The UNL Center on Children, Families, and the Law organized the Community Services team in 2003 to coordinate our activities in community and service-system development for at-risk populations. Team members provide Community Services needs assessments; program evaluation, development, and implementation; and data systems training and administration in collaboration with Federal, State, and local funders and partners.
CCFL’s Community Services Division is comprised of many related projects focused on community-based services for those in need of basic and emergency needs, including housing, food, and financial assistance. It has been at the forefront of several significant milestones in Nebraska over the last few years, including:
- establishing All Doors Lead Home: a homeless coordinated entry system that is recognized nationally for its ability to ensure that those experiencing homelessness have access to the entire housing service system, that they are assessed in a consistent manner, prioritized according to need, and referred to the most appropriate housing resource as soon as possible.
- partnering with the City of Lincoln, the Lincoln Homeless Coalition, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to effectively end veteran homelessness in the City of Lincoln.
- planning, developing, and obtaining funding for housing programs and services that will end homelessness for youth under age 24.
Responding to COVID-19, the Community Service’s Homeless Service System team rapidly began:
- creating daily data reports on homeless shelter utilization across the state, COVID-19 cases within the shelter system, as well as daily unsheltered counts and locations.
- conducting weekly homeless shelter provider calls to coordinate efforts, identify needs, promote best practice, and provide guidance.
- delivering information, data, and technical assistance to State of Nebraska and local crisis response teams.
- producing plans, strategies, and programs for federal funding allocated to the State of Nebraska from the CARES Act and other federal and state resources.
- aiding the current homeless system grantees and partners in applying for federal waivers to meet HUD requirements.
- advising the philanthropic community on how resources can best be utilized during this crisis.