HOW SSVP OMAHA SERVES:
Since 1868, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha has provided direct aid - including food, clothing, homelessness prevention, homeless outreach and disaster recovery - to struggling families and individuals in our community.
|
CHOICE FOOD PANTRYThe Society's "Choice" Food Pantry - along with the food pantries at a number of our SSVP parish conferences - are crucial in helping feed struggling Omaha neighbors, serving more than 36,000 individuals and families each year. The Society's main pantry - located at 2101 Leavenworth Street - addresses food insecurity by providing non-perishable food, fresh and frozen produce, bread, dairy, and proteins to families in need. Volunteer “Companions” escort neighbors through the pantry, ensuring they are able to obtain the food they need to feed their families. Click HERE for complete information regarding SSVP Omaha's Choice Food Pantry.
|
CLOTHING & PERSONAL CARE ITEMS FOR THE HOMELESSEach weekday at our District Office’s Holy Family Center, 1715 Izard Street, compassionate volunteers and staff welcome unhoused neighbors, distributing clothing and essential personal care items – free of charge – in a safe, respectful environment. Through thousands of visits each year, our Closet Door ministry provides clothing, shoes, coats, blankets, sleeping bags, backpacks, and hygiene supplies – bringing comfort, warmth, and dignity to homeless men and women, many of whom live “on the streets” in tents or makeshift shelters. Click HERE for a list of material donations needed for our Closet Door.
|
|
|
MEALS FOR THE HOMELESS & STRUGGLING NEIGHBORSEach weekday at our Holy Family Center, dedicated volunteers prepare 250 or more sack lunches for neighbors experiencing hunger in downtown Omaha. These meals are distributed at Holy Family and at nearby low-income housing communities, helping ensure access to nourishment for those in need. For many of our neighbors, this lunch may be the only substantial meal they receive that day. Click HERE for a list of material donations needed for our Sack Lunch Program.
|
Every day in our community, families are suddenly confronted with crisis – job loss, unexpected medical bills, or the death of a loved one – that can quickly jeopardize their ability to remain safely housed. In these critical moments, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha responds with compassion and urgency through its network of Vincentian volunteers serving in parish-based conferences across the city.
Through personal home visits and caring, respectful conversations, Vincentians take time to listen and understand each family’s unique situation. Working in close collaboration with District Office staff, they prayerfully assess needs and determine the most appropriate forms of assistance. This often includes rental support to help prevent eviction, as well as utility assistance to avoid shutoffs – timely interventions that can stabilize households before housing insecurity escalates. By acting quickly and thoughtfully, and by honoring the dignity of every person served, Vincentians help prevent homelessness before it begins, keeping families together and safely housed during moments of profound vulnerability. Their work has been recognized by local nonprofit leadership as among the most impactful homelessness prevention efforts in the city of Omaha, reflecting the deep and measurable difference these interventions make in the community. |
|
|
DISASTER CASE MANAGEMENTWhen natural disasters strike, SSVP Omaha provides both immediate assistance and long-term case management support. Services include financial aid, food, clothing, furniture, household items, and resource coordination. As a member of the Tri-County Long Term Recovery Group, we assist families and businesses across Douglas, Sarpy, and Washington Counties. Our Certified Disaster Case Managers guide survivors through the entire process, often for over a year, helping them reach a "new normal."
|
THRIFT STORESAt SSVP Omaha, our thrift stores are more than just places to shop – they’re community lifelines. Offering quality clothing, furniture, home décor, and more at deeply discounted prices, they help families stretch limited budgets and get the most value from every dollar. Behind the scenes, our dedicated thrift store management team works hand-in-hand with SSVP Conferences, Vincentians, and the District Office to ensure that our mission reaches everyone who needs it. Through these partnerships, neighbors in need can receive free vouchers to access essential – and often higher-cost – household items. We also provide similar support for unhoused neighbors moving into permanent housing, helping them furnish their new apartments with furniture, bedding, and other necessities. Click HERE for complete information regarding SSVP Omaha's Thrift Stores.
HOMELESS & STREET OUTREACH
Beyond providing food and clothing, staff and volunteers with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul offer a wide range of compassionate outreach services primarily to men and women experiencing homelessness, as well as to other neighbors who are struggling through the District Office’s Holy Family Center. Year-round, the program provides essential support such as food, water, clothing, and personal care items. During warmer months, outreach expands to include ice and frozen treats, and throughout the year, special gatherings like the annual Christmas banquet and summer picnic help foster connection and dignity. Holy Family also serves as a warming center during the winter months and a cooling center during periods of extreme summer heat, offering safety and relief during dangerous weather conditions.
This care extends beyond the center itself, as staff regularly visit encampments to deliver critical supplies including food, water, blankets, and fuel – meeting immediate needs while maintaining a consistent, compassionate presence. Through these personal and ongoing connections, staff and volunteers build trust and help individuals take meaningful steps toward stability. When neighbors are ready to move into housing, our outreach staff work closely with – and rely on – the dedicated management team at the Society’s Thrift Stores to provide free in-store vouchers. This support allows the neighbors to furnish their new apartments with furniture, bedding, and other household essentials, transforming empty spaces into welcoming homes and supporting lasting, dignified paths out of homelessness. Click HERE for a list of material donations needed for our Homeless & Street Outreach Program. 
Winter Coat Giveaway
Each fall, SSVP Omaha hosts two Winter Coat Giveaway events to help our neighbors prepare for the cold months ahead. Held on separate Saturdays in October – one in north Omaha and one in south Omaha – these events bring together volunteers and staff to distribute thousands of winter coats, along with hats, gloves, scarves, and other cold-weather essentials to those in need from across our community. |
COMMUNITY ROOM
SSVP Omaha’s Community Room provides a safe, welcoming daytime space for homeless, unhoused neighbors each weekday afternoon at the Holy Family Center. Guests can rest indoors, charge their phones, use the restroom, access community resources on a computer, watch television, enjoy conversation, or simply take a much-needed nap. The Community Room also hosts a Peer Support Specialist once each week to help guests navigate local services and connect with resources that support their path toward stability and housing.
Staffed by compassionate Community Room Liaison volunteers and overseen by staff, the program offers respite from extreme weather and the daily stresses of homelessness. Up to four guests at a time are welcomed into a shared environment where dignity, hospitality, and respect are at the center of every interaction, ensuring each person feels supported and valued. Click HERE for a list of material donations needed for our Community Room. |
