Bloomington has dozens of nonprofit and independent organizations offering resources for people struggling with homelessness, ranging from groups offering emergency shelter to those providing free health services. However, some City of Bloomington and Monroe County government departments offer similar resources and services.
Bloomington Community and Family Resources Department
The City of Bloomington CFRD maintains a guide of downtown resources for residents experiencing homelessness. The guide includes a map of downtown Bloomington with symbols and numbers showing the location of various nonprofits and organizations. The guide includes contact information and addresses for around two dozen groups, including shelters offering emergency housing to food pantries to harm reduction services. People can request a paper copy of the guide, free of charge, by contacting cfrd@bloomington.in.gov.
The CFRD website also maintains an updated list of resources for individuals who need rental assistance and eviction resources. This website links to an Indiana rental assistance application, applications to receive free attorney services and an eviction prevention guide.
CFRD liaisons familiar with these resources can be reached at 812-349-3430 or findhelp@bloomington.in.gov.
Bloomington Department of Housing and Neighborhood Development
According to HAND’s homeowners and renters guide, individuals who complete HAND’s renter education class can apply for security deposit assistance up to $500. The class is open and free to all Bloomington renters and helps participants learn about various tenant and landlord rights. The course also teaches participants how to manage finances and the costs of renting and provides information about the city’s rules. The next class will be from 6-8 p.m. Jan. 28, 2025, in the Dogwood Room in the Indiana Memorial Union. Those interested can register for the class by visiting bton.in/R101a.
The city’s HAND department provides several loans and grants to some homeowners and renters in Bloomington. More information on these loans — which offer assistance for home repairs, closing costs and security deposits — are available on the department’s website.
The HAND department can be reached at 812-349-3420 or hand@bloomington.in.gov.
Monroe County Health Department
The county health department, in partnership with the IU Health Bloomington Hospital, operates a public health clinic throughout the week at 333 E. Miller Drive. The clinic offers most of its services for free or low cost. According to the clinic’s website, it provides some vaccines and immunizations to adults without insurance coverage for free.
The clinic is open for appointments from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The clinic is also open the second Saturday of the month from 8-11 a.m. by appointment. To schedule an appointment and learn more about the available screenings and immunizations, call (812) 353-3244.
The health department also has harm reduction and substance abuse resources. The health department offers free Narcan nasal spray, fentanyl/Xylazine test strips and training for how to use these items. To access these resources, call (812) 349-2722. The health department also includes a list of places people can get doses of naloxone and testing strips on its website.
The health department also partners with Indiana Recovery Alliance to operate a syringe service program, which offers sterile needles, safe disposal of needles and syringes, HIV and hepatitis testing, education on overdose prevention and other resources. The program runs from noon to 2 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays at the Shalom Community Center (620 S. Walnut St.), as well as noon to 2 p.m. Wednesday and 2:15-3:15 p.m. Fridays at Crawford Apartments (2440 S. Henderson St.). The Indiana Recovery Alliance also operates the program from 5-7 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 118 S. Rogers St.
