Safe Park Indy
Safe Park Indy is a citizen-led, grassroots initiative to provide safe overnight parking, basic amenities and a connection to social services for the unsheltered in Indianapolis living in their cars.
Ready to make a difference? Become a Safe Park Indy donor today.
Living in your car and need a safe place to park? Apply to the program now.
Are you homeless, living in your vehicle and needing a safe place to park overnight? Apply to the program now.
What's safe parking?
Safe parking is a tested and proven strategy that has bridged the gap for homeless individuals in communities across the country for 20+ years.
Safe parking provides access to safe, legal overnight parking for individuals and families living in their vehicles, along with case management, a connection to social services, and access to basic human services, like clean water, food, restrooms and phone charging stations. Locations such as businesses and places of worship provide their parking lots for use during the evening, overnight and early morning hours to host unhoused individuals in their cars.
The safe parking model typically includes:
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Community collaboration and input
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An intake process with housing navigation assistance.
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Defined hours of operation at specific locations, with permitted guests sheltering in their cars in the parking lot
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Restroom facilities, security personnel and on-site outreach, such as food distribution
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Guest accountability
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A path to housing
Safe parking programs are proven to provide:
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Increased safety and security for people and their property
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Increased access to services and employment and/or education opportunities
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Improved rest, which can lead to better outcomes in areas such as physical and mental health and employment
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More day-to-day stability
Safe parking is not intended to be a permanent solution, but rather helps people stay safe -- and connected to social services -- while on the path to finding stable housing.
The Need in Indianapolis
Even by modest estimates, Indy has far more individuals needing shelter than we have available space. While there are numerous safe parking programs around the country, Indy has no such initiative -- until now.
Safe parking is not meant to replace shelters and long-term housing; it's a much needed crisis response for those with nowhere else to turn.
The 2024 Point-in-Time Count identified more than 1,700 homeless individuals in Indianapolis. But because most surveys of people experiencing homelessness exclude or undercount people living in their vehicles, the actual number of individuals experiencing vehicular homelessness is unknown; some experts estimate more than 100,000 nationwide. Sheltering in vehicles is often a first stop for individuals who lose permanent housing. Without intervention and support, many fall deeper into homelessness and may eventually end up on the streets.
The reasons that people experiencing homelessness reside in their cars rather than in shelters are many and may include:
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Long waiting lists for transitional and/or affordable housing
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Lack of available shelter space, or appropriate space to keep a family unit together (particularly for couples, families with children, LGBTQ individuals and people with pets)
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Available shelter space may be inaccessible to people with disabilities or inappropriate for some individuals (e.g., some people with PTSD)
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Shelter hours are incompatible with work schedules or are too far from work locations
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Desire for stability, autonomy and privacy
Who We Serve
To be admitted to the safe parking program:
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Individuals must be homeless and living in their vehicles. (We do not serve those who are living in their vehicles as an intentional lifestyle choice.)
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Individuals cannot have a history of violent crimes, crimes sexual in nature/those on the sex offender registry, or active warrants. We conduct a national background check before admittance into the program.
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Individuals must sign and agree to the Client Code of Conduct.
We welcome clients of any gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ethnicity, race, faith or other protected characteristics. We also welcome clients with pets.
We do not allow RVs, campers, trailers or buses.
Lot locations are not made public. Once a client is admitted into the program, they will be provided with the lot location.
Board of Directors
Elizabeth Friedland, Executive Director
Elizabeth has worked in global corporate communications for more than 20 years. She's a foster care and adoption advocate and runs a network of local food pantries.
Molly Connor
Molly is a content creator, marketer, advocate and ally. She currently serves as the content director for BCforward.
Monica Miller
Monica is a pharmacist and clinical professor at Purdue University. She travels the world to lead global public health initiatives.
Emily Wachner
Emily is a Yale-educated Episcopal priest and current medical student. She's passionate about women's health and providing healthcare to the unhoused.
Keri Hughes
Keri is a former director of fair housing and founder of Plaid and Pearls Coffee Lounge. She also serves on the event planning team for the Indy Black Professionals.
Teresa Greenwood
Teresa has many years of professional experience as an outreach worker with local homelessness organizations.
Support Indy's unhoused neighbors.
Donate to Safe Park Indy today.
Contact Us
Want to get involved as a volunteer, donor and/or learn more about being a lot host? Contact us below or email safeparkindy@gmail.com.
If you are homeless and need a safe place to park, please apply here.
©2024 by Safe Park Indy