After the frigid temperatures, ice and snow of recent weeks, it’s something we all can appreciate.

On January 30, the Indiana Pacers and Dick’s Sporting Goods teamed up with Pacers’ Point Guard T.J. Ford for his annual Coat Drive benefiting HealthNet’s Homeless Initiative Program (HIP).

Hundreds of families stopped by the Dick’s Sporting Goods at Castleton Square Mall on a cold, Sunday afternoon to donate new or gently used coats. In return, they received one ticket per donated coat for an upcoming Indiana Pacers game.

Fans lined up for the opportunity to meet T.J. in person, as well as Boomer and the Pacemates. They also brought something to leave behind. In less than two hours, more than 250 coats had been donated – all for homeless men, women, boys and girls.

Over 250 coats were collected and distributed for HIP clients! Thank you to all who donated!

This was the sixth year for the coat drive and it couldn’t have come at a better time, with temperatures plummeting and the wind chill near record levels. In a matter of days, the Homeless Initiative Program staff distributed the coats to grateful homeless clients around Indy.

It’s not too late to help. HIP is always in need of coats and other items, and we are grateful for any and all support in meeting the basic needs of our clients.

If you, your work colleagues, church group or volunteer organization would like to help, please use this list for ideas of other ways to host a drive of your own:

• New underwear and T-shirts
• Sweatpants and sweatshirts
• Gift Cards – anything to provide a hot meal or basic needs items
• Diapers/pull-ups/baby wipes
• Socks and shoes
• Toiletries

You can help too!!

HealthNet’s Blanket Indy with Care Campaign is over halfway completed, but we still need your help! Our goal is to raise $25,000 by February 25th.  Donate $5 and tell 5 friends because $5 x 5000 = $25,000!!  Learn more here.

In an article from the Detroit Free Press, it was noted that the average stay in a homeless shelter has dramatically declined.

“[A]verage stays dropped from four months to 28 days since summer,” Executive Director [of South Oakland Shelter], Ryan Hertz, said.

In an earlier post, I touched on the importance of the ‘housing first’ approach.  Getting someone housed takes a weight off of their shoulders and allows them to focus on utilizing support services they may need to overcome addiction or mental illness.  “In Detroit, Southwest Counseling Solutions used the approach to find permanent housing for more than 600 mentally ill clients in the last five years, Executive Director Joseph Tardella said.”

People with mental illness or addiction can not simply be asked to stay in a shelter and be expected to recover or suddenly act responsibly.  Only in rare cases can people recover by themselves under these circumstances.  Indiana took initiative in 2003 and came up with the Blueprint to End Homelessness focusing on housing first and housing plus (affordable housing plus support services).

What do you think the pros and cons are for the housing first approach? Comment below.

Winter is tough for homeless outreach teams everywhere.  No one likes to see a man like Richie – “On a loading dock on E Street, a mound of frozen gray blankets rustled, and out from the pile rose their man, bundled in an assortment of jackets and hooded sweatshirts.” – deciding to stay on the streets of Boston despite the heavy snow fall.

Some of the homeless who won’t take blankets, gloves, sweatshirts, or shelter suffer from drug or alcohol abuse and maybe even mental illness.  Whatever the reason, no person should be without OPTIONS.  The advocates who found Richie were workers from the Pine Street Inn in Boston that began four decades ago to provide shelter for men suffering from alcoholism.

“[Jim Greene, director of Boston’s Emergency Shelter Commission] urged anyone who sees a homeless person in the cold to call 911, the quickest way to get help. Extreme weather can cause confusion and disorientation, he said. ‘Time is of the essence,’ he said.”

Although we may not be experiencing the weather of the East Coast, you can still help the homeless on the streets in Indianapolis this winter:

• Provide coats, gloves, hats, winter gear, etc. to HealthNet’s Homeless Initiative Program (HIP)
• Raise awareness about how to help the homeless in times of cold weather
• Donate directly to HIP online