Indianapolis gives update on homeless camp in Fountain Square, closure date unknown

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — August 11 was the deadline to leave, but the camp has remained the same. The City of Indianapolis now says it will close the homeless camp on Leonard Street after following a pilot program that put individuals from another homeless camp into housing, according to a press release.

When that will happen, is unknown.

Streets to Home Indy says they successfully closed their first homeless encampment in Indianapolis, housing 10 individuals, and will now focus on the Leonard Street encampment in the Fountain Square Neighborhood.

The initiative, announced in June 2025, aims to end chronic and unsheltered homelessness in Indianapolis by 2028. In its first phase, Streets to Home Indy plans to house and provide services to 300-350 unsheltered individuals over the next 12 months.

However, the press release does not mention a new closure date for the encampment in Fountain Square. The press release reads: “During the typical Streets to Home Indy process, camps will not be
named before the engagement begins to protect the privacy of unsheltered residents, and to prevent
additional individuals from sleeping in unsafe locations. For future encampments including Leonard
Street, Streets to Home Indy will share progress after a site is closed and residents are
housed.”

“The Leonard Street encampment has been a top priority for our agency and partners,” said Andrew Merkley, Director of the Office of Public Health and Safety. “We appreciate everyone’s patience – we needed to ensure the best outcomes for our unhoused and housed neighbors, acting with compassion and diligence to find the right solution.” “In successfully completing our pilot that housed 10 individuals, Streets to Home Indy is ready to move to another location,” said Chelsea Haring-Cozzi, CEO of CHIP. “This is exactly what Streets to Home Indy is designed to do—address encampments through housing solutions, not displacement.”

The Streets to Home Indy initiative uses a Direct to Housing Encampment Response model, focusing intensively on one encampment site at a time to house all individuals regularly sleeping there. This model was supported by national consulting firm Clutch. Local service provider Horizon House provided street outreach and case management services for the pilot, while RDOOR supported housing navigation, unit location, landlord engagement, and rental assistance administration.

The Indianapolis Department of Public Works, Department of Metropolitan Development, and IMPD’s Homeless Unit supported closure maintenance. Street outreach and navigation teams will continue to work with unhoused individuals at the Leonard Street site as well as those who have moved on from the site. The housing process typically takes between four to six weeks to complete.

No new campers will be allowed at the Leonard Street site. Streets to Home Indy has a list of all unhoused individuals associated with the site, including those who have moved to other locations. Additional partners will provide support to preserve public health and safety at the Leonard Street site, while rehousing activities continue. IMPD will patrol the area and respond to criminal activity, and Keys to Work, another city agency, will keep the encampment clean.

Streets to Home Indy is now preparing to address the Leonard Street encampment, focusing on connecting its residents to housing solutions.

While the press release does not mention a when the camp will be removed, it says when a camp is cleaned out, an announcement will be made.

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