Indiana House Bill 1662 is advancing to the House floor this week after clearing the committee on Monday. The bill proposes increasing arrests, citations, and incarceration of individuals experiencing homelessness for non-violent, victimless offenses such as sleeping outside. This approach is not only harmful but also undermines the autonomy of local authorities and effective, evidence-based programs that have successfully helped individuals secure and maintain stable housing. 

Stand with Hoosiers and Support Effective Housing Solutions 

H.B. 1662 undermines the effective, evidence-based work of Indiana’s Continuum of Cares (CoC) by imposing a costly and ineffective one-size-fits-all approach that relies on policing and jailing. This perpetuates a homeless-to-jail cycle, creating long-term barriers for individuals to secure employment and stable housing. 

This approach is counterproductive and costly to taxpayers, with cities and counties spending $6,875 less per person by avoiding engagements with police and emergency response systems. Empowering CoCs and local leaders, with their in-depth knowledge of their communities, is the best way to address these challenges effectively. Investing in real housing solutions is the only way forward. 

Email: Fill in your information in the pre-written form and your letter will be automatically sent to your representative. Customizing the letter can add a personal touch to share why policing is not the way forward for Indiana.  

Call: If you prefer to call your representative, you can use the script below to ask their office to protect Medicaid. Dial 866-426-2631 and ask to speak to your members directly.  

Sample Call Script: 

Hello, my name is [Your Name], and I am a constituent from [Your City]. I am calling to ask you to vote no to Indiana House Bill 1662, which proposes increasing arrests, citations, and incarceration of individuals experiencing homelessness for non-violent, victimless offenses like sleeping outside. 

This bill threatens to undermine the hard work of Indiana’s Continuum of Cares and local authorities, which is rooted in evidence-based and cost-effective programs. Relying on policing and jails perpetuates a homeless-to-jail cycle and creates significant long-term barriers for individuals experiencing homelessness, making it more difficult for them to secure employment and stable housing. 

Moreover, this approach is costly to taxpayers. Cities and counties typically spend $6,875 less per person by avoiding engagements with police and emergency response systems. This is money that could otherwise be invested in supportive housing and other evidence-based solutions. 

Empowering CoCs and local leaders, with their in-depth knowledge of their communities, is the best way to address these challenges effectively. I urge [Representative's Name] to oppose H.B. 1662 and support effective solutions that truly address the root causes of homelessness and help individuals secure stable housing. 

Thank you for your time and consideration.