City of Indianapolis passes $76M in COVID-19 relief

INDIANAPOLIS — The city of Indianapolis is planning to use more than $75 million in coronavirus relief money on health, social services and economic initiatives to help the city recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The plan, which calls for $76,071,363 to be allocated across city services, was announced in a press conference Monday morning. A proposal was passed in Monday night’s City-County Council meeting.

“In short, it is a comprehensive funding package that seeks to address these and many other needs facing our community as a whole,” Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said.

The largest percentage of city’s relief funding plan calls for $20 million to be spent on increased contact tracing and testing in Marion County, which would be separate from the state’s contact tracing plan.

“This program will allow for us to be able to ramp up the health department’s capacity to do the in-person testing and reach our goal of 75% of the contacts [of a positive COVID-19 case],” Indianapolis Office of Public Health and Safety Director Paul Babcock said.

Another $15 million will be spent on rental assistance for Indianapolis residents who have been impacted by COVID-19. Last month, the city announced a face mask distribution initiative, to get masks to needy residents. The initiative will cost $3 million and be paid for by the relief money.

The current plan for the rent assistance is an online application process, with accommodations for people without internet access.

“Families that have been affected by COVID, who have experienced job loss or reduction in work hours, or increased expenses because they’ve had to pay medical bills because they’ve gotten sick with COVID will be eligible to apply for assistance back rent [to April 1] or forward rent for a total of 90 days,” said Indianapolis Deputy Mayor of Community Development Jeff Bennett. “Any resident in the community, regardless of status, can apply for assistance.”

Any Indianapolis residents seeking more information about the rent assistance programs should check the Indy.gov/covid page, where more guidance will be posted.

The money was distributed to the city by the CARES Act, passed by Congress and signed into law in March. The city’s plan also calls for an additional $3.2 million in FEMA funding to be distributed in a few different ways.

Mayor Joe Hogsett also announced the Lilly Endowment is committing up to 10 million for COVID-19 relief.

The city has provided a full breakdown on the relief money, and where it will be distributed.

Coronavirus Relief Funding