INDIANAPOLIS (MIRROR INDY) — A program that gave people a safe place to park and sleep in their cars overnight has closed. But the founder hopes this is only temporary.
Safe Park Indy opened its first parking lot less than a year ago at a church on the northeast side.
The founder, Elizabeth Friedland, knew back then that there were more people living in their cars than many realized. But even she was caught off guard by such a high demand.
The waitlist ballooned to more than 400 people. And even after opening a second parking lot, Safe Park Indy couldn’t serve more than 20 at a time.
“I knew that there would be a bigger demand than people thought,” Friedland told Mirror Indy. “But I had no idea it would be to this level.”
Friedland, who works in corporate communications, volunteered her time running the program. There was also a volunteer board of directors.
“Logistically,” she said, “it just wasn’t possible to give it the attention it deserved to be successful.”
How to help
Friedland is looking for an established nonprofit to pick up the program.
Safe Park Indy proved the need is there, she said. And the group collected data along the way to help better understand the population of people living in their cars.
A survey of those on the waitlist showed 28% of people had attended college, and 8% had a bachelor’s degree.
“We had nurses, we had social workers, we had teachers,” Friedland said.
The average age was 40, and half had at least one job.
If you’re interested in helping keep Safe Park Indy going, email Friedland at elizabeth.friedland@gmail.com.
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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