Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation and Street Reach Indy to Help Those Living with Homelessness Overcome Barriers to Finding Housing

The Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation is providing a $74,900 grant to the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention (CHIP) to help nearly 150 people in Marion County overcome the financial and healthcare barriers that often prevent them from finding permanent housing. The grant will help fund the Street Reach Indy program, which provides financial assistance to pay for security deposits, secure mental health or substance abuse treatment and pay other costs that are barriers that prevent individuals experiencing homelessness from obtaining permanent housing.

“This collaboration illustrates how Anthem goes beyond providing access to health care services by supporting innovative programs that help address the barriers to total health, such as homelessness, which have a negative impact on health and quality of life,” said Dr. Kimberly Roop, Anthem Indiana Medicaid President. “We believe the Street Reach Indy program will improve the lives of our fellow Hoosiers by providing the necessary supports and helping the individuals find stable housing consistent with our mission to improve lives and communities.”

Street Reach Indy estimates that over the next year Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation’s support will help 146 individuals experiencing homelessness in Indianapolis, particularly in the downtown corridor, overcome financial barriers to obtaining housing. The goal is for at least 80 percent to maintain housing for the next year and 60 percent to remain in or complete treatment.

“Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation’s support is a vital resource for Street Reach Indy and those who need assistance,” said Tom Tuttle, Street Reach Indy manager. “Street Reach Indy will be able to improve lives, creating a more stable environment for our vulnerable neighbors. Investments like this allow us to have a measureable impact in our community.”

“Indianapolis does public-private partnerships better than any other city in the nation, and we believe that through this partnership with Anthem, we become a stronger community as a whole,” said Jeff Bennett, deputy mayor for the City of Indianapolis. “This grant will allow us to expand upon programs already in place to help provide support for our most vulnerable residents, as well as enhance the experience for those who live and work in downtown Indianapolis, and the millions who visit each year.”

Founded in 2017 as a joint effort between CHIP and Downtown Indy Inc., Street Reach Indy has served as a flexible funding resource, supporting housing solutions for individuals experiencing homelessness at an average cost of $534 per household. Of the 380 people served to date, 97 percent found housing, and 4.6 percent of those individuals have returned to homelessness.

Donations to Street Reach Indy may be made through its web site at streetreachindy.org or at the Street Reach Indy-branded boxes and parking meters found around the city.

On any given day, 1,700 individuals experience homelessness. While Indianapolis accounts for 14 percent of Indiana's population, it has 51 percent of the state's total homeless population.

About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation

Through charitable grant making, the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation LLC, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, promotes Anthem’s inherent commitment to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and families in communities that Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield serves. The Foundation focuses its funding on strategic initiatives that address and provide innovative solutions to health care challenges, as well as promoting the Healthy Generations Program, a multi-generational initiative that targets specific disease states and medical conditions. These include: prenatal care in the first trimester, low birth weight babies, cardiac morbidity rates, long term activities that decrease obesity and increase physical activity, diabetes prevalence in adult populations, adult pneumococcal and influenza vaccinations and smoking cessation. The Foundation also coordinates the company’s year-round Dollars for Dollars program which provides a 100 percent match of associates’ donations, as well as its Volunteer Time Off and Dollars for Doers community service programs. ®ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

About Street Reach Indy

Street Reach Indy is a collaborative campaign between CHIP and Downtown Indy, Inc. designed to raise awareness and funds for services to help move individuals experiencing homeless into stable housing. Supported through donations and sponsorships from Indianapolis businesses, organizations, and community members, the goal is simple: to improve the lives of our city’s homeless in the most meaningful ways possible. www.streetreachindy.org

ABOUT CHIP

The Coalition for Homelessness Intervention & Prevention mobilized, advocates, and empowers community collaboration towards ending homelessness and fosters an effective system of homelessness prevention and intervention in the greater Indianapolis area. Visit www.chipindy.org or follow @CHIPIndy to learn more.

About Downtown Indy, Inc.

Founded in 1993, Downtown Indy, Inc., a public/private partnership existing to improve Downtown, is also known as Indianapolis Downtown, Inc. As a not-for-profit organization, Downtown Indy, Inc. is uniquely positioned to address issues that affect the area’s growth and well-being. Downtown Indy, Inc. focuses on development, management, activation and marketing to advance Downtown as a great place to live, learn, work and play. www.downtownindy.org

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