Public Safety Committee confirms Andrew Merkley as OPHS director amid testimony on shelter conditions

Andrew Merkley, the mayor's nominee to lead the Office of Public Health and Safety (OPHS), was approved by the Indianapolis City‑County Council Public Safety Committee on Wednesday in April following a presentation of the department's programs and extended public testimony about winter contingency shelter conditions.

Merkley described his work leading homelessness, eviction-prevention and violence-reduction programs in OPHS and outlined metrics and recent initiatives. He told the committee the tenant advocacy project (TAP) has grown countywide and said the city is developing a permanent housing hub planned to break ground later this summer. "Eviction is the front door to homelessness," Merkley said during his remarks, urging more prevention and outreach.

Why it matters: The confirmation came as residents, grassroots groups and faith leaders urged the committee to hold OPHS accountable for conditions they say occurred in winter contingency shelters. Witnesses recounted mold, inadequate heating and sanitation, alleged assaults, and delayed services at School 68 and other temporary sites. Committee members pressed Merkley for follow‑up and for improved data, reporting and engagement with grassroots providers.

Merkley's presentation and numbers Merkley described OPHS's divisions and recent activity, including the Assessment and Intervention Center (AIC), clinician‑led community response teams and reentry services. He said the AIC…