Alms For the Poor
Indianapolis homeless advocates are pushing for a sales tax increase for programs they say will help combat the problem. In a draft copy of a report slated t to be released this week, the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention (CHIP) says a one-eighth percent increase in the Marion County’s sales tax would generate $9.6 million to combat homelessness annually and a .25 percent increase of one cent would generate $19.3 million annually. They says the sales tax increase would cost the average consumer between $11.78 to $23.57 a year.
CHIP argues the money raised from the tax increase could be used to pay for more case workers, housing for the mentally ill and provide stable housing for homeless families. City officials and state officials seemed cool to the idea of any possible tax increase in the current economic environment.
In its program CHIP also suggests going after township trustee surplus funds, which reportedly is in the $25 million range. CHIP argues that trustees routinely deny benefits to the homeless because they have no address and can’t prove they live in the township.
CHIP estimates there are approximately 1,600 homeless individuals in Indianapolis.
