Heart House Inc. Building Pathways from Crisis to Self-Sufficiency

Check out a sneak peek of our featured article in Law & Order, a publication of the Prosecutor's Office of Dearborn & Ohio County.

 

We are incredibly grateful to be included in this widely circulated publication to speak about Heart House Inc. 

 

Indiana Homelessness Laws Changing:
Heart House Inc. Building Pathways from Crisis to Self-Sufficiency

 

A new Indiana law, Senate Enrolled Act 285, took effect July 1, 2026, establishing a statewide approach to homelessness and prohibiting sleeping or long-term sheltering on state and local public property.

 

At Heart House Inc., we prefer the term “housing Insecurity” because homelessness is about more than where someone sleeps. For many people, housing insecurity is the result of unemployment, transportation challenges, family instability, mental health or substance use issues, limited resources, or simply the rising cost of housing. In many cases, we are all only a few difficult circumstances away from experiencing a housing crisis.

 

As Indiana’s laws change, community partnerships become more important than ever.

 

People need somewhere to go before they can be expected to move forward.

 

For more than 22 years, Heart House has provided emergency shelter and supportive services to individuals and families throughout Dearborn County, surrounding counties, the Greater Cincinnati area, and beyond. Our mission goes beyond providing a bed. We provide a safe place where people can begin addressing the barriers that have contributed to their housing crisis.

 

Our residents are encouraged to take responsibility for their future while receiving assistance with employment, transportation, identification, recovery and behavioral health services, life skills, family connections, and permanent housing.

 

The goal is not permanent dependence on a shelter or government program—the goal is self-sufficiency.

 

Heart House also recognizes the importance of public safety and accountability. We do not excuse criminal behavior, and we believe individuals must be responsible for their choices. At the same time, we believe communities are stronger when there is a meaningful distinction between criminal behavior and the condition of not having a home.

When appropriate, connecting someone experiencing housing insecurity with shelter and supportive services can provide an opportunity to address the underlying challenges while maintaining community standards.

 

It Takes a Community

 

No single organization can solve housing insecurity. It takes law enforcement, courts, prosecutors, municipalities, employers, healthcare providers, recovery organizations, social service agencies, faith communities, housing providers, volunteers, and neighbors working together.

Every person who moves from housing insecurity into permanent housing and employment represents more than one success story. It is another person contributing to the workforce, strengthening their family, participating in the community, and potentially becoming someone who helps others.

 

That is the transformation Heart House strives to create.

 

With the right intervention, partnerships, accountability, and support, housing insecurity does not have to be the end of someone's story. It can be the beginning of a new chapter.

 

Heart House Inc. is here to help.

 

Help. Hope. A Home.

 

For further information on Heart House Inc., please visit us at www.hearthouseinc.org, email help@hearthouseinc.org, or call 812.926.4890.