omAHA ENCAMPMENT PILOT PROGRAM (OMA-EPP): A NEW APPROACH to address homelessness
Tangible action that focuses on public health, safety, and housing solutions.
Our city recently launched the Omaha Encampment Pilot Program (OMA-EPP), a six-month effort to address encampments established by unhoused people and promote health and safety. This is a coordinated, community-wide approach between the City of Omaha Mayor’s Office, Threshold Continuum of Care (CoC), and Street Outreach services. It will focus on helping individuals and families exit homelessness by coordinating outreach services and shelter pathways while improving data tracking and accountability.
WORKING FOR ALL OUR NEIGHBORS
The City of Omaha and Threshold CoC are leading a collaborative effort to address homeless encampments. A six-month pilot program was launched in November and will run through April. It aims to streamline outreach and better connect people with vital housing and support services. This approach follows a robust public discussion held last fall and dovetails with an executive order issued by Mayor John W. Ewing Jr. This executive order prohibits urban encampments while outlining a compassionate, not punitive, approach for helping our unhoused neighbors exit homelessness through access to safe, decent, and affordable places to live. The pilot project is the result of transforming community dialogue into tangible action.
HOW THE PILOT PROGRAM WORKS
Dates: November 1, 2025, through April 30, 2026
Focus Areas: Active encampments on public property.
Three Key Components:
Identification and Notice: After receiving a report, the city will assess the encampment. If it is on city property, a 7-10-day vacate notice will be posted. The city will coordinate with other public entities.
Outreach and Support: During the 7-10-day period, our multi-agency Street Outreach team will work directly with people to connect them with supports such as temporary shelter, healthcare, storage for belongings, and other urgent supports that align with their circumstances.
Property Cleanup: After the notice to vacate expires, the city will coordinate the cleanup of the site.
Transparency & Reporting
This pilot program aims to provide a more rapid, coordinated, and transparent response to homelessness in Omaha. It includes strengthening data tracking to inform decision-making and accountability. This website will house data that will be updated regularly throughout the pilot program period to maintain transparency with our community. Threshold CoC will provide a comprehensive, public report in May 2026 detailing the program's accomplishments and recommendations.
Program Data
As we implement this program, we are gathering data to track the impact of our work across the Omaha community. You can review our progress here. Data is updated on a monthly basis.
November 2025
November’s collaboration included efforts by multiple agencies. Seven agencies were involved in the closure of encampments: Threshold CoC, City of Omaha, Community Alliance, HEAL, Siena Francis House, Stephen Center, and Together. November data has been compiled and reveals the impact within the first month of the pilot program.
Individuals Served
The total number of individuals our Street Outreach team has been able to connect with.
Hotline Reports
A weekly count of the number of reports via the Mayor’s Office hotline.
The number of Street Outreach workers connecting with those living in encampments.
Total Hours Extended
The total number of additional hours invested by Threshold CoC and our multi-agency Street Outreach team to reach encampments.
Encampments Reported
Reports are investigated and categorized by location and other factors observed on arrival.
City Property (12): Locations in city parks, sidewalks, roads, etc.
Not City Property (29): Locations on NDOT, NRD, or private property.
Not an Encampment (5): Reports of individuals loitering, but no encampment encountered.
Nothing Found (20): Street Outreach did not find anything when responding to a complaint.
Duplicate Report (27): Additional reports regarding a previously reported encampment.
Locations Served
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Report Received: October 27, 2025
Notice Posted: October 27, 2025
First Contacted: October 27, 2025
Encampment Closed: November 6, 2025
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Report Received: November 3, 2025
Notice Posted: November 5, 2025
First Contacted: November 6, 2025
Encampment Closed: November 15, 2025
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Report Received: November 3, 2025
Notice Posted: November 5, 2025
First Contacted: November 6, 2025
Encampment Closed: November 15, 2025
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Report Received: November 3, 2025
Notice Posted: November 5, 2025
First Contacted: November 6, 2025
Encampment Closed: November 15, 2025
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Report Received: November 3, 2025
Encampment Notified: November 5, 2025
First Contacted: November 7, 2025
Encampment Closed: November 15, 2025
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Report Received: November 5, 2025
Notice Posted: November 7, 2025
First Contacted: November 10, 2025
Encampment Closed: November 17, 2025
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Report Received: November 5, 2025
Notice Posted: November 9, 2025
First Contacted: November 13, 2025
Encampment Closed: November 19, 2025
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Report Received: November 11, 2025
Notice Posted: November 15, 2025
First Contacted: November 16, 2025
Encampment Closed: November 25, 2025
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Report Received: November 11, 2025
Notice Posted: November 15, 2025
First Contacted: November 16, 2025
Encampment Closed: November 25, 2025
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Report Received: November 12, 2025
Notice Posted: November 16, 2025
First Contacted: November 18, 2025
Encampment Closed: November 26, 2025
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Report Received: November 12, 2025
Encampment Notified: November 16, 2025
First Contacted: November 20, 2025
Encampment Closed: November 26, 2025
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Report Received: November 13, 2025
Notice Posted: November 16, 2025
First Contacted: November 18, 2025
Encampment Closed: November 26, 2025
December 2025
Our work in December included efforts by multiple agencies. Seven agencies were involved in the closure of encampments: Threshold CoC, City of Omaha, Community Alliance, HEAL, Siena Francis House, Stephen Center, and Together. December data has been compiled and reveals the cumulative impact from the two months of the pilot program.
Individuals Served
The total number of individuals our Street Outreach team has been able to connect with.
Hotline Reports
A weekly count of the number of reports via the Mayor’s Office hotline.
The number of Street Outreach workers connecting with those living in encampments.
Total Hours Extended
The total number of additional hours invested by Threshold CoC and our multi-agency Street Outreach team to reach encampments.
Encampments Reported
Reports are investigated and categorized by location and other factors observed on arrival.
City Property (10): Locations in city parks, sidewalks, roads, etc.
Not City Property (24): Locations on NDOT, NRD, or private property.
Not an Encampment (3): Reports of individuals loitering, but no encampment encountered.
Nothing Found (10): Street Outreach did not find anything when responding to a complaint.
Duplicate Report (6): Additional reports regarding a previously reported encampment.
Locations Served
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Report Received: November 24, 2025
Notice Posted: November 25, 2025
First Contacted: November 25, 2025
Encampment Closed: December 5, 2025
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Report Received: December 4, 2025
Notice Posted: December 5, 2025
First Contacted: December 5, 2025
Encampment Closed: December 15, 2025
-
Report Received: December 9, 2025
Notice Posted: December 10, 2025
First Contacted: December 10, 2025
Encampment Closed: December 20, 2025
-
Report Received: December 10, 2025
Notice Posted: December 10, 2025
First Contacted: December 10, 2025
Encampment Closed: December 20, 2025
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Report Received: December 11, 2025
Notice Posted: December 12, 2025
First Contacted: December 14, 2025
Encampment Closed: December 22, 2025
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Report Received: December 12, 2025
Notice Posted: December 12, 2025
First Contacted: December 16, 2025
Encampment Closed: December 23, 2025
HOMELESSNESS IS A CIRCUMSTANCE, NOT A FAILURE
Housing insecurity can happen to anyone and is something we cannot ignore as a community. It often impacts people who earn low- to moderate-incomes or face challenges like losing a job, escaping domestic violence, relying on fixed income in retirement, or having a medical emergency, chronic health condition including addiction, and mental illness. People experiencing homelessness are often families with children, veterans, or young people. It is important to recognize that homelessness is not a personal failure, but a result of circumstances that require compassion and community action. Questions? Reach out to the Mayor’s Office at 402-444-5555 or hotline@cityofomaha.org.
How To Help:
Report encampments on public property to the Mayor's hotline at 402-444-5555 or hotline@cityofomaha.org.
Help connect unhoused neighbors with resources by contacting Street Outreach at 402-957-1747.
Learn more about the local response to homelessness at ThresholdCoC.org.
Sign up to receive updates on this pilot program. Simply complete the form below.
About Threshold CoC
Threshold CoC coordinates the collective response to housing justice for Douglas, Sarpy, and Pottawattamie Counties. We lead a coalition of community partners who work directly with people experiencing homelessness, allies who amplify our work, and change agents who advocate for policy reform. We work together to ensure homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring.