Thank you for visiting the Project Homeless Connect - Omaha ("PHCO") web page.

In its 3rd year, and with the support of Creighton University and Father John P Schlegel, S.J. President of Creighton University, PHCO has helped over 800 of the area's homeless find housing, needed services, healthcare, hair styles and 119 sets dentures. Over 1500 volunteers have committed their time to making this event one the most significant events in the metro's history. The engagement and cooperation of public officials in municipal, county, and state government, as well as local business leaders has been remarkable in creating a cooperative service strategy that connects the homeless with service providers.

The next event will be held on March 26th, 2010.

Chairman of this year's event: Scott Bradley, President of Pinnacle Bank Omaha

We are honored to have Mr. Bradley as this year's Chairman. Mr. Bradley is an Omaha community leader and experienced local businessman. He has 38 years of banking experience, with more than 14 years at Pinnacle Bank. He is a graduate of Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, where he earned his bachelor's degree in business and mathematics.

An active leader in the Omaha community, Bradley serves as President of Downtown Omaha, Inc., and sits on the state board for the Better Business Bureau. He is also involved with several volunteer efforts, including the Ronald McDonald House Charities and Friends of Naivasha, a charity focused on raising money to build a hospital in Naivasha, Kenya. Bradley is the former President and current board member of the Omaha Downtown Improvement District Association. He also participates in the Omaha Morning Rotary and is an alumnus of Leadership Omaha. Scott has been a strong supporter of Project Homeless Connect Omaha and a friend of the area's less fortunate.

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“Project Kids Connect” – December 24th, 2009

A New Event

The Committee of Project Homeless Connect together with the Youth Task Force of the Metro Area Continuum of Care for the Homeless are happy to announce the success of "Project Kids Connect", a one day event held on December 24, 2009 where the areas homeless children were picked up and brought to the Civic Auditorium to celebrate Christmas in a family friendly environment.

This special event provided 163 children and 71 parents with a visit from Santa Claus (including pictures with Santa), Christmas trees, presents for children of all ages (presented and managed in partnership with Toys-For-Tots), hot chocolate, apple cider, cookies, clothing, dental care and healthcare including the H1N1 vaccine.

Many thanks to those volunteers and healthcare folks who braved a major winter blizzard to help kick-off the Holiday weekend for our less fortunate neighbors.

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Omaha's First Connect

On April 11, 2008 Creighton University hosted the area's first Project Homeless Connect. Father John P Schlegel, S.J. President of Creighton University, was the Honorary Chairman. Father Schlegel graciously opened Creighton University's doors to the homeless and opportunities to engage volunteers, build community, grow research and evaluation efforts and ultimately respond to the homeless in Omaha. 318 homeless were served by over 60 agencies and over 500 volunteers that day. Creighton University plays an integral part in the communities' response to homelessness by supplying doctors, nurses, dentists and many other critical services and volunteers on a daily basis to area shelters and those serving the homeless.

The theme was DENTURES and through Creighton University's School of Dentistry and the Charles Drew Clinic, PHCO assisted over 70 people from last year's event get the critical dental work they needed.

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Omaha's 2nd Connect

On March 27, 2009 Father Schlegel, again, graciously welcomed Project Homeless Connect Omaha to Creighton University.

Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey and Douglas County Commissioner Mary Ann Borgeson were the Co-Chairs of PHCO 2009. PHCO would like to recognize both the Mayor and Commissioner for their years of support for the area's homeless and acknowledge the close relationship required by the City and County to help those in need. Over 500 area homeless were served.

This year's theme is EDUCATION. We need to help folks earn their GED and move on to higher education in order to help elevate them out of their current situation.

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Comments

"He came to an event at Creighton called Project Homeless Connect, not knowing what to expect. Now the 35-year-old Omaha man has a place to live, 21 months of sobriety and a scholarship to Metro Community College, from the 2008 event, where he is studying to become a paramedic. He came back to the event this year as a volunteer."

"I was one of the first people at the event, I was one of the last to leave, and I accomplished more in one day than I had the last 2 years". – Homeless

"I was told by a service provider that they had begun coordinating and referring with another agency, neither was aware of the service provided by the other agency". Ed Shada, Executive Director

A special thanks to the Iowa West Foundation for helping
to make this all possible