Day center a ‘micro solution’ to homelessness

INDIANAPOLIS (MIRROR INDY) — Tucked in the basement of a westside church is a modest space where people experiencing homelessness can do laundry, take a shower, grab some food and rest.

Westside New Day Center operates out of West Morris Street Free Methodist Church. It’s open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays through Door 13 at the back of the church.

Day centers exist to meet people’s basic needs and give them a safe place to relax. Many double as a centralized hub to get people connected to resources such as housing assistance and health care.

Katelyn White, the center’s director, said Westside New Day Center is a place where people experiencing homelessness can feel free and not worry about being labeled.

“Just to be a human and be held in that,” she said, “that’s huge.”

The roughly 1,500-square-foot area includes tables, chairs, a futon, games, art and lockers. There’s a kitchen, two showers and a laundry room where White said some of the most emotional conversations ha...