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.
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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.
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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.
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MEALS FOR THE HOMELESSEach 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 is the only substantial meal they receive that day. Click HERE for a list of material donations needed for our Sack Lunch Program.
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Every day, families in our community face sudden and destabilizing crises – a job loss, medical emergency, or the loss of a loved one – that put their safe and secure housing at risk. In these moments, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul responds through the compassionate service of Vincentian volunteers serving in parish conferences across the city. Through personal home visits and thoughtful conversations, Vincentians listen carefully and prayerfully consider each family’s circumstances, helping to assess needs and determine appropriate assistance, in close partnership with SSVP District Office staff. This support often includes rental assistance to help families avoid eviction, as well as help with utility payments to prevent service shutoffs – timely interventions that can stabilize households and keep families safely housed. By responding with urgency, discernment, and deep respect for each family’s dignity, Vincentians play a critical role in preventing the devastating cycle of homelessness before it begins.
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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."
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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 OUTREACH
Beyond providing food and clothing, SSVP staff and volunteers offer a wide range of compassionate outreach ministries to neighbors experiencing homelessness through the District Office’s Holy Family Center. On weekday afternoons, our Community Room serves as a welcoming daytime drop-in center where guests can rest indoors, charge their phones, use the restroom, and connect with essential services. Holy Family also operates 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.
In addition to these daily services, we regularly distribute water, bags of ice, and frozen treats to our neighbors, and host special meals throughout the year, including our annual Christmas banquet. Our outreach also extends beyond the building, as staff visit unhoused and unsheltered neighbors in encampments to deliver critical necessities such as food, water, blankets, and fuel – meeting immediate survival 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 Outreach Program. |
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