Hamilton County pauses plans for domestic violence shelter

Hamilton County officials are pausing plans for a domestic violence shelter due to the financial impacts of Indiana Senate Bill 1 (SB 1). Passed earlier this year by the Indiana General Assembly, SB 1 lowers property taxes for homeowners while providing fewer dollars for cities and counties to spend on projects and services.

“This is a very difficult and disappointing decision,” County Commissioner Mark Heirbrandt said. “The new law has created enormous financial constraints. While this project is paused indefinitely, we remain committed to keeping it at the forefront of our strategic priorities and are hopeful that, once the full impact of SB 1 is clear, we can move forward.”

The county purchased an eight-acre site in Noblesville for the shelter back in 2022. Initial designs have been drafted, and the county had tapped Prevail, Inc. to operate the campus. Prevail provides crisis intervention and restorative support but does not have on-site housing. It has long relied on shelters in neighboring counties or hotel stays for clients in urgent need.

“The need for safe and affordable housing for survivors in Hamilton County is urgent and deeply felt,” Prevail Executive Director Tami R. Wanninger said. “This project represents years of thoughtful collaboration. We remain steadfast in our commitment to pursuing innovative and sustainable solutions that honor survivors’ needs and their healing journey.”

SB 1 gives families a 10 percent property tax credit (up to $300), but it also freezes certain local funds and changes how local income taxes are collected. Hamilton County officials emphasize that the pause is not an end to the project, but a necessary step in ensuring long-term fiscal responsibility amid the new state-level budget realities.