Heading Home Partnerships

Collaboration is a key value in our work
to end homelessness.

Partnerships are at the core of Heading Home’s work. Here’s an overview of our key local and regional collaborations.

South Central Housing Network: Heading Home provides logistical support to SCHN, a regional network of organizations that receive federal funding to provide shelter, housing and other assistance. Other entities and individuals working in the homeless response system are also members. SCHN is the regional planning council for the Balance of State Continuum of Care in Region 10, an area that includes Monroe, Morgan, Lawrence, Owen, Greene and Martin counties. Membership meetings occur bi-monthly. Mary Morgan, Heading Home’s Executive Director, serves on the SCHN board.

Built for Zero Core Team: This region is the first in Indiana to join Built for Zero, a national initiative working with over 100 communities to reduce homelessness. Heading Home facilitates this BFZ partnership in collaboration with the following core team of regional partners:

  • Melissa Burgess, HealthNet Homeless Initiative Program
  • Jennifer Burnam, WellSpring Center
  • Heather Flynn, Stone City Alliance for Recovery & Hope / Bedford Men’s Warming Shelter
  • Forrest Gilmore, Beacon Inc.
  • Mary Morgan, Heading Home
  • Scott Pietrovich, consultant with lived experience / Indiana Recovery Alliance
  • Emily Pike, South Central Housing Network / New Hope for Families
  • Danielle Sorden, Region 10 Coordinated Entry Lead / Beacon Inc.
  • Tatiana Wheeler, Heading Home

Heading Home Housing Action Plan Coalition: Heading Home convened this group in 2024 to develop recommendations for addressing unsheltered homelessness in Monroe County. Core team members are:

  • Melissa Burgess, HealthNet Homeless Initiative Program
  • Forrest Gilmore, Beacon Inc.
  • Aja Jester, consultant with lived experience / South Central Community Action Program
  • Dana Jones, Wheeler Mission Bloomington
  • Mary Morgan, Heading Home
  • Emily Pike, South Central Housing Network / New Hope for Families
  • Carrie Stillions, Middle Way House
  • Tatiana Wheeler, Heading Home

Addressing Unsheltered Homelessness: In 2025, the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County announced that it received a 5-year grant from the Lilly Endowment to address unsheltered homelessness. Heading Home is taking the lead in implementing that grant, which includes hiring six street outreach case managers and three diversion & prevention case managers. Those case managers are Heading Home staff who are embedded at partner agencies throughout the community. Partner agencies include:

  • Beacon Inc.
  • Bloomington Township Trustee
  • Centerstone
  • HealthNet Homeless Initiative Program
  • Monroe County Public Library
  • New Hope for Families
  • Perry Township Trustee