HUD: Homelessness Down in Indiana

Ben Carson is secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

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New estimates suggest homelessness is on its way down in Indiana. The latest numbers from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development show a 6.2 percent decrease in 2017 compared to the previous year.

The report measured homelessness on a single night in 2017. The department says 5,438 Hoosiers experienced homelessness on that night, a decrease of 360 since last year, and 15.7 percent lower since 2010. Nationally, homelessness increased by 0.7 percent since 2016, but has declined by 13.1 percent since 2010.

Long-term homelessness is also following the downward trend. The department says local communities are reporting long-term chronic homelessness decreased 8.8 percent since 2016 and by 37.3 percent since 2010. Veteran homelessness is down 7.2 percent since 2016 and by nearly 20 percent since 2010.

HUD says it is working with local communities to strengthen efforts to count unaccompanied homeless children. That number is estimated at 294 in Indiana in 2017.