Operation Restoration

In Indianapolis:

• More than 2,000 people are homeless every night
• 21% of these are unsheltered and on the streets
• 26% are families with children
• In 2007 Wheeler Mission turned away more than 3,000 requests for services from homeless women and children due to lack of space and age-appropriate facilities
• Wheeler Mission serves more than 290,000 meals and provides nearly 120,000 nights of lodging annually, up 512% since 1997

The Solution:

The face of homelessness is changing: Women with children are the fastest growing segment of homeless in the United States, Indianapolis included. Of the more than 2,000 homeless in Indianapolis every night, over 500 are women and children!

National data shows that a child who is homeless is much more likely to become homeless as an adult.

For more than 114 years, Wheeler has provided far more than the physical and social service needs of the homeless. Wheeler seeks to provide restoration of spirit and soul. As one professional working with the homeless said, I've never seen anyone come off the streets and stay off the streets unless they come to faith.

Wheeler Mission has proven programs and facilities that offer lasting solutions to homeless men, women, and children; programs and facilities that must be expanded to meet the growing needs, especially for women and women with children.

This effort to expand facilities and programs is called Operation Restoration a short-term, unique campaign to help Wheeler raise critically needed funds and public awareness of the homeless condition in our community.

Operation Restoration will be executed in phases in conjunction with community events throughout the year with the goal of raising significant dollars to support and stabilize current programs and facilities, strengthen the organization against future economic volatility, and expand facilities and programs to meet the growing need of homeless women and women with children.

We are kicking Operation Restoration off with the month of May and the excitement surrounding the Speedway. Local media celebrities have taken up the challenge and will give up a good nights sleep and spend a night away from the comforts of home and broadcast from the track. Each night a celebrity sleeps out will be sponsored by civic groups, corporations, and individuals to emphasize homelessness in our community. This will be systematically publicized to local and national media.

The messages generated by the positive publicity, along with endorsements from Tony Dungy, the Indianapolis Indians, and others, will bring more supporters to Wheeler Mission and other organizations that work with the homeless. It will also bring more customers to the corporate sponsors and donors that support and participate in this effort.

A vital component to the success of Operation Restoration is giving from individuals like you. Please click on the "Donate Now" button and make a secure, on-line gift today. THANK YOU!