Lincoln nonprofits report an increase in homeless children

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Local nonprofits say the number of homeless children is increasing in Lincoln.

The most recent data from the Lincoln Homeless Coalition show that nearly one-fourth of the homeless people in Lincoln are under 18.

Wednesday was Youth Homelessness Awareness Day.

Cedars, a Lincoln nonprofit, said its Youth Opportunity Center helps around 300 hundred kids who are without a home each year.

CEO Jim Blue said these numbers have been increasing in the aftermath of the pandemic. 

“There were more resources in the community during the pandemic,” he said. “Those are kind of drying up these days. So, we’re starting to see more and more kids who are on their own now.” 

Blue said every child has a different story and often multiple factors contributing to their homelessness. 

The Youth Opportunity Center offers resources like laundry, shelter and food. It also offers help with job and housing applications.

Pastor Tom Barber at the People’s City Mission said he’s also seeing an increase in kids who are homeless, but most of them are with family.

“People that come with a parent is the largest group of youth that come,” he said. “We have, like, 38 youth right now, and we’ve had as many as 90.”