The Project Homeless Connect Timeline

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Timeline of milestone events

  • 2016
  • A new website! 15 March 2016

    Wylice Solutions donates a fresh new website to Project Homeless Connect Omaha.

  • A new logo! 28 January 2016
    Project Homeless Connect Omaha Logo

    Carissa Ferestad-Irwin, a Creighton University student, donates her time and talent to redesign the Project Homeless Connect Omaha logo.

  • 2015
  • The 2015 event is a huge success. 27 March 2015

    See footage of our 2015 event in action!

  • 2011
  • Ed Shada talks about Project Homeless Connect. 18 March 2011

    Listen to Ed Shada's thoughts on past Project Homeless Connect events.

  • PHCO throws a Christmas party! 22 December 2011

    Project Homeless Connect Omaha hosts a Christmas party for homeless children. WOWT provides coverage.

  • 2009
  • 50 in 52. 09 March 2009

    50 In 52 Journey interview of Jessica Puente and Ed Shada. Many cities have Homeless Connect projects, but in Omaha the project can claim many "firsts".

  • 2008
  • The Iowa West Foundation gets involved. 11 April 2008

    The Iowa West Foundation, which is headquartered in Council Bluffs, announced its first quarter grants to non-profits and government entities, and included in the announcement is a $13,400 grant to the Siena/Francis House in Omaha, to support Project Homeless Connect Omaha. The grant is to be used for transitional services for the homeless in the Omaha metropolitan area. The Siena/Francis House has been fortunate to have received five previous grants from the Iowa West Foundation over the years, as well. More information about the foundation can be found at www.IowaWestFoundation.org.

  • The Mayor of Omaha plans a visit. 4 February 2008

    Mayor Mike Fahey confirms his attendance at Project Homeless Connect Omaha. Mayor Fahey has worked to strengthen neighborhoods and parks, enhance our professional police and fire departments, and build our city to higher design standards. He has been very active in community projects since his election to office in 2001. According to Ed Shada, "this is a great event and we are honored to have the Mayor in attendance".

  • The Mayor of Council Bluffs plans a visit. 17 January 2008

    Mayor Tom Hanafan of Council Bluffs, IA will attend the opening of the inaugural Project Homeless Connect – Omaha, April 11, 2008. This event is a combined effort of both Omaha, NE and Council Bluffs, IA homeless services. Mayor Hanafan has been the mayor of Council Bluffs, Iowa for the last 16 years and is a past president of the Iowa League of Cities.

    We were honored to have his support for this Metro-area event.

  • The First Lady of Nebraska plans a visit. 16 January 2008

    Sally Ganem, First Lady of Nebraska, announced she will attend the first annual Project Homeless Connect – Omaha, April 11, 2008. The First Lady is active in the Fremont community as a member of the Low Income Ministry Board and the Social Sciences Advisory Board of Metropolitan Community College, and received the Lifetime Membership Award from the Fremont Noon Optimists. She is a past president of both the Fremont Area United Way and Big Brothers Big Sisters. She has been an American Heart Association volunteer and a John C Fremont Days volunteer, where she started the children's activities portion of the celebration.

    It was truly an honor to have Ms. Ganem’s presence and support for this event.

  • 2007
  • A big kick-off. 3 December 2007

    PHC Omaha Kick-off lunch: Mike Saklar – Sienna Francis House; Ken Reed-Bouley and Wayne Morford – Creighton University; Cindy Goodin - Director of Program Services, Youth Emergency Services, Inc.; Beth Haley – ConAgra Foods, Inc.; Bailie Shada – SilverStone Group, Inc.; Joyce O'Neil - ServicePoint System Administrator; Pastor Harry Wallar – MOHM’s Place, Council Bluffs, IA; and Ed Shada – Bellevue University.

  • A generous donation. 2 December 2007

    Eve and Fred Simon and The Robertson Family Trust have agreed to support this event through generous donations.

  • Creighton University gets involved. 28 November 2007

    Creighton University agrees to host the areas first Project Homeless Connect a one-day event that serves as a one-stop shop, connecting homeless individuals to needed services, including: employment, housing, healthcare, legal resources, Social Security and food-stamp benefits.

  • Project Homeless Connect is born. 5 November 2007

    Ed Shada announces Project Homeless Connect to The Metro Area Continuum of Care for the Homeless (“MACCH”), an organization in Omaha, Nebraska designed to lead a collaborative network that coordinates and maximizes resources to prevent and eliminate homelessness.

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