Indianapolis’ 2026 homeless count remains largely unchanged from the previous year, with 1,821 people experiencing homelessness, just six more than in 2025.

Details of the Count

The count, conducted on January 28, found that there were fewer people staying outside this year, with 272 individuals unsheltered, down from 331 in 2025. Most people, 1,346, were in emergency shelters, while 203 were in transitional housing.

The number of people experiencing chronic homelessness also decreased, from 401 to 369. Chronic homelessness is defined as being homeless for more than a year and having a health condition or disability.

Abe Roll, data narrator for the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention, noted that the count represents more than just numbers, but real people who deserve a place to call home.

Efforts to Address Homelessness

One possible reason for the decrease in unsheltered homelessness is the extreme cold weather on the night of the count. However, Roll also attributed the improvement to the Streets to Home program, which has been housing people from encampments since July 2025. As of July 29, the program has housed around 220 people.

Original reporting: Mirror Indy — read the source article.