Omaha Homeless Services Providers Struggle to Keep Up

With the worst of winter weather ahead, shelter providers say there are not enough beds to meet the rising rate of homelessness in the city.

1 minute read

January 8, 2025, 8:00 AM PST

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Omaha, Nebraska skyline at dusk.

SeanPavonePhoto / Adobe Stock

Providers of emergency housing in Omaha, Nebraska are fighting rising homelessness rates as housing costs grow in the city, reports Maria Cade for First Alert 6.

City leaders say they are focusing on chronic homelessness, defined as being unhoused for 12 months in a row or 12 months across a three-year span. “There’s very much a tie between the lack of affordable housing units, the lack of affordable housing options in our area and the rise in chronic homelessness which we’re currently experiencing,” said Chris Knauf, CEO of the Stephen Center.

Meanwhile, the coldest weather of the season is still ahead. Linda Twomey, Executive Director of Siena Francis House, says the number of shelter beds available in the city doesn’t meet demand. The number of unhoused residents grew from 49 in 2019 to 230 in 2023, more than tripling. The city’s population, by contrast, grew by roughly 4 percent.

Tuesday, January 7, 2025 in First Alert 6

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 25, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Western U.S. indicating public lands that would be for sale under a Senate plan in yellow and green.

Map: Where Senate Republicans Want to Sell Your Public Lands

For public land advocates, the Senate Republicans’ proposal to sell millions of acres of public land in the West is “the biggest fight of their careers.”

June 19, 2025 - Outdoor Life

Person wearing mask walking through temporary outdoor dining setup lined with bistro lights at dusk in New York City.

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?

Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

June 19, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Close-up of full beer glass with purple train-themed design sitting on bar between two frosty tall cans.

Platform Pilsner: Vancouver Transit Agency Releases... a Beer?

TransLink will receive a portion of every sale of the four-pack.

4 hours ago - Cities Today

Vintage red Toronto streetcar passing in front of Rogers Arena in Toronto, Canada.

Toronto Weighs Cheaper Transit, Parking Hikes for Major Events

Special event rates would take effect during large festivals, sports games and concerts to ‘discourage driving, manage congestion and free up space for transit.”

5 hours ago - blogTO

Map of Berlin with ring roads in green and red.

Berlin to Consider Car-Free Zone Larger Than Manhattan

The area bound by the 22-mile Ringbahn would still allow 12 uses of a private automobile per year per person, and several other exemptions.

6 hours ago - Streetsblog USA

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.