Housing Insecurity
in Lawrence County
Convening in Bedford reviewed research, recommendations to address homelessness and housing insecurity.
On January 30, Heading Home of South Central Indiana convened a group of service providers, government leaders and others in Lawrence County to review a report on housing insecurity there. This research, commissioned by Heading Home, took a deep look at current housing needs and made recommendations on how to address them.
Click here to read the full report.
At the event, Indiana University professor Laura Littlepage reviewed the findings of her research, which was conducted in the summer of 2023.
The study includes data gathered from clients at two shelters in Lawrence County: Becky’s Place and the Bedford Men’s Warming Shelter. Interviews were also conducted with other stakeholders, and additional data was collected.
The research found that despite eviction moratoriums due to the COVID-19 pandemic, evictions spiked after they were lifted. From June 1, 2022, through June 1, 2023, 4% of the rental market (173) received eviction filings in Lawrence County.
Department of Education McKinney Vento data found 57 students in Lawrence County experiencing homelessness. Most students have at least one parent, so that gives an estimate of at least 120 people.
Laura Littlepage also noted that the relative burden of homelessness that rural communities face is higher than that faced in metropolitan areas. People in rural areas are less likely to stay on the streets but are more likely to sleep in their vehicles, in state or federal campground areas, or in substandard housing, she noted.
Click here to view the Jan. 30 slide presentation.
At the event, Heading Home staff led a discussion focused on the study’s recommendations, which included:
- Developing a landlord outreach program that incentivizes more landlords to accept tenants with housing vouchers
- Identifying and/or developing resources for case management
- Creating a task force of key community partners who are committed to addressing homelessness and housing insecurity in Lawrence County
The group prioritized recommendations and discussed other housing needs for the community.
As action items, Heading Home scheduled a follow-up session on Feb. 21 to create a housing task force. The group will meet monthly in Bedford to implement recommendations from the study. Co-chairs are Bobbie Ames, executive director of the Bedford Housing Authority, and Mary Morgan, Heading Home’s director.
Interested in joining the task force? Contact Mary Morgan at mary@headinghomeindiana.org.
