Housing, Safety, & Community Well-Being

Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault

The goals of the Heartland Family Service Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault services are to keep victims safe, stop the violence, and hold offenders accountable. The service strives to achieve these goals by providing emergency services to victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. The services include a 24-hour crisis line, crisis counseling, the Safe Haven concealed emergency shelter, advocacy, therapy, and legal and support services.

Comprehensive Services for individuals and families include:

• 24/7 Crisis Line | (800) 523-3666
• Advocacy
• Community education
• Crisis counseling
• Safe Haven concealed emergency shelter
• Therapy
• Outreach Support Groups for women and men

Eligibility: Our services are gender inclusive for adults with child(ren) in immediate need of concealed shelter due to domestic or sexual violence living in Cass or Sarpy Counties, Nebraska.

Funding: These services are made possible with generous support from the United Way of the Midlands.

A total of $190,000, or 15.2%, of this project is supported by federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) subgrant #144-2024-VA1058, awarded by the Nebraska Crime Commission through funding provided by Office for Victims of Crime, Department of Justice; in addition, $75,274, or 6%, is supported by subgrant STOP Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) #144-2024-VW-4014; in addition, $29,741, 0r 2.4% is supported by subgrant SASP #144-202-SA7012 and points of view or opinions contained in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the Commission or the Department of Justice.

Heartland Housing Sanctuary

A crisis stabilization shelter serving survivors of sex trafficking. Heartland Housing Sanctuary is a facility-based program that houses up to 14 individuals or adults with children. The location of the facility is confidential to ensure the safety of its residents. The shelter is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and provides an array of services including advocacy, therapy, and case management.

Referrals can be received from survivors, social service agencies, and law enforcement, with no state stipulation.

Contact: 24/7 Shelter Lines: (402) 597-1009 | (402) 672-8608 | SanctuaryHouse@HeartlandFamilyService.org

Eligibility: Referrals can be received from survivors, social service agencies, and law enforcement, with no state stipulation for the shelter.

Funding: The Heartland Housing Sanctuary services are funded in part by the Department of Justice Office of Victims of Crime, United Way Worldwide, and the Women’s Fund of Omaha. 

Generations Community Center

The Heartland Family Service Generations Community Center offers recreational, social, and nutritional services to meet the needs of seniors ages 60 and older. There is no cost for membership.

Lunch is served each day at noon, for seniors age 60 and older at a suggested $4.00 contribution. Individuals below the age of 60 are welcome to participate in the meal service for $10.00 per meal.

The Generations Community Center has monthly, live musical entertainment and a weekly activity calendar is created from the suggestions of attending senior members, which includes crafts, Bingo, outings, low-impact aerobics, weekly Bible study, various support groups, a book club, and a gardening club. The center is expanding to include an intergenerational approach to activities allowing seniors to invite grandchildren and other family members to participate with them. 

Activities will be prompted by neighbors living in the surrounding zip code to create a more inclusive and supportive Generations Community Center for all to enjoy.

Eligibility: Open to the community, supports members age 60 and older.

Funding: This program is made possible with generous support from United Way of the Midlands. Heartland Family Service’s Generations Community Center’s Culture of Healing project is supported through a contract awarded through CFDA 93.391, Activities to Support State, Tribal, Local and Territorial (STLT) Health Department Response to Public Health or Healthcare Crises, by the Douglas County Health Department (DCHD), the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (CDC/ATSDR).

Safe Haven – concealed emergency shelter

Provided through our Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault services, the Heartland Family Service Safe Haven is a concealed emergency shelter designed keep victims safe, stop the violence, and hold offenders accountable. These services strive to achieve these goals by providing emergency services to victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Comprehensive services include for individuals and families include advocacy, crisis counseling, prevention, community education, therapy, outreach support groups for women and men, and legal and support services.

24-hour Crisis Line: (800) 523-3666)

Eligibility: Our services are gender inclusive for adults with child(ren) in immediate need of concealed shelter due to domestic or sexual violence Fees: Free, groups fees vary.

Funding: These services are made possible with generous support from the United Way of the Midlands.

A total of $190,000, or 15.2%, of this project is supported by federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) subgrant #144-2024-VA1058, awarded by the Nebraska Crime Commission through funding provided by Office for Victims of Crime, Department of Justice; in addition, $75,274, or 6%, is supported by subgrant STOP Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) #144-2024-VW-4014; in addition, $29,741, 0r 2.4% is supported by subgrant SASP #144-202-SA7012 and points of view or opinions contained in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the Commission or the Department of Justice.

Sanctuary House – concealed emergency shelter

Provided through our Heartland Housing Sanctuary services, the Heartland Family Service Sanctuary House is a 90-day concealed emergency, crisis stabilization shelter for up to 14 individuals or adults with children. The location of these services is confidential to protect the safety of both residents and employees. Crisis stabilization and case management services are key components of what is offered and are available every day to provide safety and support when it’s most needed.

Eligibility: Referrals can be received from survivors, social service agencies, and law enforcement, with no state stipulation for the shelter.

Funding: The Heartland Housing Sanctuary services are funded in part by the Department of Justice Office of Victims of Crime, United Way Worldwide, and the Women’s Fund of Omaha. 

Restoring HOPE

Heartland Family Service’s Restoring HOPE (R-HOPE) offers a family-centered, community-based, and culturally competent array of services designed to support and stabilize vulnerable youth and their families. The heart of these services is Helping provide Opportunities through Partnerships that Empower Families. R-HOPE’s services are offered by expert human services professionals who are committed to making a lasting impact on the community. We believe in promoting healthy parent-child relationships through education and prevention to reduce or eliminate neglect, abuse, or exploitation of children.

Family & Youth Success

Our Coaching Services are focused on preserving the family unit or reunifying families by assisting with life skills, system navigation, parenting skills, and goal setting and achievement. Through our coaching model we strive to improve outcomes for youth while keeping families together and communities safe. Our Refugee Advocacy & Cultural Ambassador coaching models address the disproportionate contact immigrant & refugee families have with the juvenile justice and child welfare systems. Through one-on-one interventions we are able to help families navigate a system and culture while honoring their own beliefs and addressing their needs.

Prevention

We empower families and youth to improve their overall wellbeing through education.

Our groups and classes offer Parenting Group Classes for parents/caregivers with children of any age.

Nurturing Parenting Group is a 12-week course designed to help parents acquire knowledge and skills to improve overall parenting skills and address known contributors to child maltreatment.

Circle of Security Parenting Group is an 8-week course promoting secure attachment by focusing on the parent/ caregivers’ understanding of their child’s emotional world.

Restorative Justice utilize restorative practices to emphasize the harm done to an individual, group and/or the community due to choices and actions one has made. The group and curriculum work to involve all those affected by the crime in the resolution process and develop new perspectives of healing and hope. The goal is to repair harm and prevent further harm or crime from occurring.

Eligibility: Varies depending on services utilized.

Funding: These Groups and Classes are made possible in part with generous support from the Nebraska Arts Council, the Zucker Fund, and United Way of the Midlands.

Homeless Diversion

Heartland Family Service Homeless Diversion services assist households who are at immediate risk of homelessness and seeking emergency shelter to identify safe, alternate housing arrangements, and if necessary, connect them with community referrals and financial assistance to help them obtain or return to housing.

Through identifying solutions and alternate housing arrangements, Diversion Specialists seek to immediately resolve a family’s housing crisis using a mediation and conflict resolution approach.

Eligibility: Must be at immediate risk of homelessness and seeking emergency shelter. To see if you’re eligible, please fill out our online eligibility form.

Contact: (531) 200-3500 or HomelessPrevention@HeartlandFamilyService.org.

Funding: This program is supported in part by a grant from the United Way of the Midlands.

Homeless Prevention

Heartland Family Service Homeless Prevention services provide assistance to prevent individuals from losing their housing and entering the homeless system and provides short-term, (one to three months) in-home case management services.

The services focus on housing stabilization, linking participants to community resources and mainstream benefits, and helping them develop a plan to prevent future housing instability. Financial assistance with housing costs is also provided as needed.

Eligibility: Must live in Pottawattamie, Douglas, or Sarpy Counties and be at imminent risk of homelessness.

Heartland Homes & Transitions

Heartland Family Service Heartland Homes is a 16-unit, facility-based, permanent supportive housing services located on the Charles E. Lakin Human Services Campus in Council Bluffs. Transitions is a seven-unit, facility-based, permanent supportive housing services located at 208 S. 25th Street in Council Bluffs.

The Heartland Homes & Transitions services provide long-term housing and supportive services on site for individuals and families who are chronically homeless. These services specifically serves those who have a disability and either have been homeless continuously for a year or more, or who have had at least four episodes of homelessness in the past three years. Heartland Homes & Transitions is designed to serve individuals who have experienced long-term homelessness with significant barriers to stable housing. The ultimate goal is to provide safe, stable housing and the opportunity for participants to become self-sufficient.

The unique aspect of these support services is to address the root causes of homelessness and help participants maintain permanent housing, as well as prevent any recurrence of homelessness.

Eligibility: Individuals must be chronically homeless and have a disability.

Heartland Housing Solutions

Heartland Family Service Heartland Housing Solutions is a scattered-site, permanent supportive housing that serves individuals and families who are chronically homeless and have a disability. The scattered-site nature of the services provides individuals and families with long-term financial assistance and in-home supportive services to obtain and maintain housing within the community. The services are designed to serve individuals with significant barriers to stable housing. The ultimate goal is to assist participants in maintaining permanent housing and to prevent any recurrence of homelessness.

Heartland Housing Solutions provides housing assistance and case management services in a housing first model. Although the services are not time-limited, the community-based nature of them allow participants to retain their housing should they graduate and no longer need the assistance.

Eligibility: Must be chronically homeless and have a disability.

Heartland Housing Opportunities

Heartland Family Service Rapid Rehousing Heartland Housing Opportunities provides assistance to rapidly re-house individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness. These services provide temporary, (one to 24 months) financial assistance, support services, along with housing relocation and stabilization services.

Eligibility: Must live in Pottawattamie County Iowa or Douglas or Sarpy Counties in Nebraska and be literally homeless (living in a shelter or on the streets) . Fees: None

Heartland Housing Passages

Heartland Family Service Rapid Rehousing Heartland Housing Passages provides assistance to rapidly re-house young adults ages 18-24 who are experiencing homelessness. These services provide temporary, (one to 24 months) financial assistance and support services along with housing relocation and stabilization services.

Eligibility: Must be ages 18-24 and literally homeless, (living in a shelter or place not meant for habitation) and must live in Pottawattamie County Iowa or Douglas or Sarpy Counties in Nebraska. Fees: None

Pottawattamie County Homeless Link (PCHL)

The purpose of our Heartland Family Service Rapid Rehousing Pottawattamie County Homeless Link (PCHL) services is to provide assistance to rapidly re-house persons who are experiencing homelessness. The services provide temporary, (one to 24 months) financial assistance and support services along with housing relocation and stabilization services.

Eligibility: Must literally homeless, (living in a shelter or place not meant for habitation) and must live in Pottawattamie County Iowa. Fees: None

Heartland Housing Navigation

Heartland Family Service Heartland Housing Navigation provides supportive services to connect individuals experiencing homelessness or a housing crisis to safe and affordable housing options and seeks to ensure all homeless individuals have a housing plan and are working towards obtaining permanent housing.

Our services work in partnership with local emergency shelters and the local Continuum of Care to serve chronically and long-term homeless individuals. Housing options are identified and pursued through individualized housing plans and ongoing coordination with shelter case managers and staff to ensure that needs beyond housing are addressed in an intentional and collaborative manner.

Eligibility: Must live in Pottawattamie, Douglas, or Sarpy Counties, living at partnering emergency shelters, a youth between the ages of 18 and 24 who is living in an emergency shelter or couch surfing, or referred by the Homeless Review Team.

Homeless Street Outreach

Heartland Family Service Homeless Street Outreach assists individuals and families who are experiencing street homelessness to obtain housing and mainstream resources. These services are designed for those with significant barriers in obtaining stable housing, are sleeping on the streets or in places not meant for human habitation. Participants receive Case Management services, including housing referrals, transportation, crisis interventions, and supplies to meet basic needs.

Eligibility: Must live in Pottawattamie, Douglas, or Sarpy Counties and live in a place unfit for human habitation.

Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) Case Management

The purpose of Heartland Family Service Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH)
Case Management is to provide supportive services to individuals who are homeless and have a serious mental health
condition or a co-occurring disorder. The goal of PATH is to provide services that will enable those who are homeless or at
risk of becoming homeless to obtain appropriate and stable housing. Individuals enrolled in PATH receive case management
services to:

• Assist in obtaining/maintaining permanent housing.
• Access mainstream resources, access services for mental health.
• Substance use treatment, and primary health needs.
• Gain employment and/or increasing their income.

Eligibility & Fees: Must be homeless and have a serious mental health condition or a co-occurring disorder. Fees: None