Our community is heartbroken. Too often, families in Gary, Indiana, are left searching for their loved ones, only to find them tragically discovered within the remnants of abandoned buildings. Too often, the unmistakable stenches of decay are ignored until two innocents are found by beleaguered clean-up crews. This is no way to treat our missing or our lost.

In 2025, this must change. We must honor those we’ve lost and prevent future heartbreak by ensuring a thorough search for missing persons in all abandoned structures before demolition proceedings.

Moreover, any structure found to contain unclaimed bodies should be immediately destroyed, to rid our community of these haunting constant reminders. This is more than a public safety issue – it’s about respect and protection for our neighbors.

The devastation wreaked by abandoned buildings in our city runs deep. According to 2020 statistics from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Indiana had an estimated 5,783 persons experiencing homelessness on any given day. Many of them seek shelter in abandoned structures. Regrettably, some go missing and, far too often, they are discovered too late.

By implementing mandated searches, we can protect our vulnerable populations and provide families with closure. We can clean our city, making it safe and humane for everyone, and restore dignity to those we have lost. But we need your help.

Please, sign this petition to compel our lawmakers into immediate action elevating these concerns over regulatory hurdles. Let's bring safety and respect back to Gary, Indiana. Let's not let another family go through the agony of searching for a loved one only to find them in such devastating circumstances. Together, we can turn the page to a brighter subsection of our city's history – but only with your signature.