How We Help Overcome Poverty

We provide short- and long-term assistance and solutions to alleviate both the obvious and not-so-obvious impact of poverty. We also work to identify and address the root issues that cause poverty like addiction, homelessness, mental illness, job loss, lack of education and many other factors.

Pathway of Hope

• Pathway of Hope population served:  The goal of Pathway of Hope is to guide families with children 18 years and younger through crisis and instability to a place of security in order to ultimately break the intergenerational cycle of poverty.
• Pathway of Hope offers a strengths-based casework approach and provides services including: 
  • financial counseling and planning
  • job training and referrals
  • assistance with housing
  • spiritual support
• Pathway of Hope program summary:  Pathway of Hope works with Omaha and Council Bluffs families where they are, helping lay out a practical plan to meet achievable goals. For more information, call 402-898-5947.

Emergency Community Services

• Emergency Community Services program summary:  For those struggling to survive on the street, a hot shower, food and access to technology can make all the difference. That’s why we offer free showers and personal hygiene supplies, food, water and a safe environment in which to warm up in the winter or cool off on a sweltering summer day can make all the difference. 

Sweet Threads Closet

• Sweet Threads Closet program summary:  We offer new and gently used adult and children's clothing and coats fand personal care items or those who can't afford to purchase them. Families and individuals are welcome to browse our closet and select what they or their children need.  

Monthly Health Clinic

• Monthly Health Clinic schedule:  4^th Thursday of every month from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Monthly Health Clinic program summary:  Our free health clinic is staffed by a doctor and nurses and offers blood pressure and diabetes screenings, Covid immunizations and flu shots and other basic medical services, as well as information and resources about health insurance and social services. 

Material Assistance and Seasonal Services

• Material Assistance program need:  A parent shouldn't have to choose between filling a child's prescription and paying the electric bill, but sadly, these are often the choices that people living in poverty are forced to make.
• Material Assistance program summary:  Our material assistance programs bridge the gap and provide fresh and canned food, clothing and household items, and assistance paying for prescription medications and utilities bills.
• Seasonal Services program summary:  Seasonal services offer necessities like summer fans that bring relief on a sweltering day, backpacks filled with school supplies for kids returning to the classroom, and toys and meal vouchers for families at Christmas and Thanksgiving. Learn more about material assistance and seasonal services at the Burrows Center.

Food Programs

• Food Programs need:  More than 13 percent of Nebraskans and 1 in 5 children are considered food insecure, meaning they may not know where their next meal will come from.
• Food Programs summary:  We are working diligently to address this critical problem by offering multiple food programs in Omaha, including our weekday free lunch program and pick-up pantry at our 24th and Pratt corps location, as well as a mobile summer lunch program for children, mobile food distribution services during the winter months and the Burrows Center food pantry.