In a matter of several months, Geo lost his business and home and found himself living in a friend’s shed. With a spirit of resiliency and hope, Geo shares how job loss and homelessness can affect a person’s physical, mental, and spiritual health.
Read More
George "Geo" LaPole, owned an antique business in South Omaha, and when he lost his business, he lost everything. Struggling with depression and other health concerns, he was forced to make some difficult decisions. Should he spend what little money he had on his hospital bills, monthly medications, healthy food, or a place to live? The choices were difficult ones and only exacerbated the issues he was already dealing with.
Not accustomed to being on the receiving end of things, he started volunteering at a food pantry in an effort to fill his free time and pull himself out of the funk. When the pantry reached a hand out to him, he said yes to their offer to help him out with food, health resources, and rent assistance. Soon after, he joined their employment program, which led to a new job, too. With a bolstered spirit, Geo came to the realization that everything was going to be okay. In fact, he’s more content than he’s ever been.
Listen to Story
While our community has a strong economy, job opportunities and equitable pay are not accessible to everyone - especially for women and people of color.
The Omaha-Council Bluffs area has historically had a consistently low unemployment rate. Our region follows national trends that as an individual’s education increases, their median earnings go up and their unemployment goes down. However, as we dig deeper, it is evident that this trend does not hold true for women and people of color. We also know that for many people who are working, often full-time, they do not earn enough to live above the poverty line or can only find part-time work. We also see many people in our community working multiple jobs in order to get by. It's essential that our community look at the opportunities for meaningful employment that ensure all people can provide for themselves and their families. Employment that provides livable wages helps a family have safe housing, transportation, access to health care, and a good quality of life. It also creates a stronger economy, leading to economic development and growth within our entire community.
The Omaha-Council Bluffs area has historically had a consistently low unemployment rate. Our region follows national trends that as an individual’s education increases, their median earnings go up and their unemployment goes down. However, as we dig deeper, it is evident that this trend does not hold true for women and people of color. We also know that for many people who are working, often full-time, they do not earn enough to live above the poverty line or can only find part-time work. We also see many people in our community working multiple jobs in order to get by.
It's essential that our community look at the opportunities for meaningful employment that ensure all people can provide for themselves and their families. Employment that provides livable wages helps a family have safe housing, transportation, access to health care, and a good quality of life. It also creates a stronger economy, leading to economic development and growth within our entire community.
Tell us what matters to you and share your experience.
add your voice
Connect with an organization working in this area.
Find a Nonprofit
Be an active and engaged community member.
Get Involved
Help this project do more good. Tell your friends and neighbors about The Landscape.
© All rights reserved. Privacy Policy