The City of Bloomington and the Monroe County Board of Commissioners have pledged $5.1 million in investments toward combating homelessness in south-central Indiana. The funds will go toward making homelessness “rare, brief, and non-repeating,” according to a story published on the Indiana Public Media website.

The investments are part of the Heading Home 2021 plan, which was compiled earlier this year by approximately 60 area volunteers.

Representatives from United Way of Monroe County, the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County, the South Central Housing Network, Monroe County, and the City of Bloomington met to discuss the plan and pledge funding last week.

Bloomington Deputy Mayor Don Griffin told Indiana Public Media that the City of Bloomington will pledge $1.2 million from the City’s 2021 budget as part of the American Rescue Plan. The funds will go toward hiring a team to implement the plan’s goals. In addition, the City will commit $1.5 million from the 2022 City budget.

Monroe County has pledged an additional $1.2 million toward an endowment for the project and $1.2 million in American Rescue Plan funds.

The hiring process, as well as an additional funding announcement from Bloomington Township, are expected soon. The Heading Home 2021 plan report is available here.