HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF OMAHA INC

HABITAT OMAHA'S HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDES FIRST-TIME HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES TO ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED FAMILIES, WHOSE INCOME IS GENERALLY 30% TO 80% OF THE AREA MEDIAN. BY USING THE LABOR OF VOLUNTEERS AND PROSPECTIVE HOMEOWNERS, EMPLOYING EFFICIENT BUILDING METHODS, KEEPING HOUSE SIZES MODEST, AND USING DONATED CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES, HABITAT MAKES ITS HOUSES AFFORDABLE FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES TO PURCHASE. DURING 2024, INDIVIDUALS, CORPORATIONS, AND FAITH PARTNERS WORKED 39,157 VOLUNTEER HOURS TO HELP LOWER CONSTRUCTION LABOR AND BUILDING COSTS, HELPING HABITAT OMAHA PRODUCE 69 HOMES FOR SALE TO IT'S PARTNER FAMILIES. ADDITIONALLY, HABITAT OMAHA SERVED 1,024 FAMILIES IN 2024 THROUGH A RANGE OF HOUSING SUPPORT SERVICES. OF THESE, 124 FAMILIES ACHIEVED MORTGAGE READINESS, WHILE AN ADDITIONAL 313 FAMILIES ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN HABITAT'S HOME JOURNEY PROGRAM TO PURSUE MORTGAGE READINESS. THERE IS A CRITICAL NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OMAHA AND IN MANY PARTS OF NEBRASKA. HABITAT OMAHA ADDRESSES THIS NEED BY BUILDING AND REVITALIZING PREVIOUSLY BLIGHTED NEIGHBORHOODS, INCLUDING THE BLUESTEM PRAIRIE DEVELOPMENT. AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP HELPS CREATE THE CONDITIONS THAT FREE FAMILIES FROM INSTABILITY, STRESS AND FEAR AND ENCOURAGES SELF-RELIANCE AND CONFIDENCE. STUDIES SHOW THAT STRONG AND STABLE HOUSEHOLDS ARE FOUNDATIONAL TO CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH. WHEN A HOME FOSTERS HEALTH AND SAFETY - INSTEAD OF HINDERS - FAMILIES CAN FLOURISH. OWNING AN AFFORDABLE HOME ALSO ALLOWS HOMEOWNERS TO LIFT UP THEIR ENTIRE FAMILY BY SAVING FOR THEIR FUTURES AND INVESTING IN EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, BOLSTERING JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND LONG-TERM CAREER GROWTH.

OUR HOME REPAIR PROGRAM IS AN OUTREACH INITIATIVE THAT SEEKS TO PROVIDE A WIDE RANGE OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOW-TO-MODERATE-INCOME HOMEOWNERS, INCLUDING VETERANS AND SENIORS, WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO MAINTAIN THEIR HOMES BECAUSE OF AGE, DISABILITY OR FAMILY CIRCUMSTANCES. WE PARTNER WITH FAMILIES TO HELP THEM RECLAIM THEIR HOMES WITH PRIDE AND DIGNITY. THE PROGRAM ALLOWS FAMILIES TO STAY IN THEIR HOME AND AVOID THE UNCERTAINTY, TRAUMA AND EXPENSE OF MOVING. PROJECTS CONSIST OF INTERIOR AND/OR EXTERIOR REPAIRS INTENDED TO ALLEVIATE CRITICAL HEALTH, LIFE AND SAFETY ISSUES OR CODE VIOLATIONS. VOLUNTEER TEAMS WORK ALONG WITH SUBCONTRACTORS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF HABITAT OMAHA STAFF MEMBERS TO COMPLETE THE REPAIRS. IN 2024, HABITAT OMAHA SERVED 159 LOCAL HOMEOWNERS, UNDER THIS PROGRAM.