The Motels4Now (M4N) program began in the summer of 2020 to fill the gap in low-barrier housing resources in St. Joseph County in response to the heightened crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past 2 years, the program has shown to be incredibly effective in addressing chronic homelessness in the community, however the current funding sources and facility are not intended for long-term operation. In the last 2 years over 500 people have participated in M4N, with over 300 people being connected to mental health or addiction recovery resources and 75% of participants either currently housed at M4N or leaving to positive alternatives.

Individuals experiencing homelessness are at an increased risk of becoming incarcerated after encounters with law enforcement officials, but incarceration is costly for those incarcerated as well as for the city/county and taxpayers. This project will develop a data-driven argument for addressing homelessness here in South Bend. 

Look up arrest records of current and former guests of Motels4Now, quantifying them by type and by days incarcerated. 

Showing that people are less likely to be arrested when housed, and even less likely when housed permanently.