Community volunteers assembled more than 2,000 snack pack kits for Together’s homelessness outreach efforts at UWM’s rescheduled MLK Day Volunteer Event.
What conditions are being experienced by individuals facing challenges across the Omaha-Council Bluffs metro? The United Way of the Midlands (UWM) Signals and Trends Report explores this question by combining existing research with data unique to UWM — including feedback from investment partners and program participants.
Not surprisingly, housing has replaced transportation as the issue with the most community attention. Across 26 research studies and planning efforts, housing expense assistance and homelessness were the two most-frequently prioritized topics. A combination of low inventory, unsafe properties, high rent and escalating housing prices are driving residents to housing instability and homelessness. The affordable housing crisis is real, widespread and continues to persist in the metro.
The Omaha-Council Bluffs metro continues to have one of the highest levels of working poor in the country, with 7 of 10 households in poverty having at least one member of the family who works. These families often live paycheck to paycheck and face persistent needs. When UWM asked callers to their 211 Helpline how they would cover a $400 emergency expense, 90% said they couldn’t use cash or otherwise pay the bill immediately. On an already tight budget, an unexpected expense can quickly turn into a financial crisis — driving families in and out of poverty. In fact, studies from the U.S. Census show that episodes of poverty are much more common than longer-term or chronic cases of poverty.
The 65+ population is growing and has replaced children as the age group with the highest poverty. In the community, this population is projected to increase 51% between 2020 and 2045 — five times as much as other ages. The supplemental poverty measure estimates poverty among seniors at 12.8%, just higher than the rate for children under 18. This trend underscores the importance of addressing issues related to retirement security, healthcare access and social safety nets to ensure the well-being of our aging population.
UWM recognizes the importance of building bridges to a more sustainable future. This means encouraging collaboration and investing with an eye on efficiency. With more than 5,750 nonprofit organizations currently operating in the Omaha-Council Bluffs metro, how the group mobilizes the community is as important as ever.
The metro is a place where neighbors care for neighbors and compassion drives positive change. But too many people in our community are struggling to make ends meet, and we need to maintain resources to help hardworking families thrive. The mission to unite the caring spirit for a stronger tomorrow requires the collective power of our entire community today.
