Healthy Communities White Paper

HEALTHY COMMUNITY

Improving health and well-being for all November 2025

October 2025

HEALTHY COMMUNITY KEY FINDINGS

HEALTHY COMMUNITY A healthy community recognizes that well-being is shaped by many factors — not just physical health. It considers the full picture of a person’s life, including where they live, work and grow; their access to food, safe housing, income; and their mental health. These broader conditions, often referred to as the social determinants of health, play a critical role in a person’s ability to thrive i. Through grantmaking, partnerships and local initiatives, United Way of the Midlands (UWM) works across the metro to address these root causes and support a more connected, resilient and equitable community.

KEY FINDINGS •

Food insecurity is increasing across the metro, with local partners stretching dollars to help families put food on the table.

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Health needs are complex and interconnected – requiring both prevention and intervention to help families address compounding issues and economic uncertainty.

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The expiration of federal emergency rental assistance programs puts added pressure on our housing systems. UWM is localizing national best practices to make homelessness rare, brief and nonrecurring — prioritizing stability, reducing repeat shelter stays and creating pathways to long-term affordability.

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Poor mental health and social isolation are increasing in the metro, requiring both investment in mental health agencies and opportunities for community connection.

FOOD INSECURITY IN THE METRO Food insecurity is growing in the metro. Increasing disparities in food access are reflected by community-wide data, as well as reported by the local community agencies that provide food and pantry services. Between 2021 and 2022 food insecurity increased by 38% across the metro and is the highest it has been since at least 2014 ii. This is reflected by more recent data as well — in 2024, 23.7% of adults in the metro reported that they find it somewhat or very difficult to buy affordable fresh produce iii.

Food and meals are consistently within the top 5 needs for 211 callers. Last fiscal year, 211 provided 5,200 referrals to the 58 food pantry listings in the metro. Additionally, UWM partner agencies report that demand for food has increased in conjunction with overall rising costs and economic instability. During the 2024-25 fiscal year, programs that received funding from UWM distributed 14.7 million meals. This includes programs that offer meals, pantry items and support broader food distribution.

As agencies increase food services to meet the growing demand, they also cite a rising number of families who need multiple services, not just food but also housing stability and other basic needs. As Heartland Hope Mission reported, “We know families facing food insecurity need more than food; they need stability to avoid homelessness and build self-sufficiency.”

Number of People Who Are Food Insecure

(Pottawattamie, Douglas and Sarpy Counties) 120,000

104,890

102,700

100,000

100,810

99,230

108,280 94,110

90,730

82,200

80,000

78,640

60,000 40,000 20,000 -

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

Source: Healthy Communities Report from Feeding America

HOUSING FOR A HEALTHY COMMUNITY Housing and utility assistance requests are year over year the highest needs for callers to 211. As housing stability continues to be a challenge for the most vulnerable within the metro, 1 out of 2 calls to 211 have a housing or utility assistance need. Housing insecurity is not just a 211 trend — Omaha is expected to have a shortage of 30,000 middle and workforce housing units by 2030 iv, putting more strain on families’ budgets as they are forced into more expensive housing. Between 2014 and 2023, the number of renters in the metro paying 30% or more of their total income in rent increased from 50,000 to 57,000 v. Addressing housing instability requires a multi-faceted approach that can adapt to the unique circumstances of the individual or family, which is why UWM has multiple partnerships to address different housing needs.

211 Top Needs

(July 1, 2024- June 30, 2025) 40%

34%

30% 20%

15%

10%

9%

8%

7%

Transportation

Food and Meals

0%

Housing

Utility Assistance Income Support

Source: 211 icarol needs report 2024-25 fiscal year

The 211 helpline assists with housing and utility needs through both referrals to community

resources and direct financial assistance through local partnerships. 211 staff work with each individual to ensure that the funding is optimized to best assist a caller, often combining the funding with other programs or resources available in the community.

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Goodfellows — In partnership with the Omaha World-Herald, UWM administers the Goodfellows program through 211, providing financial assistance to individuals in the community for housing, utility assistance and more.

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Dollar Energy — Through Dollar Energy, 211 partners with OPPD, MUD and NPPD to provide direct financial assistance for utility payments.

Local data shows that 50 new families in the metro enter the homeless system each month. In July 2025, UWM launched the United Housing Network in partnership with the Siemer Institute and Women United to focus on providing holistic housing stability support to families with a child in the

home. The goal is not to just resolve a one-time emergency, but to ensure families stay stably housed and prevent family homelessness. The program is based on the nation’s leading model for preventing homelessness — leveraging partnerships with existing housing programs in addition to providing direct assistance. The program is unique in the flexibility of the assistance that can be provided – funding can be provided for expenses outside of housing if those expenses are putting a family at risk for housing instability.

MENTAL HEALTH As more families fight to make ends meet, the number of individuals struggling with mental health issues is increasing as well. The percentage of people in the metro who rate their overall mental health as fair or poor has increased from 10% in 2015 to 23% in 2024 vi. UWM’s partner agencies cite a similar increase in clients who are struggling with their mental health, with a mental health diagnosis often co-occurring with and exacerbated by the need for other basic resources vii.

Social connectedness is another part of both mental health and a healthy community overall.

Positive relationships and a support system are crucial when community members face hardships. As poor mental health has increased across the metro, the number of community members who report having someone to turn to for support all or most of the time has decreased. In 2018, 86% of respondents stated they have someone to turn to all or most of the time, by 2025 that number had decreased to 75%.

Community organizations work to meet the need as larger percentages of the metro experience poor mental health and social isolation. Through the Community Impact Fund, UWM provides funding to seven programs focused on addressing mental health needs for individuals across the metro. Over the last three years, UWM has also supported Mental Health First Aid and provided training to more than 3,100 individuals in partnership with Region 6 Behavioral Health and Women United. Mental Health First Aid equips community members, educators and frontline professionals with the skills to recognize the signs of a mental health challenge and respond with empathy, connection and appropriate support.

Mental Health in the Metro 25%

22.70%

86.10%

20%

81.80%

15% 10%

10.30%

17%

85% 80%

74.60%

8.30%

90%

75%

5%

70%

0%

65%

2015

2018

Rate Overall Mental Health Fair or Poor

Source: Community Health Needs Assessment 2024

2021

2024

Have Someone to Turn to All or Most of the Time

With Volunteerism, UWM creates community connections to combat social isolation. Individuals

and corporate partners are connected with community organizations through signature events such as Shine Bright or Day of Caring, or custom volunteer projects through Good on the Go. In doing so, volunteers work with each other, creating a sense of community in addition to learning firsthand about community organizations and local needs. Volunteering facilitates a sense of belonging within a

volunteer’s larger community. When surveyed, 92% of UWM volunteers reported feeling more connected to their community as a result of their volunteer work. Last year, UWM volunteers dedicated more than 58,000 hours in service to our community – and each other.

THE WORK CONTINUES Overall, UWM’s collaborative work in Healthy Communities reflects a holistic view of well-being that recognizes the interconnectedness of physical, mental and social health, and a commitment to providing resources for the most vulnerable. UWM invests in more than 150 programs across the metro to ensure the continued availability of essential services. Collectively with our partners, these programs delivered more than 560,000 health services.

Through economic uncertainty and changes in the nonprofit funding landscape, UWM remains dedicated to strengthening the network of support across the metro — helping individuals and families access care, stay connected and navigate life’s challenges with dignity. We are not only responding to immediate needs, but also supporting systems that can adapt to future challenges.

This work would not be possible without the strength of our partnerships, the generosity of donors and the deep care of local volunteers. Together with our partners and supporters, we are building a healthier, more resilient community for all. And while the challenges are great, so is our collective resolve to make a difference.

World Health Organization, Social Determinants of Health. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/healthtopics/social-determinants-of-health#tab=tab_1 ii Feeding America, Food Insecurity among the Overall Population in the United States (2022). https://map.feedingamerica.org/ iii Community Health Needs Assessment Douglas County (2024). chromeextension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://thewellbeingpartners.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2024-PRCCHNA-Report-Metro-Omaha.pdf iv Omaha Housing Affordability Action Plan, page 5 (2023). chromeextension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://planninghcd.cityofomaha.org/images/20192023_Consolidated_Plan/Core_Document_-_HAAP.pdf v U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Table DP04, 2014 -2023-5-year estimates. vi Community Health needs Assessment Douglas County (2024). chromeextension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://thewellbeingpartners.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2024-PRCCHNA-Report-Metro-Omaha.pdf vii Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. https://odphp.health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browseobjectives/social-and-community-context i