Alyssa Clark has been homeless for most of this year. She’s been couch surfing after her house burned down in February.
But it isn’t always possible — or safe — to find a place to stay overnight. So Clark, 28, has resorted to sleeping outside some nights.
“Me and a friend huddled together to keep warm,” she said.
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Homeless in Indy this winter? Here’s where to find shelter.
Some shelters take in more people during the coldest months of the year.
In previous years, Clark might have found shelter as part of the city’s winter contingency plan. But unlike other years, the extra shelter space won’t be available until Dec. 1. Winter contingency used to start Nov. 1.
Andrew Merkley, director of the Office of Public Health and Safety, told Mirror Indy that the decision is partly because of a changing climate.
“We have witnessed November warming over the last few years,” he said.
Data from the National Weather Service shows the average November temperature in Indianapolis hasn’t changed much over the last five years. But the temperature still regularly drops below freezing. This November, there have been at least four days at or below freezing and 13 days with temperatures below 40 degrees.
To Clark, delaying a plan meant to help her survive the winter doesn’t make sense.
“The people that are pushing it off,” she said, “I’m sure they don’t have to deal with the outside weather.”
Merkley, when asked to respond to Clark, said the decision to move winter contingency from November to December came from a group of partners — not just the city.
“I can certainly understand the frustration,” he said.
‘I wasn’t asked about it’
Organizations that helped make the decision included advocacy groups and service providers, Merkley said. That includes the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention and Horizon House.
But some were caught off guard.
The Rev. David Greene said he doesn’t think there was a real debate about when to start winter contingency.
Greene represents the faith community on the Blueprint Council, which serves as the decision-making body for Indianapolis’ homelessness response coalition.
“I wasn’t asked about it,” he said. “I was told about it.”
Merkley said a group of partners took a “consensus vote” in June to push back the start of winter contingency. Some other cities — including Kansas City, Missouri — also start winter contingency in December.
Michelle Shelburne, executive director of the homelessness outreach group Sanctuary Indy, said she wasn’t added to an email chain about winter contingency until August.
Sanctuary Indy is part of the Professional Blended Street Outreach team, a group of service providers that helps people experiencing homelessness.
“There are nights when there are emergency situations with the weather in November,” Shelburne said.
But Merkley said the decision to start winter contingency on Dec. 1 was also informed by data from Wheeler Mission, the city’s largest shelter provider.
Brian Crispin, chief marketing and communications officer at Wheeler, said the organization doesn’t see a spike in demand at its shelters until December.
Wheeler used to organize winter contingency in Indianapolis. But the organization stepped away from that role last year because of a strain on resources, which led to local government playing a larger role in the plan.
“We support anybody’s efforts, including the city, to jump in and help in any way possible,” Crispin said.
Where to find shelter this winter
When winter contingency starts, there will be two extra shelters open: one serving individual women and women with families, and another serving individual men.
Men should start by calling Wheeler Mission Shelter for Men at 317-687-6795.
If Wheeler is at capacity, you may be referred to the Assessment and Intervention Center at the Community Justice Campus.
West Morris Free Methodist Church will serve as an overflow shelter site, but only if the temperature is 25 degrees or below.
Women should start by calling Wheeler Mission Center for Women and Children at 317-687-3630.
There will be an overflow shelter for women and families at 2406 N. Tibbs Ave.
You can see the winter contingency plan here.
You can find a more complete list of homeless resources here.
Mirror Indy, a nonprofit newsroom, is funded through grants and donations from individuals, foundations and organizations.
Mirror Indy reporter Tyler Fenwick covers housing and labor. Contact him at 317-766-1406 or tyler.fenwick@mirrorindy.org. Follow him on X @ty_fenwick and Bluesky @tyfenwick.bsky.social.
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