Kelley interviewed expressed concern that the policy could create additional barriers for individuals seeking stable housing. For Kelley, those concerns reinforced the need for stronger communication between service providers and lawmakers. “I hope that city and state leaders will be able to connect with service providers and talk to them about how we can solve this issue in a way that’s not going to further inhibit their work or inhibit people from getting housing,” she explained. “Having these conversations made me more empathetic, and it also really brought to light that in the end, we’re all humans. If we keep perpetuating negative stereotypes about one another or if we keep holding on to these very strong ideas about each other, we’ll miss that opportunity to connect in a very human way.”
Faith Kelley ’25 ’29 (Human Biology, Master of Occupational Therapy) didn’t just complete an Honors project—she set out to understand one of Indianapolis’s most pressing challenges: homelessness. Through interviews with service providers and individuals experiencing homelessness, Kelley examined the barriers that prevent people from accessing stable housing and how those challenges intersect with health, employment, and transportation. As part of the Ron and Laura Strain Honors College curriculum, students complete a research project of their choosing. Inspired by her volunteer work with the Salvation Army and service opportunities through her church, Kelley chose to research the barriers to housing in Indianapolis. “I’ve always been really involved in projects that are meant to help people who are in need.”
Not only has her Honors project had a real impact on her community, but it has also helped Kelley come out of her shell. A self-described introvert, Kelley never imagined that her research would put her in the spotlight, much less on television, but that’s where she ended up. With the encouragement of Dr. Ziff and Dr. Jim Williams, dean of the Honors College, Kelley appeared on WISH-TV last fall to share her research. “It’s very hard for me to want to put myself out there,” she
Housing is one of the top five health concerns in Indianapolis, according to the 2025 Community Health Assessment by the Marion County Public Health Department. Under the guidance of her Honors faculty mentor, Dr. Elizabeth Ziff, Kelley conducted interviews with service providers from two Indianapolis-based nonprofits, Horizon House and Holy Family Shelter, as well as local individuals experiencing homelessness. The interviews gave Kelley firsthand accounts of the major barriers preventing individuals from accessing housing: access
This project really encouraged me to
have that holistic perspective on a person, and I feel like that translates pretty well into occupational therapy, trying to get all the details about a person to help them the most.” — Faith Kelley ’25 ’29 (Human Biology, Master of Occupational Therapy)
recalled. “I would have never done a TV interview if it were not for Dr. Ziff. She’s definitely encouraged me to take those opportunities.” Kelley’s research has directly shaped how she approaches her future in occupational therapy. “When you look at somebody’s health, you want to look at that person not just from the biology of it, but also at the social and environmental context of that person’s life,” shared Kelley. “This project really encouraged me to have that holistic perspective on a person, and I feel like that translates pretty well into occupational therapy, trying to get all the details about a person to help them the most.” As Kelley begins her journey in the Master of Occupational Therapy program at UIndy, she isn’t just carrying forward impressive academic experience; she’s bringing with her a deeper understanding of the people and systems she hopes to serve.
to transportation, employment, personal health, and stereotyping. But Kelley didn’t stop at simply identifying these major barriers; she pushed her research to look at how they could influence one another. “If you’re struggling to get access to transportation, is that also making it difficult to take care of your personal health?” Kelley said. “One individual I interviewed had found out they had cancer, and now they were homeless.” By highlighting how barriers like transportation and health can compound, Kelley’s research offers service providers a more holistic framework for support. She hopes that her research will inform advocacy efforts by nonprofit and community leaders and Indiana lawmakers. During the final year of her project, state legislators passed a bill banning long-term sheltering on government-owned property. Service providers
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MAGAZINE // SUMMER 2026
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