals. We really do have more in common than different. Start there. Try to end your discussion on that note as well.