Indianapolis shelter for veterans progresses towards reopening

Months after a fire damaged Indianapolis' largest veteran shelter, the organization Helping Veterans and Families of Indiana has made notable progress in rebuilding. The fire occurred in October 2024 and damaged several parts of the Manchester Apartments, displacing over 45 people. The fire was determined to be accidental, starting in the building’s attic, though the exact cause was not identified. Since then, staff and volunteers have worked hard to repair the damage from fire, smoke, and water. The group aims to reopen the north corridor of the shelter, which contains 23 out of 48 transitional housing beds, within the next few months. They have completed assessments on the building's essential systems and plan to upgrade electrical panels and enhance fire safety measures. For the south corridor, which was severely damaged, a complete redesign is planned. Leaders are collaborating with a veteran-owned architecture firm to include more housing units and improve food and clothing pantry spaces. Thanks to community donations and insurance, the organization can make these improvements. Since the fire, about 84% of veterans who left the shelter found permanent housing. The CEO expressed pride in their team's efforts to continue providing important services during a challenging time.