A CDC that values personhood above everything else.

Our Approach

We are empowering individuals impacted by the justice system to achieve self-sufficiency and thrive within our community. We understand that these individuals encounter substantial obstacles, including limited access to housing, employment, education, and supportive networks.

We partner with many churches, organizations, and individuals to bring services that mirror Jesus’ model of compassion and love to our community, rebuilding lives with the Gospel as the center of our motivation. Our overarching goal is to see the marginalized transformed by the hope of Jesus!

HOPE through relationships - a place to be seen, known, and loved

HOPE through opportunity - a change to grow

HOPE through a promised future - a legacy of hope in Jesus

Our Community

Brookside is a historic neighborhood located on the Near Eastside of Indianapolis.

1 in 6 Reenter

Previously incarcerated in Indiana return to the 46201 zip code

Crime

See how Brookside Reentry is making a difference

Most know the Brookside Community and Near East Side as one of the most dangerous neighborhoods/communities in Indianapolis. In 2023, it was the second deadliest neighborhood in the city, with over 17 homicides. Crime is a reality that residents face on a daily basis. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department has identified the neighborhood as a “hotspot” where homicides, overdoses, non-fatal shootings, and EMS calls are disproportionately higher than other communities. One in six previously incarcerated men and women who are released from the criminal justice system in the state of Indiana reenter into the 46201 zip code each year. Of those that are released into the area, 50% reenter the criminal justice system.

$23,779 MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME

THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS ALMOST $25,000 LESS THAN THE METRO AREA

Poverty

Poverty is the reality for those living in the Brookside neighborhood. As of 2020, over 64% of Brookside residents have an income below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level. Not only that, but the Median Household Income in 2020 was $25,000 less than the county average and $35,000 less than the Indianapolis Metro Area average.

100+ Abandoned Houses

Abandoned and vacant houses contribute to blight and crime

Housing

See how Brookside Housing is making a difference

Stability in this neighborhood is difficult to come by when poor families are preyed upon by out of state property owners who encourage them to apply for an apartment with a non-refundable application fee, even after the family discloses a past eviction. It is extremely difficult for a family or individual in the Brookside neighborhood to find quality housing, yet there are over 100 abandoned houses in the area that could be used for low-income housing opportunities.

Impact & Renewal

We’re seeing neighborhood renewal occur through a focus on:

Family

We invest in people over places. We seek to know one another as family where life is walked out in relationship, individual needs are met, and authentic community is formed – all in a way that brings dignity, meaning, and a sense of belonging. Our family is made up of a diverse group of people from various cultural and socio-economic backgrounds in and beyond our city. The beauty of the Brookside family is best seen through the honest expression of our need for each other.

Stability

The trajectory we desire for every person in our neighborhood is to move from a mentality of survival to one of stability. Through our programming, we walk alongside individuals to provide resources, accountability, and a pathway toward personal, spiritual, and communal revitalization.

Personal Transformation

We firmly hold that the only way our community will see transformation is by pointing people to Jesus and allow for His redeeming work to reside within the shared brokenness of our hearts. The Gospel alone has the power to renew our neighborhood one life at a time.