Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha is a direct aid organization, supporting poor and struggling families and individuals in our Omaha community, including victims of natural disasters.  While we provide food, clothing and other material assistance to homeless and non-homeless neighbors in need, a cornerstone of our mission is to prevent local households who are in a financial crisis - and who have received an eviction (and/or utility shut-off notice) from falling into homelessness in the first place. This is accomplished by helping cover a neighbor’s unpaid rent, mortgage, utility or other similarly significant household financial challenge - helping them in the short term so that they can be successful in the long term.

The one constant regarding the individuals and families we serve is that they were already struggling financially, and just barely hanging onto the last rung of the proverbial socio-economic ladder. They’re already “living on the margins,” so even the smallest unplanned financial setback can be enough to send a family into a downward spiral and into despair, eventually becoming trapped in a cycle of poverty that seems impossible to break. This is the stark reality facing so many of our neighbors from right here in Omaha, as they try to meet their families’ basic needs, all while the very real prospect of becoming homeless increases.

It is very often the case that such a one-time coverage of a neighbor’s outstanding financial obligation is the single intervention needed, in order to prevent the members of that household from being evicted from their home and falling into homelessness.  As such, the Society has been described by the director of another large local non-profit agency as "the most impactful homeless prevention organization in the city of Omaha."

In addition, SSVP Omaha provides a very large, free "choice" food pantry at 2101 Leavenworth Street. And, our four local thrift stores provide clothing and other items at deeply discounted prices, in order to help families make ends meet. Our Holy Family Ministries – located at 1715 Izard Street – provide daily sack lunches and free clothing and other basic care items to homeless and near-homeless individuals and families.

Established in Omaha in 1868, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha is a 501(c)(3), non-profit charitable organization and is part of an international lay Catholic organization with a common mission under the patronage of St. Vincent de Paul - with a mission of serving poor and struggling individuals and families of the community.