Terre Haute mayor announces warming-center, homelessness task force as council withdraws sleeping-on-sidewalk ordinance

Mayor Sackman announced two new initiatives to address a rising homelessness problem in Vigo County and the City Council withdrew a proposed ordinance that would have prohibited sleeping on sidewalks and in doorways. The council voted to withdraw General Ordinance 12 on Sept. 11 after more than an hour of public comment and discussion; the motion to withdraw was moved by Councilperson Chalos and seconded by Councilperson Loudermilk and the council voice vote was recorded as all in favor.

The mayor told the council that “Overcoming poverty isn't about charity. It's about justice, dignity, and ensuring every neighbor has the chance for a decent life,” and described two new city efforts: a warming-center working group to coordinate cold‑weather responses and a housing, homelessness and mental‑health task force led jointly by the mayor and the council. The mayor said the task force will include city and county leaders, service providers, housing and behavioral‑health leaders and people with lived experience; he said the council could appoint two to four members and appointments would be year‑long.

Why this matters: city officials and service providers said homelessness is growing locally and…