Beacon, Inc

09/02/2026

September's Donation of the Month!

How to Donate:
Drop off during open hours or mail your items to:
Shalom Center
620 S. Walnut St.
Bloomington, IN 47401
Open: Monday - Friday: 8 am - 4 pm

Can't make it in person or by mail? Consider a donation of just $10 to help us purchase these urgently needed items on your behalf.

To donate, view our Amazon Wishlist, and learn more about our programs, please visit beaconinc.org.

We are deeply grateful for your support. Your generosity is essential to our mission. Thank you!💙

09/01/2026

Every number tells a story. In just seven months, we served 36,395 meals, provided 7,526 nights of shelter, and helped 343 people find or maintain stable housing. Thank you to everyone who helped make this possible!

08/27/2026

We have exciting news: construction on the Beacon Center will officially begin this December.

In early June, we shared an update on an unexpected funding challenge. Shifts in federal funding priorities meant that $4 million in anticipated New Market Tax Credit financing was no longer available, requiring us to rethink our path forward.

Rather than delaying the entire project, our board, partners, and advisors developed a phased construction plan. This strategy allows us to break ground this winter, preserve key grant funding, and maintain project momentum on much-needed supportive housing while we continue raising the remaining funds needed to complete the project.

The Beacon Center will now be built in two phases:

Phase 1 (Beginning December):
Construction of 20 Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) apartments and two work exchange apartments (the west wing), providing stable, long-term housing for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness. During this phase, fundraising for Phase 2 will continue.

Phase 2:
Construction of the day center, kitchen, and overnight shelter (the east wing), upon completion of additional fundraising.

Because of your generosity and belief in this vision, we have already secured much of the funding needed to complete this transformational project. Your support has brought us to this important milestone, and we are deeply grateful for your partnership.

While there is still work ahead, we are confident that this phased approach is the right path forward. It allows us to begin serving our community sooner as we work toward fulfilling the complete vision for Beacon Center as a comprehensive resource for individuals experiencing homelessness.

Thank you for standing with us on this journey. Because of supporters like you, Beacon Center is becoming a reality. We look forward to sharing construction updates and funding opportunities in the months ahead and celebrating each milestone with you as we bring this vision to life.

With gratitude,

Forrest Gilmore,
Executive Director

Melanie Vehslage,
Board President

Amy Kendall,
Development Director

08/27/2026

08/26/2026

Recent floods are a reminder that disasters can upend lives in an instant, and for many, can be the beginning of housing instability or even homelessness. Whether it's a family losing their home, a community facing extensive damage, or someone experiencing homelessness losing the shelter and belongings they depend on every day, the road to recovery can be long and difficult.

As communities across Indiana recover from this historic flooding and face devastating losses, we stand with our neighboring communities and the first responders, volunteers, and organizations helping people rebuild.

IndyStar journalists have been in the field since Aug. 12 reporting on the historic flood that hit Indiana. Here's a complete list of coverage

08/24/2026

Shining moment!

At our Day Center, our clients are having so much fun at the coloring table, and we continue to be amazed by the incredible artists in our community. The colorful artwork keeps popping up everywhere, and we've had to find even more space to showcase all the creativity!

Seeing our clients' pride, talent, and excitement shine through each piece is truly inspiring. Moments like these remind us that creativity builds confidence, fosters connection, and brings joy to everyday life. We love celebrating the unique talents of our clients and sharing the beauty they create with our community.

08/21/2026

We have some amazing news to share!

In any effort to end homelessness, you can’t just focus on the people who can escape homelessness on their own or with little assistance. You also have to take into account the people with the greatest challenges who will die while homeless without help.

Our Supportive Housing Program serves people who have experienced homelessness for years or even decades due to a disability, and in many cases, multiple disabilities. These people are some of the most vulnerable members of our community. The average life expectancy of a person experiencing chronic homelessness is only 47 years. After living on the streets for years with these challenges, it is difficult to help a person become housed again, but it is even harder to help someone maintain their home long-term.

We are thrilled to share that 95% of the residents in Beacon’s Supportive Housing program have remained stably housed for a full year or more and 45% have already accomplished 5 years or more. This great news is a testament to the quality of our support staff and the strength of our clients, and we are so proud of them!

We hope you are, too!

08/20/2026

We have a shining moment to share!

Tina, one of our Supportive Housing clients, recently received a voice-guided microwave to make cooking safer and more accessible. Watch her excitement as she tries it out for the first time and see how this important tool is supporting her independence!

08/18/2026

Shining Moment!

With the support of our casework staff, a young pregnant woman who had been staying at our emergency shelter moved into a maternity home. There she will have the support she needs through her pregnancy and postpartum journey. The maternity home provides housing, counseling, birth and parenting classes, education and job opportunities, and so much more at no cost. We're really proud of her determination to be the best mother she can be for her little one!