Indiana 211: Connecting Hoosiers to Holiday Support and Essential Resources

(December 16, 2025) – As the holiday season approaches, Indiana 211 is reminding Hoosiers that help is only three digits away. Whether families are seeking holiday meals, toy assistance, winter shelter, or support with basic needs, Indiana 211 is available?to connect residents with local, trustworthy resources across all 92 counties. 

Holiday and Winter Resource Support

• Hoosiers can contact 2-1-1 or search online at in211.org for statewide assistance programs including:

 Holiday Meals & Food Programs

• Christmas meal sites
• Emergency food pantries
• Holiday food box programs
• Community meals with extended winter hours

Winter Shelter & Warmth Resources

• Warming centers and overnight emergency shelters
• Severe Weather Contingency shelters
• Utility assistance agencies for heating support

Holiday Giving Programs

• Toy distribution
• Holiday clothing drives

Mental Health & Crisis Support

• Immediate emotional support
• Connections to local counseling, warm lines, and crisis teams
• Referrals for grief support resources

If you or someone you know is currently experiencing thoughts of suicide, or a mental health or substance use crisis, please call 988 to reach Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and speak with a trained crisis specialist 24/7.

Get Help or Speak with a Community Navigator

Phone: Dial 2-1-1 or 1-866-211-9966 

Available Mon.- Fri., 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

or

Text: Text your ZIP Code to 898-211

Available Mon.- Fri., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

AACI Leads More than 30 Civic Organizations

in Opposition to HB1032

INDIANAPOLIS (December 10, 2025)—The African American Coalition of Indianapolis, AACI, a coalition of independent organizations, and coalition partners, unequivocally opposes the proposed mid-decade redistricting in Indiana. This proposed action is a blatant effort to manipulate political power at the expense of voters—including African American communities. It is nothing short of an assault on democratic principles of fairness and equal representation for all citizens.

HB 1032 is an unprecedented, highly partisan attack on the political efficacy of minority communities, such as Marion, Lake, Allen, Johnson, and St. Joseph counties. It has been suggested that over 2 million Hoosiers in urban, suburban and rural communities will be impacted by this bill.

Indiana law is clear: redistricting occurs after the decennial census to ensure fair and equal representation based on updated population data. There is no statutory or constitutional mandate for mid-decade redistricting. Any attempt to redraw maps now is not about fairness—it is about partisan advantage. It is a dangerous precedent that undermines the predictability and stability our electoral system depends on.

Historically, African Americans in Indiana have fought hard for representation—from overcoming Jim Crow-era voter suppression to challenging discriminatory practices in the courts. Mid-cycle redistricting, as proposed, threatens to roll back decades of progress to further engage Black voters in the political process and to gain further attention and accountability to address the unique needs and the commonly shared community concerns for all Hoosiers, such as quality education for all students and access to quality, affordable health care. We refuse to be silent while some seek to return Indiana to a time when political forces ruled Indiana that officially tried to silence Black voices and didn’t truly benefit all Hoosiers.

The proposed HB1032 maps would divide Marion County into four congressional districts. Under this plan, an Indianapolis resident near 38th & High School Road could be represented alongside voters living near the Ohio River, despite vastly different community needs. According to nonpartisan analysis, each district touching Marion County would drop to about 11% Black and 4% or less Hispanic population, weakening the ability of communities to elect representatives who understand local priorities. Current evidence is that many outsiders promoting Indiana redistricting aren’t making decisions and establishing priorities that are improving the quality of life for all Hoosiers,

Lawmakers attempt to rewrite the rules midstream is not governance—it is gerrymandering in its most cynical form. We call on every elected official to reject this power grab and uphold the principles enshrined in both Indiana law, in the Voting Rights Act, and in common sense decision making that promotes the best interest of all Hoosiers.

This process turns our democracy on its head with elected officials choosing their voters versus voters choosing who represents them. This is not what democracy looks like.

Our democracy is not a game. We are Hoosiers that want the best for us all.

Coalition Partners                            

Concerned Clergy of Indianapolis

Circle Up Indy

Evansville NAACP Branch #3048

Exchange at the Indianapolis Urban League

Fathers and Families Center

Flanner House

Fort Wayne Urban League

Greater Gary NAACP Branch #3050

Greater Indianapolis NAACP Branch #3053

Greater Terre Haute NAACP Branch #3068

Indiana Black Expo

Indiana Black Expo—Anderson Chapter

Indiana Black Expo—Elkhart Chapter

Indiana Black Expo—Gary Chapter

Indiana Black Expo—Indianapolis Chapter

Indiana Black Expo—Kokomo Chapter

Indiana Black Expo—South Bend Chapter

Indianapolis Professional Association

Indianapolis Urban League

Indy Black Chamber of Commerce

Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Indianapolis

Related Articles:

What Hoosiers Need to Know about HB1032 and What Can Be Done Now

WHO GETS HEARD? The High Cost of Redistricting that Diminishes Minority Voices

What Hoosiers Need to Know about HB1032 and
What Can Be Done Now

Overview 

Mid-decade redistricting, or redrawing political boundaries outside of the ten-year census cycle, is legally permitted in the United States but is relatively uncommon. When proposed, it raises important questions about representation, community cohesion, and public trust. Indiana has not historically engaged in mid-cycle redistricting, making current developments worthy of close public attention.

The Indiana House has introduced and passed HB1032 and released proposed congressional maps. Consideration of this legislation now shifts to the Indiana Senate, where public engagement will play a critical role.

Key Facts 

1. Legal Context

• Mid-decade redistricting is constitutional but controversial.
• Federal courts continue to review racial gerrymandering claims under the Voting Rights Act and the U.S. Constitution.
• Courts have made clear that minority vote dilution, whether through packing or cracking, is unlawful.

2. Indiana at a Glance

• Indiana has nine congressional districts.
• Proposed maps would divide Marion County into four districts.
• Modeling suggests minority populations would be redistributed in ways that reduce their ability to elect candidates of choice.
• Counties including Marion, Lake, Allen, Johnson, Hamilton, and St. Joseph would be split in ways not clearly justified by population balance.

3. Considerations for Minority Representation

• Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act prohibits minority vote dilution.
• The Fourteenth Amendment limits the use of race as a predominant factor unless necessary to comply with federal law.
• Analysis from nonpartisan groups indicates Black and Latino voters would be dispersed across several districts, weakening collective influence.
• Attempts within HB1032 to restrict judicial review raise additional constitutional concerns.

7th District Impact: Today, Indiana’s 7th Congressional District includes all of Marion County, the state’s most racially diverse county, where the population is approximately 49% white, 33% Black, and 12% Hispanic or Latino. Under HB1032, Marion County would be split across four districts, each reduced to about 11% Black and 4% or less Hispanic population, significantly weakening the ability of minority voters to collectively influence representation.

4. Policy Priorities for Hoosiers

• At a time when families across Indiana are concerned about health care access, food affordability, utility costs, education, and workforce stability, many residents question whether mid-cycle redistricting reflects the most pressing needs of communities statewide.

Why the Senate Matters 

The Indiana Senate will determine whether HB1032 advances. Senators have the authority to vote the bill down or prevent it from moving forward. Previous Senate actions demonstrate that lawmakers can choose to prioritize stability and core policy issues over mid-cycle map changes.

Call to Action 

Hoosiers are encouraged to remain informed and engaged by doing the following:

• Review the proposed HB1032 redistricting maps
• Share feedback respectfully with Indiana Senate leadership
• Contact Senate offices to express opposition to mid-cycle redistricting and HB1032
• Emphasize the need to focus legislative efforts on issues affecting daily life, including health care, food access, utilities, and cost of living

Indiana Senate contact line: 

(317) 232-9400

Public participation helps ensure decision-making remains transparent, accountable, and responsive to community needs.

Give a gift in memoriam.

The Indianapolis Urban League mourns the passing of the late Daryl Mason, a fraternity brother of the late Sam H. Jones (Omega Psi Phi).

Per the IndyStar

Mr. Daryl Lynn Mason, 73, transitioned to eternal life on November 17, 2025. On Wednesday, December 3, there will a Celebration of Life Service at 12:00 p.m. with visitation from 10:00 am and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Memorial Service at 11:30 a.m. at University United Methodist Church, 5959 Grandview Drive, and interment at Crown Hill Cemetery. Services will be streamed via University United Methodist Church.  Memorial contributions may be made to: Indianapolis Urban League, 777 Indiana Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46202, and Indianapolis Uplift Foundation Inc., (of which Omega Psi Phi is a sponsor) P.O. Box 441458, Indianapolis, IN 46244.

Daryl Mason, Butler basketball rebounds leader from Broad Ripple
who was ‘team player in life,’ died

FHCCI Releases New Report on Rising Rental Burdens

NDIANAPOLIS, IN (November 25, 2025)– Today, the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana (FHCCI) releases a new report, State of Fair Housing Report – Rising Rental Burdens in the Indianapolis Metro, outlining growing challenges for renters in their search for affordable housing.

In the report, we share the following major findings:

• Half of all renters in Marion County are cost burdened, meaning they spend 30%+ of their monthly income on rent and utilities. A quarter of renters spend 50%+ of their income on housing (severely cost-burdened). Among households headed by seniors or people with disabilities, over 60% are rent-burdened, and nearly 40% are severely cost-burdened.
• The standard definition of housing cost-burden (spending 30%+ of income on housing costs) is limited. According to the Living Wage Calculator from MIT, in Marion County, a single parent with two children would have to make $100,849 a year, including only 8.5% spent on housing costs, to afford other basic expenses like childcare, food, medical costs, and transportation. (Notably, the cost of childcare for those two children is estimated to be almost double the cost of rent.)
• In 2015, the average asking rent for a market-rate apartment unit in the Indianapolis metro area was $899. By 2025, that rent had risen nearly 50% to $1,339. The most acute increases are among two- and three-bedroom apartments, which has a pronounced impact on families with children who need these larger apartments. Rent prices for single-family homes increased by over 40% from 2019 to 2025, reaching a median high of $1,625 in Marion County and $1,800 in the Indianapolis metro area.
• The rental vacancy rate reached a 15-year-plus low of 3.9% in 2024 in Marion County, and 4.2% in the Indianapolis metro area—far below a healthy vacancy rate. When vacancy rates are low, renters seeking new housing may be unable to find it, forcing them to stay unhoused or in units that may be overcrowded, unaffordable, or even unsafe.
• According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), the Indianapolis metro area has only 32 affordable and available rental units for every 100 households in the lowest income category of renters (comprising 29% of renters in the Indianapolis metro)—a deficit of 49,000 units. For the next 20% of renters, who are in the second-to-lowest income category of renters, NLIHC identified only 70 affordable and available rental units for every 100 households, a deficit of nearly 35,000 units.
• An FHCCI analysis of median renter incomes finds that there are virtually no multifamily units in Marion County that are affordable to households making less than 30% of the local renter median family income, who account for 26,000 (or 15%) of all renter households in Marion County. In the Indianapolis metro area, we find less than 500 multifamily units affordable to this category of renters, which comprises 42,000 households in the Indianapolis metro area.
• There were over 24,000 new multifamily units constructed in the Indianapolis metro area between 2020-2025, including 6,500 units in Marion County. These units were more likely to be studio and one-bedroom apartments, as compared to units constructed prior to 2020, and less likely to be two-, three-, or four-bedroom apartments. Rents in newly constructed properties are, on average, 41% more expensive than rents in pre-2020 properties across the metro area, with the average rent exceeding $1,500 for a two-bedroom and $2,000 for a three-bedroom in a newly constructed property.
• Only one in four households that qualify for housing assistance ever receive it. In Marion County, only 76% of the available housing choice vouchers were utilized in 2024. If chosen in a lottery, families have had to wait an average of three years on a waitlist before being able to get a voucher. Indiana is one of only a handful of states that preempts municipalities from banning discrimination against voucher-holders. As a result, tenants with vouchers still struggle to find housing. According to the IHCDA, 47% of tenants in LIHTC units across the state also use an additional source of federal rental assistance, such as a housing choice voucher, in part because LIHTC properties are required to accept vouchers, so voucher holders may frequently seek housing there. Also, the median income for LIHTC households statewide is $16,900, making it impossible to afford rent in their LIHTC unit without an additional housing subsidy.
• Close to 5,000 units in subsidized properties across the Indianapolis metro area are due to expire in the next five years if their owners choose not to renew or forgo entering a new subsidy contract.
• Renters also must contend with rising utility costs. Monthly utility costs increased by $35.75 (20%) from 2018 to 2023 (most recent years of data) in the metro area. Statewide, monthly residential electric bills rose 18% from 2024 to 2025.
• On top of rent and utilities, renters may pay hundreds of additional dollars in “junk fees,” from accumulating monthly fees for “technology” and “amenities” to mandatory one-off junk fees required at move-in on top of the security deposit, making it harder for renters to move and impacting affordability.

The downstream consequence of rising rent burdens is that more families are pushed into or at risk of homelessness. Meanwhile, some top local landlords have seen revenues soar, including three which doubled or tripled in earnings. We conclude our report with recommendations for policymakers to address this affordable rental housing crisis.

To download the full report, visit the FHCCI’s News Page or our Reports Page.

On December 16, 2025 from 2:00-3:30 PM ET, the FHCCI will be hosting a webinar which will include a review of this report’s findings. To learn more or to register, visit our events page.

In recent years, the FHCCI has released the following consumer-driven housing reports through its The State of Fair Housing in Indiana series:

• Marion County Foreclosure Update-September 2025 (2025)
• The Insurance Crisis Hits Home (2025)
• Marion County Foreclosure Update-March 2025 (2025)
• Mortgage Lending in Allen County for Year 2023 (2025)
• Who Owns Central Indiana’s Houses: An Update of the Largest Single-Family Home Investors (2025)
• Foreclosure Filings in Marion County (2024)
• The Promise and Perils of Alternative Home Financing (2024)
• Highlighting Housing Impacts From Our Changing Environment (2024)
• Unstable Land: The Fair Housing Challenges for Manufactured Housing Residents (2024)
• A Review of Fair Housing Complaints in Indiana, Years 2019-2023 (2024)
• Mortgage Lending Update for Marion County, Years 2021-2022 (2024)
• Who Owns Indy’s Houses: A Review of the Largest Single-Family Home Investors (2023)
• No Way Home: Tenant Screening Barriers to Housing (2023)
• Our Changing Neighborhoods: The Impact of Investors, Foreclosures, and Mortgage Lending (2022)
• At What Cost? Rents, Burdens, Evictions, and Profits in Marion County (2022)
• FHA & VA Mortgage Lending in Marion County, Years 2018-2021 (2022)
• Mortgage Lending in Marion County, Years 2018-2020 (2022)

_____________________________________________

The Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana (FHCCI) is a private, nonprofit fair housing organization based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Its mission is to facilitate open housing for all people by ensuring the availability of affordable and accessible housing; promoting housing choice and homeownership; advocating for an inclusive housing market; working toward stable and equitable communities; and eradicating discrimination within Central Indiana, the State of Indiana, and nationally. For more information, visit: https://link.edgepilot.com/s/92817240/P6AZoZ8BZUCgto16PnOxWQ?u=http://www.fhcci.org/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE: SHUTDOWN ENDS BUT THE FIGHT FOR JUSTICE AND STABILITY IS FAR FROM OVER

NEW YORK (November 13, 2025) — National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial issued the following statement in response to the end of the most recent federal government shutdown:

“The reopening of the federal government after 43 days of dysfunction is a welcome relief, but let us be clear: this shutdown was never a mere budget dispute—it inflicted real harm on millions of Americans and undermined the stability of our democracy because Republicans in Congress and the Administration refused to address the healthcare crisis that threatens to leave millions  of Americans uninsured. Families were forced to choose between food and rent. Small businesses, particularly those owned by women and people of color, were cut off from vital loans and contracts. Federal workers and military families endured weeks without pay, and essential programs like SNAP were thrown into chaos despite there being existing authorities and funding to continue them.

“The damage lingers. Communities already struggling have been pushed closer to the brink, and confidence in our institutions has been shaken. This crisis exposed the fragility of systems that millions depend on and the devastating consequences of partisan gamesmanship.

“We call on Congress and the Administration to move beyond brinkmanship and commit to governing responsibly. That means passing full-year funding bills for all of the federal government that ensure appropriated funding will be spent as provided in law, protecting health care access, strengthening economic opportunity, and upholding the integrity of our democratic institutions. It means ensuring that never again will the American people be held hostage to political extremism.”