78 percent more Indy families homeless in 2009

INDIANAPOLIS – A new report shows the number of homeless families in Indianapolis increased 78 percent this year.

The Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention said it counted 213 homeless families on Jan. 29, up from 120 families in January 2008. It said those homeless families included more than 600 people.

The group reported Wednesday that it counted a total of 1,454 homeless people in the city, down from the 2008 total. Coalition director Tim Joyce attributed the drop to harsh weather at the time as more than a foot of snow was on the ground and temperatures were in the teens.

The count did not include homeless people who were living with friends or families at the time.