Mayor Joe Hogsett on Friday announced the appointment of Andrew Merkley as the new director of the Office of Public Health and Safety. The appointment was effective this week.
Merkley serves as the administrator for the Division of Homelessness Policy and Eviction Prevention within OPHS. In this role, he leads efforts to address housing insecurity. Under his leadership, Indianapolis sheltered residents during the Covid-19 pandemic, established the Tenant Advocacy Project to provide legal support for tenants facing eviction, and is moving forward with development of the city’s first low-barrier homeless shelter and housing hub, according to a news release.
Merkley has also fostered partnerships across government agencies, nonprofits, and the justice system to collaborate on public health initiatives. These connections include the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, the Corporation for Supportive Housing, Indianapolis Continuum of Care, the Blueprint Council, Horizon House, and Adult and Child. He also serves on the Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Centers Advisory Board and steering committees for both the Housing to Recovery Fund and Healthy Beginnings at Home.
A news release sent by Hogsett’s office says, “As a graduate of the Fairbanks School of Public Health, he is committed to advancing policies that address social drivers of health. In addition to his service to the City of Indianapolis, Andrew worked at the statehouse helping implement strategic policies related to public health and safety, education, and immigration.”
“Andrew Merkley is a public servant who is passionate about using his public health and policy expertise to uplift some of the most vulnerable communities in Indianapolis. I look forward to seeing how Andrew’s leadership will support the Office of Public Health and Safety’s mission to leverage public safety and public health agencies alongside community partners to improve life outcomes for residents while addressing the root causes of crime.”
— Joe Hogsett, mayor of Indianapolis
This article was written by WFYI’s Jay Adkins.
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