Dec. 26—ANDERSON — The city of Anderson this week took a step toward helping the community’s homeless population.
The administration of Mayor Thomas Broderick Jr. awarded $900,000 in American Rescue Plan funding to Aspire Indiana Health.
The award was recommended by the city’s Committee on the Homeless during the appropriation of American Rescue Plan funds. The $900,000 earmarked to help the homeless was approved in the plan by the Anderson City Council.
The City Council voted last week to donate $250,000 to the city’s Homeless Task Force, which was created this year.
Aspire Indiana “is a nonprofit, fully integrated ‘whole health’ provider with a broad range of services including primary medical care, behavioral health care, substance abuse disorders and programs addressing social factors of health,” according to the organization’s website.
Broderick said Tuesday that Aspire will provide homeless services to address mental health, substance abuse and housing issues.
The Anderson Community Development Department is working with the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Agency to secure $1.4 million to purchase housing for the homeless, the mayor said.
“We wanted an agency that is involved in providing outreach services to the homeless population,” Broderick said, noting that the federal funds could be available in April.
He noted that homes will also be purchased with funds available to make necessary repairs.
Broderick said his administration was considering using a school building not currently used by Anderson Community Schools to help the homeless. But the building was not within the city limits.
“The money had to be spent in the city,” he explained.
Terms of the two-year agreement with Aspire include the city providing a Community Development Department home at 718 W. 17th Street for temporary housing for a family with children.
The contract provides $528,138 for outreach services, including the hiring of two outreach workers, a peer review officer, a case manager and a part-time public safety officer.
It also provides $371,864 for housing, including hiring a housing navigator to help find affordable housing for homeless families.
The programs must start by April 1, 2025 and be completed by April 30, 2027, according to American Rescue Plan rules.
Aspire Indiana operates several medical care and substance abuse centers in Anderson, including Mockingbird Hill Recovery Center and DeHaven Mental Health Clinic.
Follow Ken de la Bastide on Twitter @KendelaBastide, or call 765-640-4863.
