48 homeless veterans displaced after fire at HVAF housing complex

INDIANAPOLIS — An organization working to help Indy’s homeless veterans is scrambling after their largest living community went up in flames Saturday night.

“The last 24 hours have been the most challenging of my professional and personal lives,” said Emmy Hildebrand, CEO of Helping Veterans and Families (HVAF).

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Saturday night around 9:45 p.m., the Indianapolis Fire Department responded to a fire alarm at the Manchester apartments located at 958 N. Pennslyvania Avenue.

For the next three and a half hours, IFD firefighters battled the flames, which displaced 51 people inside.

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“They are safe. So that’s priority number one,” explained Hildebrand. “The second priority is ensuring they have safe housing, which our team has managed to do. So now we’re focused on coordinating their immediate basic needs, securing our property, and preparing for the recovery ahead.”

Crystal Viles works next door as a bar manager in the living room lounge.

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He witnessed the fire firsthand and offered water to displaced residents.

“The whole day was heartbreaking. I’m a cry baby, so I’ve seen it all. I know these people, so it’s different,” Viles explained.

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That support is something Hildebrand says the organization will need moving forward.

“We couldn’t do this without our community, and we will rely on these people more than ever to help us rebuild,” Hildebrand said.

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HVAF started a fire relief fund to help cover damage costs. You can find more information about this fund at:their website.