1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:04,440 Speaker 1: Data shows that homelessness has increased seven percent in Indy 2 00:00:04,559 --> 00:00:07,960 Speaker 1: this past year. Wade, what, yeah, I know, I know 3 00:00:08,039 --> 00:00:08,560 Speaker 1: you're shocked. 4 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:11,280 Speaker 2: It's time we say so. It was interesting and I 5 00:00:11,280 --> 00:00:14,000 Speaker 2: know this little devetail into this next story about how 6 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:15,560 Speaker 2: and I think this was in large part of the 7 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 2: work that the Indie Reporter account did with those dash 8 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:21,520 Speaker 2: cam videos that he was doing. That homeless camp in 9 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:24,440 Speaker 2: near Fountain Square is shutting down. And this is when 10 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:26,639 Speaker 2: we talk about, you know, the idea of citizen activism, 11 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:29,760 Speaker 2: citizen journalism taking it now. There's a variety of things. 12 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:31,319 Speaker 2: I know, the people in that area had complained and 13 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:34,280 Speaker 2: there were articles written about it, but that light that 14 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:35,919 Speaker 2: had been shined on and the other people, our own 15 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:39,279 Speaker 2: Ethan Hatcher was very involved in shining a light on that. 16 00:00:39,680 --> 00:00:42,920 Speaker 2: But it's time for us to say the quiet part 17 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:47,000 Speaker 2: out loud, which we always paint homeless people as that 18 00:00:47,159 --> 00:00:50,280 Speaker 2: poor person, right, Oh, that guy just down on his 19 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:52,479 Speaker 2: like ever somebody would just help him or help her. 20 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:55,360 Speaker 2: There are people that are that way and every year 21 00:00:55,680 --> 00:00:58,720 Speaker 2: you and I and the WIBC air staff raised hundreds 22 00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:01,000 Speaker 2: of thousands of dollars to help those people through the 23 00:01:01,040 --> 00:01:05,040 Speaker 2: Salvation army. But in the case of something like Lugur Plaza, which, 24 00:01:05,160 --> 00:01:08,280 Speaker 2: by the way, now that the All Star Game is over, 25 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:11,959 Speaker 2: homeless camp back in full effect out there in Lugur Plaza. 26 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:15,600 Speaker 2: Did we call that, Yeah, we said one week, it'll 27 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:18,400 Speaker 2: all be back. That is a choice. There is literally 28 00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:22,000 Speaker 2: a salvation army a block from Luger Plaza. If those 29 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:23,800 Speaker 2: people wanted help, if they wanted a home, if they 30 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:25,759 Speaker 2: wanted a job, if they wanted skills, if they wanted 31 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:28,120 Speaker 2: to get out of that lifestyle, they could walk one 32 00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:31,000 Speaker 2: block and those people would help them. The reality is, 33 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:36,280 Speaker 2: for so many people, homelessness is a choice. It is 34 00:01:36,319 --> 00:01:39,000 Speaker 2: a way of life. My dad used to say this 35 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:44,200 Speaker 2: all the time about the people used to deal with 36 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:46,560 Speaker 2: he was a federal law enforcement officer. He said, the 37 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:49,240 Speaker 2: problem with a lot of these people is they're more 38 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:53,320 Speaker 2: comfortable being institutionalized. They're used to the system and the 39 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:56,080 Speaker 2: life that the system provides, and they are just fine. 40 00:01:56,160 --> 00:01:58,040 Speaker 2: I revoke these people, I send them back to the 41 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:00,520 Speaker 2: federal prison. They're fine with it because that's where they're comfortable, 42 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:03,440 Speaker 2: that's where they thrive, that's where their life is. It's 43 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:06,520 Speaker 2: the same thing with homelessness. So many of these people 44 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:10,639 Speaker 2: could have a better life. Now there is drugged out 45 00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:14,560 Speaker 2: zombie guy that totally needs a lot of help. There 46 00:02:14,639 --> 00:02:17,520 Speaker 2: is homeless people who are of no fault of their 47 00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:19,720 Speaker 2: own and could thrive if they got a hand up. 48 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:23,360 Speaker 2: But so many of these people, and for some reason 49 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:26,240 Speaker 2: we're afraid to say this out loud, have made the 50 00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:29,200 Speaker 2: choice to do this and we shouldn't tolerate it. 51 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:32,280 Speaker 1: So the city of Indianapolis is shutting down a homeless 52 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:36,080 Speaker 1: encampment in Fountain Square. That's going to happen on August eleventh, 53 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:39,359 Speaker 1: so lots of notice. The notice came from the Office 54 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:41,400 Speaker 1: of Public Health and Safety. They posted it at the 55 00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:44,280 Speaker 1: site stating that the area was going to be permanently 56 00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:50,040 Speaker 1: closed to camping and any items left after August eleventh 57 00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:54,320 Speaker 1: would be discarded. Encampment is located near Interstate sixty five. 58 00:02:54,639 --> 00:02:59,360 Speaker 1: But to your point, and wibc's news guy Ryan Hendrick 59 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:03,399 Speaker 1: went out and he was talking to homeowners near a location, 60 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 1: and at the end of this clip he does talk 61 00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:09,600 Speaker 1: to some people who are homeless. And I want you 62 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 1: to pay attention to what the last woman says in 63 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 1: this clip. 64 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:16,799 Speaker 3: Now, I've reached out to property owners here in Indianapolis. 65 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:19,720 Speaker 3: On the south side nine oh five Buchanan, nine oh nine, 66 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:23,880 Speaker 3: nine seventeen, all up and down Buchanan. There's at least 67 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:27,040 Speaker 3: two or three four sale signs. One four sale sign 68 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:30,440 Speaker 3: has an asking price of six hundred and sixty five 69 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:33,600 Speaker 3: thousand dollars, and people say they can't sell their home 70 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:35,280 Speaker 3: if there's a homeless encampment. 71 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:38,080 Speaker 2: Druggist is going on everywhere. I feel like you. Some 72 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:39,560 Speaker 2: can hide it, some don't. 73 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:42,960 Speaker 4: That doesn't mean that us out here being homeless is 74 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:44,280 Speaker 4: due to drug use. 75 00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 2: We all have a different story. 76 00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:47,880 Speaker 4: So I bought the house Mondernique, my parents. 77 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:51,160 Speaker 3: My parents are down here of a mom and then 78 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 3: the Mosley Tolings brand my dad over. 79 00:03:53,560 --> 00:03:55,560 Speaker 4: So they keep lying to him about how he works 80 00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 4: for the Try and Final Losses. Hey, Kate Fairlieah, he's 81 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:01,360 Speaker 4: having a medical problem at the same time in treading 82 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:04,720 Speaker 4: the getting clean. That's why I'm homeless now. 83 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:07,480 Speaker 3: This woman, her name is Tanya, but they call her 84 00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:11,280 Speaker 3: Mama t and she said that she's going to run 85 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:15,280 Speaker 3: for mayor in Indianapolis in twenty twenty eight. She talks 86 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:18,400 Speaker 3: about her journey and what brought her to homelessness here 87 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:19,720 Speaker 3: on Fountain square. 88 00:04:20,080 --> 00:04:24,160 Speaker 4: Because we have a voice. Nobody wants to believe that 89 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:27,359 Speaker 4: we matter. That's what it seems to me anyway. But 90 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:31,080 Speaker 4: we do matter, like we're not stupid. Not everybody's addicted 91 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 4: to drugs. I have raised four kids, I'm a very 92 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:37,440 Speaker 4: intelligent woman. I'm going to school to be a minister right. 93 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:41,880 Speaker 2: Now, thank you. Because that's always the narrative of is 94 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:44,919 Speaker 2: it some person who is some drug field thing and 95 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:48,400 Speaker 2: it was above their own No. The reality is, and 96 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:50,600 Speaker 2: any person who's been remotely honest to you has any 97 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:52,960 Speaker 2: expertise on this whatsoever. Abdul and I used to talk 98 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:55,720 Speaker 2: about this all the time. Abduel did research on this 99 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:58,000 Speaker 2: for years, and he will tell you there are three 100 00:04:58,080 --> 00:04:59,720 Speaker 2: types of homeless people and they all have to be 101 00:04:59,760 --> 00:05:02,520 Speaker 2: treated differently, and the Mayor's not dealing with any of them. 102 00:05:02,760 --> 00:05:08,279 Speaker 2: There are the actual homeless people, like, hey, this person 103 00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:11,440 Speaker 2: lost their job. They were in some sort of addiction 104 00:05:11,839 --> 00:05:15,320 Speaker 2: thing or something, and if they just had somebody help them, 105 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:17,240 Speaker 2: they could probably recover and go back to living a 106 00:05:17,279 --> 00:05:19,400 Speaker 2: normal life. Those people do exist. I'm not denying that. 107 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:21,480 Speaker 2: But then there are people and I lump them into 108 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:25,120 Speaker 2: the same thing. The panhandler and institution people who they 109 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:26,840 Speaker 2: have made it a way of life. I sort of 110 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:28,919 Speaker 2: put them in the same thing. Now, not all homeless 111 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:32,240 Speaker 2: people are panhandlers. They're not all like bothering you were 112 00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:34,560 Speaker 2: getting up in your grill. But they are people who 113 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 2: could do better. They have the ability, they have the skills, 114 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:40,400 Speaker 2: they are able bodied, they could, they choose not to. 115 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:42,599 Speaker 2: They're more comfortable in the life. And then the third 116 00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:44,680 Speaker 2: part of it is the drugged out zombie guide and 117 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 2: they all have to be treated differently. And Joe Hawks 118 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:50,080 Speaker 2: that is failing. The city is failing with every single 119 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:51,880 Speaker 2: one of those groups. Well. 120 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 1: As we mentioned, homelessness in Indianapolis increased seven percent this 121 00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:58,960 Speaker 1: past year. It's the highest number since twenty twenty one, 122 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:03,800 Speaker 1: and it rose twenty four Chronic homelessness rose twenty four 123 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:07,800 Speaker 1: percent year over year. Four hundred and one individuals identified 124 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 1: as chronically homeless. 125 00:06:09,720 --> 00:06:12,320 Speaker 2: And it shouldn't happen when there is And again I 126 00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:14,520 Speaker 2: use Luger Plaza as the example. If people want to 127 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:18,520 Speaker 2: fight with me about this, there is a Salvation Army 128 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:22,320 Speaker 2: who that is what they do. They help you with 129 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:25,799 Speaker 2: whatever your thing is, and their doors are always open. 130 00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:28,599 Speaker 2: They do not turn people away. That's why we do 131 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:30,880 Speaker 2: what we do every December to raise money in our 132 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 2: WIBC audience so graciously gives money. If you want to 133 00:06:34,839 --> 00:06:36,920 Speaker 2: overcome that, if you want to beat that, there are 134 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:40,880 Speaker 2: tons of resources. A group like Helping Veterans and Families 135 00:06:41,080 --> 00:06:44,839 Speaker 2: we've helped raise money for them. Ye like, there are resources, 136 00:06:44,839 --> 00:06:46,919 Speaker 2: but you have to want the resources, you have to 137 00:06:46,960 --> 00:06:49,920 Speaker 2: want the help, and the help sometimes is hard, and 138 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:52,080 Speaker 2: those people do not want to go through that process. 139 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 1: Well, and let's make sure that not being accused of 140 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:58,320 Speaker 1: fake news here, because the actual statistics and numbers don't lie. 141 00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:04,440 Speaker 1: Nationwide homelessness rose eighteen percent last year. Nationwide eighteen percent, 142 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:07,240 Speaker 1: Indianapolis twenty four percent.