Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach is expanding programming to serve more families and individuals through evidence-based best practices for securing safe and stable housing for the homeless.
The COVID Rapid Rehousing Project is a new program that provides safe housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness during the pandemic. Households were first provided crisis shelter through hotel vouchers and are now being bridged to permanent housing through a Rapid Rehousing model. Clients work with a case manager from Matt Talbot or a partnering agency (Community Action Partnership, Friendship Home, CenterPointe and CEDARS) to set goals and develop a housing plan. Once housed, they receive rental assistance for up to 6 months. Forty-eight households have been identified and are being assisted through this project which is funded through the CARES Act.
First HOPE is a permanent supportive housing program that uses a proven model called Housing First to house individuals and families experiencing chronic homelessness and surround them with the support they need. This program is currently serving 15 individuals and 4 families. Matt Talbot recently received additional funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to serve an additional 10 households.
Recent data from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Center on Children, Families and the Law indicates that Lincoln currently has 24 unsheltered homeless individuals, a decrease of nearly 40% compared to the official count last January.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to expand our housing program and provide shelter to more people, especially during the pandemic,” said Susanne Blue, Executive Director. “While one individual is too many, the decline in the number of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness is great progress and something to continue to build on.”
