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Libraries Indiana University Bloomington

Housing Insecurity

Resources for students experiencing housing insecurity in Bloomington.

Support Services in Bloomington, IN

First and foremost, students should choose support services that best fit their needs. These needs may need to be fulfilled outside the university. Bloomington, IN has many support organizations for people who experience homelessness and housing insecurity. These are a selection of programs in the area. For more information, check the comprehensive lists at the bottom of the page. 

Having an emergency?

Students can contact IU's Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) 24/7 to speak to a crisis counselor at (812) 855-5711 or call 911 for Emergency Services

You may also contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-274-8255.

Support from the Bloomington Community

Housing and Neighborhood Development (HAND)

Housing and Neighborhood Development (HAND) is a department of the Bloomington Indiana city government. HAND is designed to enhances the quality of life for Bloomington residents by developing programs, services, and partnerships to preserve community character, promote affordable housing and encourage neighborhood vitality. HAND also acts as municipal code enforcement for rental properties in the city of Bloomington by ensuring rented spaces pass health and sanitation codes in addition to providing inspections of rental housing. If an off-campus student is having difficulty with their landlord or rental property, HAND would be an organization to consult to resolve the issue

Services include:

  • Historic preservation
  • Neighborhood services
  • Municipal Code enforcement and inspection of rental housing,

Contact HAND:

  • Phone: 812-349-3420
  • Address: 401 N Morton Street, Suite 130, Bloomington IN 47404

South Central Community Action Program (SCCAP)

South Central Community Action Program (SCCAP is a non profit organization working to provide opportunities for low-income individuals and families to achieve personal and economic independence. Serving Monroe, Morgan, Owen, and Brown Counties, SCCAP had worked to reduce the impact of poverty in the service area.

A quote from the SCAAP Purpose Statement (2022):

  • "Provide support and opportunity for self-development efforts by the low-income community and its members.
  • Engage in advocacy and representation of the interests of the low-income community, while facilitating self-representation.
  • Network with public and private agencies concerned with improving the quality of human life.
  • Demonstrate innovative and effective approaches for dealing with causes and effects of poverty.
  • Operate state and federal programs designed to meet specific needs of low-income individuals and families."

SCCAP Servicesand Programs include:

  • Energy Assistance: Providing assistance with winter fuel bills for households in Brown, Morgan, Monroe, and Owen counties
  • Head Start / Early Head Start: Family centered child development program whose programs work to enhance the social and cognitive development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social and other services to enrolled children and families. 
  • Weatherization: Increasing the energy efficiency of a home and improving health and safety conditions for its occupants.
  • Thriving Connections: A collaborative, community program that makes personal and community connections that are important for successful life change of all participants. "A Thriving Connections Ship is a supportive friendship across class lines, made up of one Captain who is living on a low-income and three or four Allies who are living on a middle-class income. A Ship typically meets once or twice a month to work toward achieving the Captain's plans for moving out of poverty." - SCCAP (2022)
  • Housing Choice Options: SCCAP works to provide Housing Choice Vouchers to assist very low-income households with safe, decent, and sanitary housing.
  • Growing Opportunities: An urban hydroponic farm that provides fresh produce and nutrition education to everyone in the service area

For more information about these services, check out their website below.

 

SCCAP Main Office (Monroe County) Contact Information:

  • Phone: 812-339-3447
  • Address: 1500 W 15th Street, Bloomington Indiana 47404

Community Kitchen of Monroe County

Community Kitchen provides free nutritious meals, nutrition education, referrals to other agencies, and a clean, comfortable social environment for patrons, staff and volunteers. In addition to meal service, Community Kitchen participates in outreach to educate the community on the extend of hunger and food insecurity in Monroe County.

Services include:

  • Sit-down Meals: Community Kitchen serves dinner from 4:00 - 6:00 PM, Monday-Saturday all year long, with no questions asked.
  • Community Kitchen express:  Both warm and cold carryout meals from our second location at 1100 W 11th St
  • Ellettsville Location: Run out of the Community Kitchen food truck, the kitchen provides both warm and cold carryout meals in Ellettsville, IN. 
  • Feed Our Future: Through this program, the kitchen provides sack lunch type meals and healthy snacks to at-risk children and youth in after-school programs.
  • Back Pack Buddies: Community Kitchen gives backpacks of weekend food to selected low-income children at twenty-one local schools.
  • Nutrition Links: Two reheatable meals per day are delivered to selected local HIV+ patients
  • Senior Links: One reheatable meal per day is delivered to selected low-income homebound seniors.

*Services offered by Community Kitchen of Monroe County are available to everyone. There are no eligibility requirements. *

 

Contact Community Kitchen:

  • Phone: 
  • Address (Main Location): 1515 S Rogers St, Bloomington IN 47403

Monroe County Public Library

Monroe County Public Library (MCPL) provides another alternative for a quiet place to study for students experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. The Downtown Branch of MCPL also provides the space for weekly medical screenings with an established medical organization. No questions asked, patrons are able to meet with a trained professional to get consultation on medication questions and conditions.

 

Services Include:

  • Free COVID-19 Vaccinations and Transportation
  • Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests
  • Internet Access
  • Community Access television Services
  • Non Profit Central
  • Weekly Medical Screenings

 

Contact Information (Downtown Location):

  • Phone: 812-349-3050
  • Address: 303 E. Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, IN 47408

More Information