Michigan City workshop convenes service providers, police and nonprofits to coordinate homelessness response

Michigan City officials, law enforcement and local service providers met at a Dec. 11 Common Council workshop to map a coordinated response to homelessness, identify gaps in housing and mental-health services, and pursue funding and operational steps including a new action committee.

The meeting, led by a council host and Mayor Angie, drew representatives from the police department, Swanson Center PATH, Nest Community Shelter, Keys to Hope and other nonprofits. Mayor Angie said the city is assembling a committee of service providers and stakeholders to create an “action agenda” that will guide use of CDBG, ARPA and other funds and help develop outreach and housing-first strategies. “We—re putting together a committee to speak on that,” Mayor Angie said during the workshop.

Why it matters: providers at the meeting said Michigan City hosts more shelter capacity than neighboring jurisdictions, creating a heavier client load and a need for countywide coordination. Swanson Center's PATH case manager said his program has completed 164 intakes since Jan. 1, with 119 of those—he said—presenting mental-health concerns, highlighting the prevalence of mental-health needs among people experiencing homelessness.

Police role and enforcement limits: Chief Foraker briefed the council on legal and operational constraints. He told the workshop that a panhandling statute was repealed in 2020 and that, where panhandling is not criminal, police focus on safety-based enforcement such as removing people from roadways and addressing aggressive harassing behavior. Chief Foraker outlined a trespass procedure that allows police to act at the invitation of property owners who sign a letter authorizing trespass warnings and enforcement. “That law was repealed back in 2020,” Chief Foraker said of panhandling restrictions.

Service capacity and programs: Nest Community Shelter reported serving about 330 individuals last year and said its men—s and women-with-children floors have roughly 30 and 20 beds, respectively. Citizens Concerned for the Homeless described individualized intake and action plans and the Grace Learning Center—s job-readiness and trauma-informed classes. Stepping Stone and Amber—s House described specialized housing and crisis services for survivors of domestic violence and people in recovery.

Funding and federal support: Elizabeth Johnson, a representative from the congressman—s district office, told the workshop that federal funding streams could support local efforts, pointing specifically to CDBG and other grant opportunities used by local providers. She offered to circulate grant information and letters of support for applicants.

Public comments and proposals: Residents and advocacy groups offered a mix of proposals, including expanded hygiene options (hotel stays and short-term lodging), more visible foot patrols, housing-first projects, tiny-home-style units and regional coordination. Some commenters urged enforcement changes and criticized police responses; service providers emphasized that many people seeking services are La Porte County residents and that mental-health and substance-use barriers often prevent shelter entry.

Next steps: Council leaders said they will convene the planning group with Mayor Angie, staff and service providers for periodic meetings to develop a strategic plan and pursue funding. The council asked nonprofits to share counts of Michigan City residents they serve so the city can better target resources.

The workshop closed with an agreement to continue meetings and to bring back more detailed proposals and data; no formal vote or ordinance was taken at the session.