INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis City-County Council Monday approved a new $16 million COVID-19 relief package to help residents who have been especially hard hit by the pandemic.
“COVID-19 has had an extraordinary impact on the lives of Indianapolis residents—and a disproportionate impact on our most vulnerable residents,” said Mayor Joe Hogsett. “Even as we continue to work with our federal delegation to seek additional relief funding and greater flexibility, tonight’s vote by the City-County Council will leverage our existing resources to address the immediate needs of our community.”
More than $327,000 will allow for an expansion of Indy Achieves completion grants to help residents financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic continue their education at IUPUI or Ivy Tech.
The fiscal package also includes an additional allocation of $7.5 million to extend the city’s rental assistance program, nearly $3 million for the purchase and shipping of free face-coverings for residents, and $25,000 to continue the operation of downtown handwashing stations and portable toilets used by the homeless population.
The fiscal package will help fund two domestic violence programs. The city reports a significant increase in domestic violence cases during the pandemic. $54,000 will be used for hotel rooms for 20 domestic violence victims, along with their children.
"The council's approval tonight of another emergency COVID aid package provides much-needed relief to tenants, landlords, and downtown property owners," City-County Council President Vop Osili said. "These measures allow us to take care of people and infrastructure as we navigate the impact of COVID-19 on our city."
