Sign in Subscribe
Local Government

Analysis: Re-election cues surface in Bloomington mayor’s report on housing and homelessness

Bloomington mayor Kerry Thomson released a Nov. 20 housing and homelessness report days before a Dec. 3 campaign fundraiser. It presents a donor-friendly narrative but makes facts hard to check. Links loop back in a circular way, and key details in a table of projects aren't included.

Analysis: Re-election cues surface in Bloomington mayor’s report on housing and homelessness
Ant-level view of Table 1 in a document about housing and homelessness released by Bloomington mayor Kerry Thomson on Nov. 20, 2025. (Dave Askins, Nov. 29, 2025)

Bloomington mayor Kerry Thomson’s re-election campaign, less than two years into a four-year term, appears to be in full gear, even if it’s behind the scenes.

A campaign fundraiser for Thomson is set for Dec. 3—with suggested donations of $500, $1,000, and $2,500. Invitations were emailed on Nov. 18. Two days later, Thomson’s office released a document about housing and homelessness.

The document, which is called “Homelessness Response & Housing Investment,” relies on many standard rhetorical techniques of campaign literature. So the audience for the document appears to include the prospective campaign donors at the upcoming fundraiser.

The document itself is a bit like an incomplete treasure map to information about expenditures, instead of directly providing the information that a taxpayer might want to know.

As an example, the centerpiece of the document is Table 1 on page 8 of the .pdf file. The table has three headings—Investment, Goal, and Project. The first row starts off with $800,000 for the amount of the investment. The goal for that investment is categorized as “Affordable Ownership Creation.”

The project is described in the table as “Infrastructure for the creation of 31 affordable lots and homes (<80% AMI).” That’s all. Does the project have a name? Where is it? Is there a nonprofit organization connected to the project? What is the source of the project funding?

Four pages later, in the running text, the document seems to offer potential answers. There’s a mention of a project that sounds like the one listed in the first row of the table, and there’s a hyperlink that looks promising: “We provided infrastructure for 31 affordable lots ($800,000 in 2024, which continues to be drawn through 2025).”

But in the .pdf file, the hyperlink over the $800,000 amount goes to the same place as the one in this article does—back to Table 1. There’s no new information provided, even though the text leaves the impression, with its inclusion of a hyperlink, that it offers additional documentation of relevant facts.

That’s a pattern that’s repeated row after row in Table 1. For a few of the rows, there is some additional tidbit of information to be found elsewhere in the document about the investment described in the table. For example, by continuing to read past Table 1, it’s possible to learn that a $1 million investment in affordable housing likely refers to a (future) investment in the Summit District PUD (Shasta Meadow). It’s also possible to piece together that the $1,368,288 listed in the table likely refers to the development of the former Kohr administration building for the IU Health hospital, a project started under Thomson’s predecessor.

But there’s no explicit information in the document about the funding sources for any specific project or the status of specific projects. From some statements in the document, it could be reasonable to infer that at least some of the funding for some projects stems from ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) sources. But not all of it does.

Using the city’s public facing online financial system, which was put in place by Thomson’s predecessor, it’s possible to sleuth out the fact that the $140,000 of support to Avalon Community Land Trust listed in Table 1 came from the city’s Housing Development Fund (HDF). The HDF gets its revenue from developers who participate in the payment-in-lieu incentive program.

Two tables are included below. The first one shows the limitations of additional information in the Nov. 20 document, which could have supplemented the sparse facts about projects listed in Table 1. The second table analyzes some of the ways the document resembles campaign literature, as opposed to a purely factual report about the status of different city initiatives.

Table 1 (with one extra column)

** The text in this fourth column is a quotation from the running text of the document, that comes after Table 1. In the .pdf file, the dollar amounts for this column all include an internal hyperlink back to Table 1 in the document. So the two columns to compare and contrast for informational content are the third and fourth columns.
AMT
GOAL
PROJECT
Additional Information in Document**
$800,000
Affordable Ownership Creation
Infrastructure for the creation of 31 affordable lots and homes (<80% AMI).
We provided infrastructure for 31 affordable lots ($800,000 in 2024, which continues to be drawn through 2025).
$540,000
Affordable Ownership Creation
Construction material funding contribution for the creation of 9 affordable homes (<80% AMI).
... as well as home and construction support for 9 new Habitat for Humanity homes at Osage Place ($300,000 in 2024, $240,000 in 2025);
$1,000,000
Affordable Ownership Creation
Acquisition of 20 single family lots to create 20 affordable homes (<100% AMI).
... land acquisition that will make way for 20 more affordable homes at Shasta Meadow ($1,000,000 in 2024–2025)
$200,000
Affordable Ownership Creation
Down payment and closing cost assistance for 10 new land trust homes at or below (<60% AMI).
...downpayment assistance to 10 land trust homes ($200,000);
$250,000
Affordable Ownership Creation
Funding contribution to create four land trust townhome units (<80% AMI).
...funding for the creation of 4 units in a townhome land trust pilot ($250,000 in 2024–2025).
$568,000
Affordable Rental Unit Creation
Funding contribution for the creation of 48 affordable units, with 10 apartments set aside for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The remaining 38 affordable apartments will be affordable workforce housing (30–80% AMI).
We funded the creation of 117 new rental units, including 48 affordable apartments, at Retreat at Switchyard ($568,000 in 2024–2025);
$1,368,288
Affordable Rental Unit Creation
Construction funding contribution for the creation of 41 new units, including: 9 permanent supportive housing units designed to support those suffering homelessness (0–28% AMI); an additional 29 units for voucher holders (<80% AMI); and a childcare center with 3 affordable units above (<80% AMI).
... 38 units at Kohr Community Flats ($1,248,288 in 2024–2025), with 9 of those reserved for residents who need permanent supportive housing and 29 units for voucher holders;
$220,000
Affordable Rental Unit Creation
Funding contribution for the creation of 15 new affordable units, 8 units for voucher holders, and 7 in a cooperative living home (280% AMI).
... 7 units in the Avalon Land Trust cooperative living ($140,000 in 2024); and 8 newly constructed units for voucher holders ($80,000 in 2025).
$432,480
Housing Stability
Down payment and closing cost assistance for 25 first-time home buyers (<80% AMI).
... we are stabilizing neighborhoods through down-payment assistance for 25 first-time homebuyers ($292,480 in 2024, $140,000 in 2025);
$26,804
Housing Stability
Rental deposit assistance to provide stability to 61 households (<80% AMI).
... rental deposit assistance ($26,804 in 2024–2025);
$100,000
Housing Stability
Homelessness diversion assistance to support with rent and deposit payments, short-term housing options and utility assistance for those at risk or currently homeless (<60% AMI).
"... diversion ($100,000 in 2025) | also on page 15: and in homeless diversion funds through South Central Community Action Program ($100,000)."
$60,000
Housing Stability
Eviction prevention financial aid and case management for households facing imminent eviction (within 14 days of landlord filing) (<80% AMI).
... eviction prevention investments ($60,000 in 2025) | also page 15: The City has invested in eviction prevention through Summit Hill Community Development Corporation ($60,000),
$90,000
Housing Stability
Security for a new affordable housing complex that includes 9 permanent supportive housing units designed to support those experiencing homelessness (0–28% AMI) and an additional 29 units for voucher holders (<80% AMI).
... security support for permanent supportive housing units ($90,000 in 2024);
$200,000
Housing Stability
Solar installation for affordable new homes built to improve efficiency and reduce housing cost burden (<80% AMI).
... and solar installation for new affordable homes to improve efficiency and reduce cost burden ($200,000 in 2024).
$90,000
Housing Stability
Investment in 4 security trailers to support neighborhood stability.
... 4 security trailers for neighborhoods to deter and prevent crime and increase stability ($50,000 in 2024, $40,000 in 2025);
$400,000
Supportive Housing
Preservation and rehabilitation of a permanent supportive housing project that has housed more than 500 domestic abuse victims (<80% AMI).
"... We’ve expanded options for people with the highest needs, including survivors of domestic violence ($400,000 in 2024)"
$439,296
Supportive Housing
Funding for the creation of three case management positions: two that focus on street outreach to help transition unhoused residents into housing and one position that focuses on veterans in need (<50% AMI).
The City has also provided $439,296 to HealthNet for two outreach case managers and one veteran case manager
$200,000
Supportive Housing
Rapid rehousing services for unhoused residents to provide a combination of short-term financial assistance for items such as security deposits, utilities, and application fees alongside case management (<50% AMI).
... rapid rehousing with New Hope for Families ($200,000),
$600,000
Supportive Housing
Funding support for land acquisition for development of a 45,000 square foot homeless shelter.
... committed $600,000 toward the development of an expanded emergency shelter facility that will consolidate day services, overnight beds, and supportive housing in a single location
$566,000
Supportive Housing/ Preservation
Funding for the security, rehabilitation, and preservation of permanent supportive housing units.
... security and rehabilitation of permanent supportive housing units to keep units in service ($566,000 in 2025)
$95,000
Housing Preservation
Funding for the preservation of a 6-unit complex for veterans (<60% AMI).
We provided funding to secure veterans’ apartments and supportive housing for voucher holders ($95,000 in 2024).
$96,500
Housing Preservation
Preservation of 11 homes through rehabilitation activities for low-income households (<80% AMI).
??
$980,000
Housing Preservation
Investment in affordable housing creation and preservation (<80% AMI).
We are making nearly a million dollars ($980,000 in 2025) of additional affordable housing investments to keep Bloomington’s housing stock strong

Campaign Literature vs. Neutral Report

What the Document Says The report opens with a personally signed “Letter from the Mayor” using phrases like “my administration,” "my commitment" and “since taking office in 2024,” tying the entire narrative to one person.
Campaign Messaging Personalizes the work described as the incumbent’s accomplishment. This resembles campaign literature that foregrounds the candidate’s name, tenure, and personal leadership.
Without Spin A neutral report would use an executive summary or institutional foreword and attribute actions to “the City,” specific departments (e.g., HAND, BPD), or multi-year plans rather than one mayor’s term.
What the Document Says The administration’s use of “Co-Creators with Our Community” as a kind of branding, and wording like “new urgency and resources” portray the current mayor's term as a distinct, values-driven era rather than one phase of ongoing city work across different administrations.
Campaign Messaging Establishes a campaign brand: This mayor == collaboration, urgency, co-creation.
It differentiates the current officeholder for potential voters and donors.
Without Spin A neutral report would focus on adopted policies, plans, and statutory duties, and describe continuity across more than one administration rather than emphasizing one term’s unique “core values.”
What the Document Says The report highlights a precise cumulative investment of over $9.3 million in housing, homelessness prevention, and services.
Campaign Messaging Large, round financial totals presented in a table signal that the administration has delivered in a big way and provide a tidy number for campaign messaging about commitment and competence.
Without Spin A neutral report would present each row of the table with the name and location of the project, the source of its funding, and its status.
What the Document Says Brighten Bloomington is described as a “great success story,” with the striking claim that all 71 participants were successfully housed—presented as a narrative of transformation and redemption.
Campaign Messaging Uses a quantifiable success offering evidence the administration’s approach works, giving an example of a flagship program that supporters can cite.
Without Spin An objective evaluation would still report the 71 participants, but make explicit that the program was started by the mayor’s predecessor, and make clear when the 71 successes were realized.
What the Document Says Phrasing such as “... the Mayor partnered with the Community Foundation on a $7.39 million Lilly Endowment grant” emphasizes the mayor’s direct personal role in securing major external resources.
Campaign Messaging Frames the mayor as an effective deal-maker with regional and philanthropic clout, to demonstrate influence and leadership beyond city hall.
Without Spin A neutral account would specify the specific institutional role of the city (if applicable, letters of support, match funding, staff work) and name all organizations involved, rather than framing the grant primarily as a partnership initiated by the mayor.
What the Document Says The report states “We inherited a police force in January 2024 with 85 sworn police officers—fewer than the 92 officers the City had in 2011,” then foregrounds efforts to “restore” staffing and capacity.
Campaign Messaging Explicitly positions the inherited condition as a problem left by predecessors, while the current mayor gets credit for recovery—which is standard we-had-to-fix-what-they-broke incumbency messaging.
Without Spin A neutral history would show staffing trends over multiple years, explain recruitment and retirement pressures, and avoid tying the problem or solution so tightly to one administration.
What the Document Says The administration says “we’re part of the problem,” describing housing bottlenecks inside City Hall and promising “deep cultural change” alongside permitting audits and UDO reforms.
Campaign Messaging This controlled self-critique supports a reformer storyline: The incumbent is honest, has diagnosed the problem, and is uniquely capable of transforming bureaucracy.
Without Spin A matter-of-fact report would describe process problems and recommended fixes, possibly from an audit, in technical terms (review times, workflow conflicts), not a call for institutional “culture change” led by a particular mayor.
What the Document Says Hopewell is presented as a “proof of concept” and a “test bed for our permitting fixes,” not just a redevelopment project, but evidence of the administration’s innovative approach to housing policy.
Campaign Messaging Turns a complex capital project into a symbol of innovation that the mayor can point to as emblematic of her leadership and long-term vision for housing.
Without Spin A dispassionate redevelopment report would focus on infrastructure, unit counts by AMI, zoning approvals, financing structure, and timelines. Any process-reform “test bed” role would be background, not the headline.
What the Document Says Success is framed partly in terms like “cleaner, safer public corridors” and “increased business confidence,” rather than measurable service outcomes.
Campaign Messaging Mirrors campaign talking points about restoring quality of life and business climate. These are easier to demonstrate with anecdotes and photos than with hard benchmarks.
Without Spin A neutral strategic plan would emphasize quantifiable indicators: HUD and Continuum of Care metrics, service capacity, encampment-cleanup counts and costs, and longitudinal trends.
What the Document Says The narrative leans on phrases like “place of belonging,” “where all can flourish,” “humane protocols,” and vivid individual stories (for example, a person discharged from another county and relapsing downtown).
Campaign Messaging Emotional and moral language helps position the mayor as compassionate and principled. Vivid anecdotes are a staple of persuasive, voter-facing messaging.
Without Spin A technical report would emphasize aggregate data, definitions, and policy mechanics. Individual case stories and aspirational phrases would be limited or omitted.
What the Document Says The report says more than once that the mayor “convened”, took “a leading role,” “partnered,” or “advocated,” even where more than one entity or department surely was involved in the work.
Campaign Messaging Keeps the mayor personally in the foreground of each solution; reinforces the idea that visible progress flows from this specific leader’s initiative and relationships.
Without Spin A neutral document would more often foreground the city as an institution, specific departments, boards, and partner agencies, mentioning the mayor only when the role is legally or procedurally central.

[Editor’s note: The reporter is the spouse of Mary Morgan, who is the executive director of Heading Home of South Central Indiana. That is the nonprofit described in the Nov. 20 document released by Bloomington mayor Kerry Thomson as “the coalition charged with leading the regional homelessness response.” Thomson is a member of Heading Home’s board.]

Read next

Comments ()