A new system for dealing with homelessness is underway in Evansville.
The city is one of four Indiana communities chosen by the state to take part in the Coordinated Entry program.
The idea is to centralize and simplify services for the homeless, by standardizing assessments and improving collaboration among agencies.
Mayor Winnecke told a news conference at the Civic Center that being selected for the pilot program is a “real distinction” for Evansville. He touted a long-standing history of "progressive leadership" in the community to address homelessness.
Winnecke says the Coordinated Entry program will focus on the city’s “chronically homeless.”
Officials estimate about 500 men, women, and children are homeless in Evansville.
The other Indiana communities chosen for the program are Bloomington, Lafayette, and Fort Wayne.