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.
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.
Read the full story: Omaha metro organizations fighting chronic homelessness
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