As of 2020, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) estimates that roughly 580,000 people across the country are experiencing homelessness. In Nebraska alone it is estimated that at any one time around 2,400 people are left without a stable home to live in. Siena Francis House is trying to change that by making sure no one is left out in the cold.

Siena Francis House believes in welcoming and empowering those experiencing homelessness to navigate their way to housing. They provide on-site housing for all individuals, with meals and rehab centers for those who need them. They accept everyone in need, no matter their situation.

Their main shelter, located at North 17th Street, is the largest in the state for providing emergency relief for homeless individuals. They service individuals who are nineteen (19) or older, and have separate dorms for males and females, as well as dining and common areas for residents to feel comfortable in. They use Case Managers to work with their residents to help them get back on their feet and give them the resources to keep them from ending up back on the street, offering rental and utility assistance; employment resources and training; financial management education; domestic violence counseling; addiction treatment; services for veterans; health and prescription referrals; continuing education; ID or Birth Certificate assistance; Legal and Immigration Assistance; and help with Social Security, Disability, and Unemployment benefits. The organization also opens a ‘Warming Center’ during the winter months when the weather drops to twenty (20) degrees or below, or when there is a winter storm or high wind warning. They offer showers, warm clothes, food, and shelter to keep people safe from the dangerous Midwestern winters.

Siena Francis House owns two (2) apartment complexes for adults that are chronically homeless and have a disability. These apartments have twenty-four (24) units each. They have recently begun construction on a micro-community of small single occupant houses, which will be completed next March, called ‘The Cottages’, these tiny homes will be about two hundred and seventy-five square feet (275 sq ft) and have central heating and air, a full bath, kitchen, bedroom, living area, and covered porch. The community will have fifty (50) houses in total. This is the first of such communities in Nebraska, but many like it have been built across the country to help with homelessness.

If you would like to donate to the Siena Francis House, you can drop off needed items at their Donation/Loading Dock Monday-Saturday from 8AM-5PM at their Emergency Shelter at 1117 North 17th St. You can also make financial donations by sending it to Siena Francis House, PO Box 217, Omaha, NE  68101 or by going onto their website at sienafrancis.org and clicking the Donate link. Businesses and community organizations can also hold Donation Drives as a way of helping out.

If you would like to learn more about this organization, you can go to their website at sienafrancis.org, or you can follow them on Twitter @Siena_Francis, or Facebook at Siena Francis House.