Finding #8

Photo courtesy John Winters

Thanks to The Boren Foundation, and Jack and Karen Kay Leonard for making this website possible.

Improving Kids' Environment is a partner in the Citizen's Healthy Homes Initiative with the Concerned Clergy and the Citizen's Multi-Service Center. As a partner, IKE wrote a Needs Assessment for the Kennedy-King Park Neighborhood on Indianapolis' Near Northeast Side. The Needs Assessment was published on August 23, 2003. Back to Main Report

Indianapolis Citizen’s Healthy Homes Initiative

Kennedy-King Park Neighborhood Needs Assessment

Health Department Makes a Difference But Needs to be More Proactive

Between January 2000 and August 2002, Marion County Health Department has taken 42 housing code enforcement actions on the homes in the Kennedy-King Park Neighborhood. It has taken four actions in Caravel Commons alone. 28 of the 38 homes rank as low risk in CHHI’s exterior assessment approach. Of the remaining ten homes, CHHI rated five as having an overall serious risk. Two of the homes were demolished. Caravel Commons was not included in CHHI’s exterior evaluation because the method is inappropriate to large, standardized complexes.

In addition, of the 41 homes identified by CHHI as vacant and boarded, MCHD already had actions pending against 18 of them.

It appears that MCHD is active in enforcing the housing code in the neighborhood. However, in a neighborhood where homes have low values and the owners have little discretionary income, MCHD could be more proactive in addressing the problems such as a sagging roof, missing siding or gutters, broken windows or deteriorated paint before those problems cause more costly – and more difficult to repair – damage to the homes.