Help leaving homelessness in Nebraska
We've found 13 places in Nebraska for people leaving homelessness, mostly in Omaha and Lincoln, and 6 that serve the whole state. Our volunteers haven't confirmed these yet, so a quick call ahead is worth it. Most of them help with shelter & housing (8), food (6) and health & medication (6).
Places in Nebraska
Nebraska 211
Free information and referral line covering Nebraska for food, shelter, utility help, transportation, legal and disaster services. Dial 2-1-1, call the toll-free number, text your ZIP code, or use live chat from 7 am to 10 pm daily.
Siena Francis House
Nebraska's largest homeless services provider, running six buildings at 17th and Nicholas in downtown Omaha. Emergency shelter, meals, clothing, case management, a health clinic, permanent supportive housing, veteran services, and the Miracles addiction treatment and recovery program.
Open Door Mission
Gospel rescue mission in north Omaha with 917 shelter beds across the Garland Thompson Men's Center and Lydia House for women and families. Walk in for men's shelter; call ahead for women and families. Also serves three free hot meals daily at the Hospitality Center, runs the New Life Recovery Program and a 90-day Next Step halfway house for men in early recovery, and offers GED tutoring and job coaching.
Stephen Center
South Omaha campus with the Pettigrew Emergency Shelter, which keeps families together, the HERO short- and long-term treatment program for substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders, and permanent supportive housing with case management for people facing high barriers. Call to ask about entering any program.
Sanctuary House
Emergency shelter operated by Heartland Family Service in Omaha. Call or text the 24-hour line to check on a bed. The agency's main office is at 2101 S 42nd St.
Legal Aid of Nebraska AccessLine
Free civil legal help for Nebraskans with limited income, including housing, benefits, protection orders and the Clean Slate Project for sealing dismissed charges and setting aside convictions. Call the AccessLine during its limited phone hours or apply online through LawHelpNE; no walk-ins.
CenterPointe
Lincoln provider of outpatient and residential substance use and mental health treatment, primary care, street outreach, and 247 housing units. Walk-in crisis counseling on weekdays and a crisis line answered 24 hours. Sliding fee scale.
Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach
Open-door hunger relief and outreach center in north Lincoln serving hot lunch and dinner every day of the year, a food pantry four days a week, free substance use evaluations and counseling, weekly AA meetings, and a housing program for individuals and families.
People's City Mission
Lincoln's main emergency shelter at 110 Q Street, serving the city since 1907, with meals, a free medical clinic for uninsured residents at 401 N 2nd St, and a Homeless Prevention Center at 26th and O providing food, clothing and household goods. Safe Place sites give runaway and homeless youth immediate help.
Nebraska Refugee Resettlement Program
State office coordinating services for newly arrived refugees: cash and medical assistance for up to eight months for those not eligible for other programs, health screening within 90 days, and employment and ESL services for five years through Lutheran Family Services, Refugee Empowerment Center, Catholic Social Services and Lincoln Literacy.
iServe Nebraska (ACCESSNebraska)
Nebraska's portal for applying for SNAP, Medicaid and other economic assistance. Apply online at iserve.nebraska.gov or call the Omaha, Lincoln or statewide toll-free lines during business hours; an automated benefit inquiry line runs 24 hours.
Nebraska Vital Records
State office for certified Nebraska birth certificates. Order online at nevitalrecords-dhhs.ne.gov, by mail with a $17 check or money order payable to Vital Records, or visit the first floor of the State Office Building in Lincoln. A no-fee certificate is available for voting ID purposes with proof of identity.
Nebraska State ID Card
Free state identification card for any Nebraska resident who is a U.S. citizen; non-citizens pay $10 to $29 depending on card length. Apply in person at any Driver Licensing Office with proof of citizenship or lawful status, two proofs of Nebraska address, and a verifiable Social Security number.
National lines that work in Nebraska
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988 for any mental health or substance use crisis. Available to anyone in any program.
Lifeline free phone program
Free or discounted phone and service for people on Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, or low income. Apply online or through a carrier.