New program aims to help those living out of their vehicles in Indianapolis

In a groundbreaking move, Indianapolis is set to debut a unique parking solution for individuals living in their vehicles. WTHR recently spoke with two residents who are thankful for this initiative.

In Noblesville, Ryan Warner drives around with every possession packed into a nine-year-old Toyota Corolla. The car has been Warner's transportation during the day and a place to sleep since May.

“It’s been a long 4 months. (There's) not much space to turn around really, but just enough for someone my size to spin around if needed," Warner said.

Warner earns $15.50 an hour at a fast-food restaurant in Westfield. But when Warner's hours got cut, deciding where to spend money became a daily dilemma.

“Do I want to be comfortable in my car? Do I want to save money to get out of it? It seems like an obvious answer, but living day-to-day makes it complicated,” Warner said.

This year, the Indianapolis “Point in Time” Count identified 1,700 unhoused individuals—but that number doesn’t include all the people living in vehicles. It's estimated nationally 100,000 people are living in their cars.

“They're not the folks you might think of when you hear 'homeless.' Vehicle residents often work in plain sight and struggle during the night,” said Elizabeth Friedland, from Safe Park Indy.

Friedland is heading up the new initiative, providing 10 parking spots at a northeast Indianapolis church, where qualified applicants may safely park overnight for up to 60 days.

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