INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Tent after tent on Tuesday lined Leonard Street between Virginia and Woodlawn in the Fountain Square neighborhood near downtown Indianapolis.

Residents told News 8 that homeless people about three months ago set up one or three tents, and it’s expanded now to more than 25 tents.

One homeowner across the street from the encampment reportedly called police after she said she saw two homeless people fighting, one of them was waving a sharp scissor.

She’s not the only resident tired of encampment next to their home.

Kyle Christie lives in a home close by the encampment. “I think everyone’s a little frustrated because, at this point, they’ve been here for about three months. Initially, there weren’t any issues, but, just last week, they threw trash in our recycling.”

Christie said one homeless woman picked up a stray dog he found. He said she claimed it was hers, but he later found out she served time for killing dogs and cats. After he reported her to police, they found a dozen malnourished animals.

“There are a lot that are super-helpful and just having a hard time and down on their luck, and there are also a lot that are really suspicious. I will say across the board if they see something or hear something illegal, they’ll never call the cops. It’s an area that’s lawless over there, which is concerning.”

Kenneth Washington said he pitched his tent early this summer because the area was quiet. “We don’t bother nobody. We want peace of mind. We keep it clean. I guess they don’t want us here but we have no where else to go.”

He says there aren’t a lot of resources available. He just wants a quiet, shady place where he can put up a tent and live, “some place away from the community.”

The traffic of cars divides the homeless encampment from homes worth half a million dollars.

Joby Salinas works at Square Scoop Ice Cream shop down the street. He passes by the tents on his way to work.

“It’s concerning to me. I go to L.A. a lot and its very reminiscent of downtown L.A. and Venice Beach and places like that. It’s very disheartening for me to see just driving pass there because it gets worse every single time I go pass there. Now, it (the campsite) fills the entire street to the (Indianapolis) Cultural Trail.

“I want to see better policies and places, better places for (homeless) people to go.”

Statements

“For the past several months, I’ve heard from many residents expressing growing concerns about homeless encampments across our community. As a City-County Councilor, I do not take these concerns lightly. In May, my colleagues and I on the Council approved $2.7 million in funding for the Streets to Home initiative — a program designed to transition individuals experiencing homelessness from encampments into safe, stable housing.”

City-County Councilor Kristin Jones, a Democrat

“IMPD will continue to respond to calls for service in the area and utilize the IMPD Homeless Outreach Unit when appropriate. OPHS will continue to work with its outreach partners to engage with those in this area. OPHS, IMPD’s Homeless Outreach Unit and service providers also work to connect unsheltered individuals with housing, addiction services, and medical care.  Addressing homelessness requires a city-wide and community-wide effort.  

Last month, Streets to Home Indy was announced, which is a targeted initiative to end chronic and unsheltered homelessness in Indianapolis. Phase One of Streets to Home Indy, which aims to house and provide wraparound services to an estimated 350 unsheltered individuals living on the streets, is currently underway. The City of Indianapolis is also utilizing housing initiatives like St. George Bridge Housing and the pilot Master Leasing program to rapidly house unsheltered individuals.”

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and the Indiana Office of Public Health and Safety

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