Indy Midtown Magazine has been posting regular updates about the state’s response to the public health emergency. This post archives all June 2020 updates. View updates from March 2020 or April 2020 or May 2020.
UPDATED June 30
Indiana is “making progress” in preparations to open safely according to Covid Exit Strategy, a website run by a non-partisan group of public health and crisis experts. On July 1, Governor Eric Holcomb will update citizens the state’s plans to reopen. Watch the livestream that begins at 2:30 p.m.
Governor Holcomb today signed Executive Order 20-33 [PDF] to extend the prohibition on evictions, foreclosures, and the disconnection of utility services through July 31.
Utilities regulated by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission must follow the order issued June 29 by the commission prohibiting service disconnections through Aug. 14. Under Executive Order 20-33, non-regulated utility companies must also extend service until Aug. 14. Customers and utility companies are encouraged to establish payment plans now to avoid later discontinuations of service.
Hoosiers struggling to pay rent due to the impact of COVID-19 may be eligible for rental assistance. Applications for the $25 million Indiana COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program will be accepted online beginning at 9 a.m. ET on Monday, July 13 at IndianaHousingNow.org.
UPDATED June 29
The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) reports that 45,594 Hoosiers have tested presumptively positive for COVID-19. This number includes results from ISDH and results submitted by private laboratories. Approximately 484,196 tests have been administered. Additionally, ISDH notes that 2,448 Hoosiers have succumbed to the disease. All Ninety-two Indiana counties have reported cases of COVID-19. Daily updates are posted at noon to the ISDH COVID-19 online dashboard.
UPDATED June 26
The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) reports that 44,575 Hoosiers have tested presumptively positive for COVID-19. This number includes results from ISDH and results submitted by private laboratories. Approximately 463,017 tests have been administered. Additionally, ISDH notes that 2,424 Hoosiers have succumbed to the disease. All Ninety-two Indiana counties have reported cases of COVID-19. Daily updates are posted at noon to the ISDH COVID-19 online dashboard.
UPDATED June 24
Governor Eric J. Holcomb today announced the Indiana COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program, which will use $25 million in federal CARES Act funding to help Hoosiers struggling to pay rent due to the impact of COVID-19. He also extended the moratorium on residential evictions through July.
To be eligible, renters must meet the following criteria:
- Lost their job or part of their income due to COVID-19
- Current household income, including unemployment, is less than the household income on March 6
- Have not received rental assistance from another source
According to the governor’s estimates, approximately 12,000 Indiana households could be helped. Payments will be made directly to the landlord, and the landlord must agree to participate.
The program will provide up to $500 in assistance for four months, totaling a maximum of $2,000 in assistance to eligible renters to help cover past and ongoing rent payments or late fees. Rental assistance through this program is available to residents in all Indiana counties except Marion, where a local $15 million CARES Act-funded program will provide aid to Marion County renters. Applications will be accepted online beginning at 9 a.m. on Monday, July 13.
The Hoosier Housing Needs Coalition (HHNC), an alliance of housing security advocates from around the state, supported the move, but also warned that Indiana needs to do more. Coalition member Amy Nelson, executive director, Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana, said that State rank the twelfth worst in the nation in addressing housing needs for rentals. “Many landlords are doing their best but they are hurting as well,” she said during a virtual press conference. “COVID-19 has shown us that ‘housing is health.’”
In a statement, Derris Ross, founder and CEO of The Ross Foundation and the Indianapolis Tenants Rights Community, said, “Black and Brown Hoosiers have been disproportionally affected by this pandemic and its effects on tenants’ housing stability. Providing them with a say in determining what happens to the resources used to prevent evictions is the least we can do to address the division, the trauma, and the violence within our communities.”
Coalition member Jessica Love, executive director of Prosperity Indiana said in a statement, “We applaud Governor Holcomb’s steps to establish this much-needed program. Although we appreciate the significant step finally made today in the announcement of a statewide rental assistance program to help our Hoosier COVID-19 impacted renters, our state must do more.”
She added that HHNC is urging Indiana’s state policymakers to implement a COVID-19 housing stability plan and calling for Indiana’s Congressional delegation to provide adequate resources to ensure that no Hoosier is evicted or made homeless due to the pandemic.
UPDATED June 6
The monthly revenue report for May 2020 has been released [PDF] and according to information in the accompanying commentary, [PDF] the news is grim. “General Fund revenues for May totaled $952.4 million, which is $233.3 million (19.7%) below estimate based on the December 20, 2019 revenue forecast and $187.4 million (16.4%) below revenue in May 2019”
“While May tax collections mostly reflect April economic dynamics and continued stay-at-home orders, June will most likely be impacted by the rapidly changing economic outlook, the easing of stay-at-home restrictions and the deferral of payments to July.”
According to the commentary, additional revenue hits include riverboat wagering. “Collections totaled $0.0 million for May, which is $36.3 million (100%) below the monthly estimate and $36.4 million (100%) below revenue in May 2019.
“Racing wagering collections totaled $0.0 million for May, which is $13.1 million (100%) below the monthly estimate and $11.6 million (100%) below revenue in May 2019.”
UPDATED June 5
The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) reports that 36,578 Hoosiers have tested presumptively positive for COVID-19. This number includes results from ISDH and results submitted by private laboratories. Approximately 291,638 tests have been administered. Additionally, ISDH notes that 2,078 Hoosiers have succumbed to the disease. All Ninety-two Indiana counties have reported cases of COVID-19. Daily updates are posted at noon to the ISDH COVID-19 online dashboard.
UPDATED June 4
The severity of the public health emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has led the Indiana State Fair Board to cancel the 2020 Indiana State Fair. [PDF] However, a modified 4-H Livestock Show and additional activities are scheduled for August. In 2019, nearly 879,000 attendees crowded the fairgrounds located in Midtown’s southeast quadrant. The 2021 Indiana State Fair is scheduled for August 6-22. Details.
The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) reports that 36,096 Hoosiers have tested presumptively positive for COVID-19. This number includes results from ISDH and results submitted by private laboratories. Approximately 285,234 tests have been administered. Additionally, ISDH notes that 2,052 Hoosiers have succumbed to the disease. All Ninety-two Indiana counties have reported cases of COVID-19. Daily updates are posted at noon to the ISDH COVID-19 online dashboard.
UPDATED June 3
Acknowledging the toll COVID-19 has taken on the state, Governor Eric Holcomb today issued an executive order [PDF] that extends the public health emergency until July 4. Part of the order reads, “Despite significant steps being taken in our State, this virus remains a serious threat to the health, safety, and welfare of all residents of Indiana.”
With more than 35,700 confirmed cases and more than 2,000 lives lost since March 6, the order also acknowledges the stark fiscal impacts including 600,000 applications for unemployment benefits in the first two months of the public health emergency.
The order also addresses some administrative issues: extending the time period to renew professional licenses, certificates or permits to June 30; reducing the amount of food sales a restaurant must report to maintain its alcoholic beverage permit and extending deadlines for the calculation of local taxes.
Additionally, the state’s Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) announced today Indiana is one of 35 states participating in a pilot program that allows recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to purchase groceries online. Currently, Amazon and Walmart are the only Indiana retailers that have been approved for online purchasing by the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The more than 680,000 Hoosier SNAP participants are automatically eligible to participate in the program that allows use of the Hoosier Works Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) to pay for pickup or delivery of groceries. No other application is necessary. FSSA stresses that SNAP benefits may not be used to pay for any delivery fees. Details. Or call 800-403-0864.
The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) reports that 35,712 Hoosiers have tested presumptively positive for COVID-19. This number includes results from ISDH and results submitted by private laboratories. Approximately 277,815 tests have been administered. Additionally, ISDH notes that 2,032 Hoosiers have succumbed to the disease. All Ninety-two Indiana counties have reported cases of COVID-19. Daily updates are posted to the ISDH COVID-19 online dashboard.
UPDATED June 1
The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) reports that 35,237 Hoosiers have tested presumptively positive for COVID-19. This number includes results from ISDH and results submitted by private laboratories. Approximately 271,919 tests have been administered. Additionally, ISDH notes that 2,022 Hoosiers have succumbed to the disease. All Ninety-two Indiana counties have reported cases of COVID-19. Daily updates are posted at noon to the ISDH COVID-19 online dashboard.
