Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke today named Dr. Matthew Hanka as Administrator of the Commission on Homelessness for Evansville and Vanderburgh County (“The Commission”) at the organization’s February 2018 meeting.  In this volunteer role, Dr. Hanka will provide leadership for the Commission, a group of area government and community leaders working together to prevent and end homelessness in the region.  A resident of Evansville, Dr. Hanka is Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program at the University of Southern Indiana.  Dr. Hanka replaces Timothy Weir of Accuride Corporation and Kimron Reising of Zion Evangelical United Church of Christ, who had jointly served as Co-Administrators of the Commission since May 2015. 

 “Dr. Hanka provides continuity of leadership that will help the Commission maintain focus on its homeless diversion and housing initiatives, as it strives to prevent and end homelessness in our community,” said Mayor Winnecke, who serves as President of the Commission on Homelessness of Evansville and Vanderburgh County.  “The Commission and I appreciate the past leadership of Timothy Weir and Kimron Reising, whose contributions helped reduce homelessness in Evansville to its lowest level in four years.” 

About Dr. Matthew Hanka

Dr. Matthew Hanka is Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program at the University of Southern Indiana.  His direct research experience with homelessness includes a 2014 study with the USI Center for Applied Research that examined the cost efficiency and benefits of area permanent supportive housing for the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA). His academic work has been published in such journals as American Review of Public Administration, Community Development, Housing Policy Debate, Housing and Society and Journal of Urban Affairs, among others.  Hanka has served on the Commission’s Data Task Force since its inception in 2015, and the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) for the City of Evansville since 2014. He currently is Vice President of the Rotary Club of Evansville. 

About the Commission on Homelessness

The Commission on Homelessness for Evansville and Vanderburgh County was formed in 2005 to direct and facilitate the implementation of strategic actions to prevent and end homelessness in our community.  The Commission includes representatives of local non-profit and civic organizations, City and County government, the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation, the United Way of Southwestern Indiana, and homeless services and housing organizations, among others.  Together, they provide leadership for local implementation of national programs and resources to address homelessness, including housing initiatives, coordinated entry and other community-wide homeless processes, homeless diversion and prevention programs and related matters.