Fountain Square homeless encampment to shut down in August

INDIANAPOLIS — The City of Indianapolis is planning to shut down a homeless encampment in Fountain Square next month.

The Indianapolis Office of Public Health and Safety (OPHS) announced on Friday a 17-day notice of its plan to shut down the encampment located southwest of the intersection of Virginia Avenue and Leonard Street. The release said the area is public property and would remain “permanently closed to camping and storage of personal property.”

The department said the closure will take effect on Monday, Aug. 11, and that it would provide storage bins that individuals can use to store their personal items for up to 60 days.

“The Professional Blended Street Outreach Teams, the IMPD Homeless Unit, and other service producers will make every effort to provide temporary or permanent housing options to any person who has been camping in this area,” the release said.

Any unlabelled items that are found in the area after Aug. 11 will be removed and discarded. Questions can be directed to the IMPD Homeless Unit at 317-327-6506.

Other local organizations are available to help individuals experiencing homelessness. These include Horizon House, Wheeler Mission, and the Assessment & Intervention Center.