Omaha City leaders are trying to better understand the city’s homelessness problem. That’s why – at 11 p.m. Monday night – Council President Ben Gray asked to visit places where the homeless live outdoors. They hope to better understand their needs – and why they prefer that to being in a shelter.

“Tonight is going to begin – perhaps maybe a series for us – looking at numbers of these encampments and trying to gauge who the homeless are,” said Omaha City Council President Ben Gray.

First stop, a few blocks west of Crossroads Mall.

Judging from the mattress, this is someone’s home but no one is around to talk to. Experts say the solutions start with housing.

“You get them into housing – and then you wrap them around the services. It’s hard to overcome mental illness or any other disabilities while you are homeless,” said Jessica Dean with Veterans Affairs.

On this night protective security advisers is the escort.

Next stop – downtown Omaha.

At Yates Park, there’s a blanket at the bottom of the playground slide and a bed underneath it. Empty liquor bottles are all around.

City Councilwoman Aimee Melton brings blankets to two women who are sleeping between trees.

Reporter: Is it heartbreaking?

Aimee Melton: “Absolutely. Especially the last place we were where she said she thinks she is pregnant.”

Substance abuse and mental illness are prevalent in these homeless encampments.

Council members found a huge encampment with a picnic table and enormous tent is along the riverfront levee.

Reporter: “What have you learned so far?”

Ben Gray: “The problem is quite large – larger than we thought it was. And continuing to push them from place to place – all we’re doing is pushing them into neighborhoods.”

Now it’s a matter of coming up with some solutions.

The local shelters are overcapacity. Many of the homeless said they didn’t like shelters because of the rules.

Councilman Gray says they have a lot to discuss now – trying to decide how much more housing is needed – and how to better address the issues that lead to homelessness.