Clearing Homeless Camps: Challenges and Frustrations in Omaha and Anchorage

The Nebraska Department of Transportation is completing the removal of a large homeless encampment in northwest Omaha, which was found to contain abandoned tents, piles of tires, and bags of trash. The encampment posed safety concerns for nearby neighborhoods and individuals living under the bridge near a 20-foot drop-off. The problem of homelessness in Omaha appears to be worsening, with an increase in unsheltered population in recent years. Local authorities are calling for a comprehensive approach involving mental health and drug abuse support, as well as the establishment of a state-run behavioral health center.