The figures come from Indiana’s 2026 homelessness report, which listed 9,201 year-round beds statewide: 4,177 emergency shelter beds, 3,243 permanent housing beds, 942 rapid re-housing beds and 839 transitional housing beds.

Transitional housing offers a temporary place to live, often with support services, for people moving from a crisis toward a more stable home. Advocates say women leaving homelessness, domestic violence or substance-use treatment can need that step before they are ready for permanent housing.

“Not every woman has the stability to go into permanent housing,” said Jaimie Sheth, CEO of the Evansville-based JD Sheth Foundation. Without an intermediate option, women may return to unsafe situations or become homeless again, she said.

Savannah Whicker, CEO of ECHO Housing & Community Development in Evansville, said federal housing priorities have favored rapid re-housing and permanent housing, leaving transitional programs with less support.

Several organizations are trying to fill the gap. In Indianapolis, Dove Recovery House for Women operates a 55-bed facility. Its two other Indiana locations have 15 beds each, in Jasper and Columbus. The Columbus home opened in July, and the organization serves about 150 women annually. More than 600 women are on its waitlist, according to Stephanie Breeden, an alumna who now works for the organization.

The Columbus program is for women 18 and older with a primary substance-use diagnosis who can live safely in a community setting. Residents commit to at least 90 days; the average stay is six months, and some may remain for up to two years. The nonprofit provides housing and trauma-informed recovery services at no cost to residents, using donations and grants.

In Evansville, ECHO and the JD Sheth Foundation are renovating Meena’s Place, a transitional home expected to open in March 2027. The four-bedroom property will be able to house four to 12 women and children, with stays of up to two years. Residents will pay 30% of their gross annual income, capped at $450 a month including utilities, and receive services such as job placement, financial-literacy instruction and mental-health support.

The partners began examining data from ECHO’s House of Bread and Peace shelter after ECHO took it over in 2024. During a two-year period, about 64% of women reported a history of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking or human trafficking. Nearly 60% had no cash income when they entered the shelter, and about 40% of women and families left for destinations that were not permanent housing.

The organizations also hope to create a path from temporary housing to homeownership. Under the proposed model, a lot would be donated to the foundation, which would build an affordable home for a woman or a woman with children leaving Meena’s Place. Proceeds from a home purchase would help fund the next one, Whicker said.

Journey House Corp., founded by Jakelia Taylor in 2024, opened a women’s transitional home on Indianapolis’ east side in April. It can house 13 women for up to a year and offers counseling, help securing documents and basic necessities, job-search support and life-skills instruction. Residents pay a $34 daily program fee after finding work and establishing income.

Brittany Miller, who stayed at a Journey House home after treatment, said the program helped her work, attend appointments and prepare to return to her family. She plans to live with her mother in Sullivan while working toward employment, homeownership and regaining custody of her children.

Journey House is also developing additional housing projects in Indianapolis, including two homes planned to accommodate 24 men and 24 women, along with four duplexes intended to provide about 12 beds per unit. Taylor said the goal is to complete the projects in the first week of January.

The new and planned facilities will add options, but providers say demand exceeds available space. For women who are not yet able to move directly into permanent housing, advocates argue, transitional programs can provide time and services to rebuild stability without returning to homelessness.