THE CONNECTION HOMELESS SHELTER INC

The Connection Homeless Shelter, Inc. has been providing homeless and housing services in North Platte, Nebraska, for thirty-one years. What started as a small program serving single men experiencing homelessness with a meal and bed for the night in 1994 has now grown to serve over 300 men, women, and children each year.

The Connection provides those experiencing homelessness with emergency shelter and transitional housing, basic necessities, and our foundational service, case management. Case management works with each shelter resident using a strength-based approach guided by trauma-informed practices and supported through motivational interviewing to develop an action plan that helps with overcoming barriers and improving skill sets and knowledge related to stability, self-sustainability, and ultimately the procurement of appropriate permanent housing. The Connection offers life skills educational courses, referral services, mentoring, addiction recovery assistance, and general stability support through our case management program. In 2022, The Connection was one of two agencies in Nebraska funded through HUD’s Special NOFO to address rural homelessness and is currently operating a joint transitional housing/rapid rehousing program serving the literally homeless with in-home case management and housing cost financial assistance.

The Connection is also in the process of developing two housing complexes. One will consist of seven units of tiny homes for veterans experiencing homelessness. The second is a 44 unit development of affordable, permanent supportive housing. Each development will include case management and other supportive services.