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Homeless Shelters Overcrowded

Homeless shelters in the metro are breaking records. A record number of people are turning to the Open Door Mission and the Siena/Francis House for help.

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Reporter: John Chapman

Homeless Shelters Overcrowded

Homeless shelters in the metro are breaking records. A record number of people are turning to the Open Door Mission and the Siena/Francis House for help.

U.S. Celluar was providing free, long distance phone calls Wednesday for the homeless at the Siena/Francis House. During the holiday season, many take a phone call to a loved one for granted, just pick up the phone and make a call. This was a special treat for many of these people who just don’t have the money to make a long distance call.

Many in Omaha don’t think about those who are outside, hiding from the elements, just trying to stay warm, but when the temperature drops, more and more people are moving in off the streets and into the Siena/Francis House. A few cold nights ago, 508 people showed up to sleep on one of 340 beds.

“It’s grossly overcrowded, we have folks who don’t get a bed, sleep on a mattress or in a chair,” said Tim Sully at Siena/Francis House. “We’re just squeezing people in everywhere really.”

The shelters are also trying to feed a lot of people, more than 2,000 at the Open Door Mission Tuesday night. The Siena/Francis House is serving up to 1,200 meals a day and some of that food is going to families who are homeless for the first time.

For a lot of people who are on the lower end of the economic scale, these folks have started to fall into homelessness that have never done that before. Shelter organizers know a mattress inside on the floor is better than outside in the cold and they know the number of people who want to be inside will increase as winter becomes winter.

The number of people seeking shelter goes up as temperatures go down. The cold weather drove some folks inside that were probably on the street before that.

The Lydia House, a shelter for women and children at the Open Door Mission, has seen an increase of 37 percent. They are maxed out at that facility.

The Open Door Mission and the Siena/Francis House can always use cash donations. The Siena/Francis House also has a list of critical needs items including long johns, sizes small through large, socks, blankets, pillows, hats, gloves, boots and coats. Even bleach and Pine Sol are requested.