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Streets to Home UPDATE

St. Luke’s is working closely with Streets to Home Indy, a community-driven campaign to eliminate chronic homelessness for good. Led by the Coalition for Housing Intervention and Prevention (CHIP), the initiative builds on successful grassroots efforts and brings together faith communities, civic leaders, and philanthropic partners to create lasting change.

Streets to Home Indy took on a big task: to house 350 chronically homeless individuals in Indianapolis and support them with wrap-around services, by June 2026. Since July, 47 people are now sleeping safely inside. They are working with career coaches and looking at employment options, reuniting with family, and are seeking mental health and wellness appointments. 100% of the people remained housed and 70% now have health care. This is transformative work that is allowing people to have hope about their future. It’s a powerful reminder that housing truly is foundational.

St. Luke's continues to raise money for Streets to Home, and this year we are delivering Thanksgiving Outreach meals to newly housed participants. And, as part of the Northside Congregations for Housing, we will continue to collect move-in kits of household items for the apartments. We are so grateful for the support of this congregation!

You can sign up to supply a move-in kit HERE!

Submitted by Marcia Roberts

Confronting Youth Homelessness

Youth homelessness is a crisis hiding in plain sight. Every night in Indianapolis, hundreds of young people—many still in their teens—are without a stable place to call home. Some sleep in shelters or on friends’ couches, while others find themselves on the streets, vulnerable to danger and despair. Many of these youth have experienced trauma, family conflict, or systemic barriers that have left them without the support they need to thrive. At St. Luke’s, we believe in justice and compassion, and we cannot ignore the struggles of these young people in our own community.

Outreach, a faith-based nonprofit, is working to change this reality. By providing essential services like food, clothing, and shelter access, as well as educational support and long-term mentorship, Outreach helps young people navigate the road from homelessness to stability. Their work is not just about meeting immediate needs—it’s about building relationships, restoring dignity, and empowering youth to build a better future. The mission of Outreach aligns with St. Luke’s vision of living out the radical love of Jesus by standing with those on the margins and working toward a more just world.

As a church, we are called to be part of the solution. St. Luke’s is committed to outreach and justice, and youth homelessness is an issue where we can make a real impact. Whether through volunteering, advocacy, or financial support, we have the opportunity to extend God’s love to young people who are often unseen and unheard. By standing alongside organizations like Outreach, we can help ensure that every young person in Indianapolis has the opportunity to grow, heal, and thrive.

For more information, visit Outreach Indiana.

Submitted by Kevin Robb, St. Luke’s volunteer

Winter Contingency Plan

The City of Indianapolis and the Continuum of Care (CoC) Network have announced the release of the 2025–2026 Winter Contingency Plan. This plan outlines coordinated efforts to provide shelter, warmth, and support for individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Indianapolis and Central Indiana during periods of severe winter weather. The goal is simple but critical: to prevent serious harm or loss of life due to cold weather.

Plan Activation Period: December 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026

• The Family & Single Women’s Overflow Shelter (Tibbs) will remain open continuously from December 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026, regardless of temperature, to ensure families have uninterrupted access to shelter and support.
  
• The Men’s Overflow Shelter (West Morris), in a new pilot, will be activated based on National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts of 25°F air temperature or below, a 15°F windchill, or precipitation with a windchill of 25°F from December 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026.
  

The full details of the plan, which also details extended day center hours based on weather conditions and Indy Parks warming center schedules, can be found at chipindy.org/Winter-Contingency

Want to Get Involved? Please contact Aspire Indiana Health at wintercontingency@aspireindiana.org to support with supplies or volunteer your time, or donate via the winter contingency Amazon Wishlist linked here. Together, we can ensure that every person in Indianapolis has access to safety, warmth, and care this winter.