An encampment on the east side was forcibly dispersed by the IMPD after months of peaceful habitation. Days later, the city of Indianapolis mobilized the Department of Public Works to clear “brush, invasive vegetation and trees” in the area—disposing of any belongings that were left behind in the scramble.
In contrast to how encampments are often portrayed, when Indianapolis Hope Packages organizers visited the site, we met people trying to make the best of their situations. Residents were frustrated by the lack of understanding from city officials and institutional failures by the entities supposedly “helping” to connect them to resources.
While media coverage brought increased attention from city officials and service organizations, the true needs of this community went unaddressed. Without trash cans, waste piled up. Without running water or public toilets, residents had to make do with what they had. Without a mailing address or reliable places to charge their phones, they were unable to access the resources that city and nonprofit organizations “connected” them to, like food stamps and new IDs.
Instead of making it possible for these people to survive with dignity, our local government used their struggles as an excuse to tear their community apart, destroying the support network they had painstakingly built. In the wake of the encampment sweep by the IMPD and DPW, residents scattered. Some are relying on the generosity of friends; others have left in hopes that neighboring cities will offer more opportunities for stability.
As per usual, the city has prioritized removing homeless citizens from public view over actually meeting their needs. Meanwhile, thousands of homes sit empty and unused, many of which are owned by out-of-state landlords or shady LLCs.
Indianapolis Hope Packages firmly believes that housing is a human right, that our public spaces should be truly public, and that sweeping encampments does not contribute to real public safety, which can only be guaranteed through a commitment to public, accessible housing, quality education, nutritious food, and a living wage. The treatment of the east side encampment demonstrates once again the urgent need for an overhaul of the system to allow all of our neighbors to live with dignity.
Featured image: A sign raised at the now-dispersed encampment on Indianapolis’ east side. Credit: Indianapolis Liberation Center
