5/22/2008
Media Contact:
Marcus J. Barlow
Press Secretary
Office of the Mayor
E-mail: mbarlow@indygov.org
Office: 317-327-3713
Cell: 317-496-5515
Jessica Higdon
Deputy Press Secretary
Office of the Mayor
E-mail: jhigdon@indygov.org
Office: 317-327-3649
Cell: 317-281-5817 |
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BALLARD ANNOUNCES INDY’S DUAL CAMPAIGN TO AID CITY’S HOMELESS, ADDRESS PANHANDLING
Mayor urges residents and visitors to “Chip in at The Box”
INDIANAPOLIS – (May 22, 2008) Mayor Greg Ballard, joined by community leaders, announced today the beginning of “The Boxes” campaign to address panhandling downtown and provide housing, food, and assistance to those who are homeless in Marion County.
Secure metal drop-boxes are being installed at key locations in downtown Indianapolis, each displaying a message urging residents and visitors to “Chip in at The Box” instead of giving money to panhandlers. Money collected will be disbursed to organizations in Indianapolis that provide services to the county’s homeless population.
“Indianapolis is a city full of compassionate people,” Ballard said. “This campaign to help those who truly are homeless offers an opportunity to give money where it can make a real difference.”
Organizations that serve the homeless in Indianapolis report that many panhandlers are not homeless. Instead, they are scam artists who prey on the good nature of those who live, work, and visit downtown.
Ballard was joined at the announcement by Scott Newman, Director of Public Safety; Carl Brizzi, Marion County Prosecutor; Timothy Joyce, Executive Director of Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention (CHIP); Tamara Zahn, President of Indianapolis Downtown Inc.; and Lindsey Michaelides, Director of Development of Horizon House.
Following are stakeholder organizations in “The Boxes” campaign:
• Adult & Child Center, Inc.
• Beacon House
• BehaviorCorp
• Catholic Charities of Indianapolis
• Children’s Bureau Family Support Center
• Coburn Place
• Community Reinvestment Foundation
• Cummins Mental Health Center
• Dayspring Center
• Deeper Life Ministries
• Dove Recovery House for Women
• Eastern Star Jewel Human Services
• Faith, Hope & Love
• Gallahue Mental Health Center
• Gennesaret Free Clinic
• Good News Ministries
• Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana
• Homeless Initiative Program
• Hope International Ministries
• Horizon House
• HVAF of Indiana
• Indianapolis Private Industry Council
• Interfaith Hospitality Network
• John H. Boner Community Center
• Mental Health America of Greater Indianapolis
• Midtown Community Mental Health Center
• Missionaries of Charity
• Oasis of Hope Baptist Church
• Outreach, Inc.
• Partners in Housing Development Corporation
• Pourhouse, Inc.
• Quest for Excellence
• Salvation Army Harbor Light Center
• Salvation Army Social Services Center
• School on Wheels
• Second Helpings
• Spain's Residential Living
• Tear Down the Walls Ministries
• The Damien Center
• The Indy Dream Center
• The Julian Center
• Transitional Life Connections
• Trusted Partners
• Volunteers of America
• Westside Community Development Corporation
• Westside Community Ministries, Inc.
• Wheeler Mission Ministries
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