Get the facts about homelessness—and how we’re working to end it.
For donors, volunteers, and community members, we understand that there are a lot of misconceptions surrounding homelessness. For our guests, we know that you may not know what to do, or you may be overwhelmed by trying to choose the right service.
That’s why LTHC Homeless Services is here to help you understand the facts about homelessness, how it affects people, and what we’re doing to end (not just manage) it.
How does homelessness affect children?
While homelessness negatively affects our adult guests, it can be especially devastating for children.
We encourage guests, especially those with school-aged children, to visit us for an assessment so that we can help them make decisions that will be best for the kids.
Why is homelessness an issue in our community?
Homelessness is a problem in Greater Lafayette, and virtually all communities, because of the lack of affordable housing. Without enough opportunities for individuals and families to be able to afford housing, we will continue to see the horrible consequence of homelessness. LTHC will continue to work with community partners to create opportunities for housing, however, we cannot do this work alone. The community must recognize that every sector has a role in addressing this growing crisis.
Without enough access to affordable housing, people will continue to struggle with housing insecurity. When you factor in issues such as physical and mental health issues, substance use disorder, abusive relationships, unemployment or underemployment, transportation, etc., the challenges to sustainable housing quickly become out of control.
Being without housing is traumatic. People in trauma make bad decisions, have poor follow-through, do not keep commitments, and are easily victimized. Please remember that the next time you meet an unhoused neighbor -- they are having a much worse day than you are, guaranteed.
When guests call, what questions do they ask?
If you or someone you love is experiencing a housing crisis, you’re probably overwhelmed and have lots of questions. Here are answers to a few of the most common questions we get.
We first invite our guests to visit us for an assessment with a case manager. Guests will describe their situation and housing crisis, and the case manager will help guests determine which program and resources work best for them.
Once guests speak with a case manager about their situation, he or she will provide a list of programs and services, including:
- Homeless Services Program (HSP)
- Rapid Re-Housing (RRH)
- Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF)
- Day Resource Center
- Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH)
- Engagement Center
Our guests also have access to a variety of agencies for housing and supportive services.
Guests can also call 211 (the social services version of 911) if they’re in a housing emergency. They can ask the operator for Indiana or Tippecanoe County options, and the operator can pull up the following information:
- Cities, counties, and zip codes
- Food pantry hours, addresses, and rules
- Shelter hours, addresses, and rules
How has LTHC helped guests?
Here are some statistics about the guests we served from October 2022 to September 2023. And, we’ve helped many more since then!
Ready to help us end homelessness in our community?
1. Learn more about homelessness in your community.
2. Come in for a tour to learn about volunteer and donation opportunities.
3. Be part of the solution to end our guests’ homelessness.