All aboard the HabiTour – July 15

Want to get involved in a great mission? Curious about what we do? Join us for a HabiTour on July 15 and get your questions answered! You’ll  hear from a partner family as well as staff members as we get to the heart of Habitat.

After a complimentary lunch, we’ll hop on the HabiBus and take a spin through the neighborhoods we serve. You’ll see finished Habitat homes  as well as a few that are under construction.

Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a movement – a movement to eliminate poverty housing and improve lives for families in need!

Tour starts at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 15, at the Habitat office, 2204 Ames Ave. It will wrap up by 1 p.m. To register, email Megan or call her at 402.457.5657 x106.

Shortage of Affordable Housing in Omaha

Habitat strives to ensure that everyone, everywhere has a decent place to live. Roughly a third of Americans suffer from some type of housing problem, and our community is no exception. There is a critical shortage of high quality, affordable housing in Omaha. The Nebraska Investment Finance Authority’s 2007 Housing Study revealed that the demand for homes among low-income families in Omaha will increase 41.4 percent between 2000 and 2030, compared to a 29.5 percent increase statewide.

The Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Omaha is $710. In order to afford rent and utilities at this level without paying more than the United States Department of Housing and Urban Developed (HUD) recommended 30 percent of income on housing, a household must earn the equivalent of $13.65 an hour. The hourly wage of a minimum wage worker in Omaha is $5.85. This means that the household would need to work 93 hours per week, 52 weeks per year in order to afford their rent.

Four person households that qualify for Habitat’s homeownership program earn approximately $8.80-$16.10 an hour. Those at the lower end of the qualifying range earn much less than is needed to afford even a one- bedroom apartment.

Habitat provides low-income families of all backgrounds with the opportunity to own their own home and break the cycle of intergenerational poverty. By building simple, decent, and affordable homes, Habitat makes homeownership possible for the very low-income. Monthly mortgage payments for Habitat homes range from $350 to $650 and include taxes. The homes, which are between three and five bedrooms, also offer families a home that is appropriate for their family size.

-Megan Mathews

Increase employee morale, the company’s bottom line & better your community with a corporate pro bono program

This past 4^th of July was break from the norm for me, but it was not the same as Independence Days of my past. As I got together with friends and family a few common themes made themselves known. Not surprisingly job-loss, underemployment and a lack of satisfaction with work were some of the most prominent.

As many industries are facing a decline the nonprofit industry is growing, necessarily so. But as nonprofit and charity organizations start-up, grow and expand they face many challenges as they work to meet a diverse set of community needs. These challenges arise in part because many nonprofits lack certain professional skills needed to operate as efficiently as possible. At the same time many organizations with highly skilled employees are facing challenges as employee morale, benefits and salaries are on the decline.

The President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation initiated the A Billion + Change program with goal of leveraging $1 billion in skilled volunteering and pro bono services from the corporate community.

Pro bono service is a very specific type of charitable giving. The Summit on Corporate Volunteerism defines pro bono service this way: “Pro bono is the donation of professional services that are included in an employees’ job description and for which the recipient nonprofit would otherwise have to pay. It is a subset of skilled volunteering that gives nonprofits access to the business skills and experience they need to develop and implement sound business strategies, increase their capabilities and improve their organizational infrastructure,” (pg. 1). 

Through pro bono service it is clear that nonprofits benefit. But at the same time corporations benefit by increasing employee morale, teamwork and enthusiasm about the company when they allow employees to volunteer on company time. Employees themselves benefit by gaining a sense of pride and good will when they are able to use their skills and professional abilities to help others in a way that their day to day job might not allow and they also gain the benefit of doing charitable work on company time.

So as you are returning to work after this holiday weekend take some time to think about the skills that you, your co-workers and employees have that would benefit nonprofits in your area.

If your organization is already involved with pro bono work think about how you can expand employee participation or how you can take the partnership to the next level. If your organization is not involved in any sort of corporate volunteerism or pro bono program create a plan outlining how you could work to get one started and then act on that plan.

It doesn’t matter if you are the CEO, a manager or in an entry-level position you can be the one to initiate action in your organization. Partnerships between the corporate and nonprofit worlds provide a unique way for people to get involved with community enhancement and lead to lasting, effective change.

-Nina

Interested in starting a corporate pro bono program with Habitat for Humanity of Omaha? Give us a call at (402) 457-5657.

Learn more about A Billion + Change.

Not everyone is on board for a pro bono partnership? Get help making your case.

General pro bono volunteering resources.

Did you know… Some quick and uncommonly known HabiFacts

Habitat believes that everyone everywhere deserves a simple, decent, and affordable place to call home. By helping hardworking, low-income families achieve homeownership, we strive to build lives and strengthen communities.

Almost everyone has heard of Habitat, but there are some common misunderstandings about how the program works. Read on to become a HabiExpert and don’t forget to spread the word!

Habitat Partner Families pay full price for their new home. Habitat is a not a giveaway or a handout program. Instead, we make 25-30 year, 0% interest loans to our partner families. Mortgage payments run $350-$650 each month, which is often less than the families were paying for rent.

Habitat International works in more than 90 countries and all over the United States. Each Habitat affiliate is started by the community and operates autonomously.

Habitat Omaha was founded in 1984. Since then we’ve built or renovated over 300 homes in the Omaha area. In 2008 we completed 23 houses and we’re going for 25 in 2009.

We select our Partner Families through a twice yearly application process. The three main things that we consider are income, willingness to partner, and need.

• Income: Habitat Homeowners are all low-income, but they must demonstrate a history of steady employment and an ability to pay their mortgage every month. Partner Families earn between 25% and 50% of the median income for Omaha or between $18,000 and $33,000 for a family of four.
• Willingness to partner: Habitat is a partnership, and Habitat Families are involved in every step of the homebuilding and home buying process. Future Homeowners work 350 hours of Sweat Equity, both on their house and those of other Habitat Families, before they get their keys. They also attend educational workshops as part of this commitment.
• Need: We select families based on their need for decent and affordable housing. The last step in the application process is a home visit that allows us to evaluate how a family’s current housing is substandard or inadequate. Common examples of this include homes that are condemned, unaffordable or too small or those with outstanding repairs, rodents or poor insulation.

The next application period will open in September. Interested families should contact Habitat at 457-5657 for a pre-application form.

Jimmy Carter is not the founder of Habitat. Millard Fuller was, but President Carter has always been a great supporter of the organization.

We rely on the dedication and generosity of thousands of volunteers and community supporters each year. Volunteers are an essential part of the Habitat partnership and they do way more than swing hammers. Volunteers serve as fund raisers, event planners, lunch makers, advocates, donors, and so much more. Helping out at Habitat is a great way to demonstrate your commitment to improving your community. Contact us to get involved.

- Megan Mathews

The Gift of Hope

Every summer around this time we get a lot of requests for Habitat speakers to provide a 3-5 minute talk to motivate and inspire congregations as they prepare for their upcoming build.

This weekend Habitat was asked to speak at King of Kings Lutheran Church, a member of Habitat’s ELF Coalition. I asked Habitat Homeowner, Benjeana Jack to be the speaker for the 9:15 am Sunday morning service. While it’s very clear to most the impact that Habitat has on our community and the partner families who purchase the home, I think we sometimes forget the impact Habitat families have on all of us. 

Benjeana introduced herself and her two sons to the congregation and then proceeded to tell her Habitat story for the next few minutes. As a single parent more than 50% of her income was used to provide housing for her family before becoming a Habitat Partner. She mentioned that because of Habitat she was able to provide more stability for her boys. They didn’t have to move from place to place once the lease was up. She also said that stability allowed her to go back to school and complete not one but three degrees. 

In the middle her speech the tears starting flowing, not just Benjeana’s but several of the members of the congregation were also crying tears of hope. Hope for Benjeana’s family and all the other Habitat families just like hers. 

Once the service was over, lots of members wanted to shake her hand and tell her what a blessing she had been. There was one woman from the congregation who hugged Benjeana and refused to let go. Through her tears she said that her husband recently left her and their three sons. She said that she didn’t know how she was going to make it until she heard Benjeana’s story. Hearing Benjeana’s story gave her hope that she could get through this difficult time and be the single parent that her three boys needed.

While a lot people know their donation of time and money are a tremendous gift to Habitat families, let us not forget the gift of hope that these families give back to us.

Tracie McPherson

Tic tac toe

It’s not often that I get to do construction, but today I had the opportunity to build some stuff that was right at my level. Over at Metro Community College, there was a kids’ event sponsored by Next Generation Omaha. Katelyn Cherney and I represented Habitat there; she took the morning shift, I the afternoon. The highlight of our table was the chance to build tic-tac-toe boards. These were little building kits from Lowe’s, kid-size and a lot of fun.

The little kids who stopped by couldn’t wait to get a hold of a hammer. I won’t say they were the most enthusiastic builders I’ve seen – just that, as children, they were the least censored about it. Each small group that came by was eager and all hands (I had forgotten that children seem to have more hands than normal people). Each child wanted to learn how to piece together the small wood parts, how to use the claw part of the hammer to undo mistakes. Moms and dads lent assistance. A clown came by to shape balloons into a yellow daisy. And the children pounded their nails.

Each kid walked away with a little box containing little red and blue pieces, ready to be pitted against each other on the printed box top. As the children scurried away to another table to get their faces painted, I wondered if we’d see them again someday at a Habitat build. Could be a long shot, but I hope they got a taste of what it’s like to be part of Habitat: a feeling of productiveness, knowing that there are tangible results from your efforts, and a feeling of empowerment, learning that you can do something cool, no matter how small your hands.

- Melissa Breazile

Where we build: North Omaha

Habitat for Humanity of Omaha is committed to building individual lives and strengthening communities. We work primarily in Northeast Omaha, a part of the city that is at a significant economic disadvantage. Evidence of this disparity can be seen anecdotally in the proliferation of blighted and vacant property, but the statistics paint an even starker picture.

North Omaha is a three-square mile section of the city that suffers from disproportionately high rates of poverty, unemployment and vacancy. This neighborhood is most commonly defined as the area of the city that is bounded by 16^th Street on the east, Sorenson Parkway and the Storz Expressway on the north, Cuming Street on the south, and 52^nd Street on the west. With an estimated population of 41,000, North Omaha would be Nebraska’s fifth largest city[1] if it were to stand on its own. While the land in this area is underutilized, its residents are underserved. There is currently a critical shortage of decent and affordable housing, retail outlets, grocers, suitable employers, and adequate public transportation and roadways.

Compared with the rest of the city, owner-occupancy rates are lower in North Omaha. While the rest of the city saw increases in homeownership, North Omaha has seen a steady decline over the last two decades[2]. Roughly 25% of North Omahans spend more than 35% of their annual income on housing, thereby exceeding the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s recommendations. The median home value here is $60,000, compared with the $117,000 city-wide median[3]. At the same time, there is a proliferation of blighted and abandoned properties and vacant lots. Of the three square miles that comprise this area, one entire square miles sits empty[4]. Such widespread vacancy poses significant security threats and lowers the value of adjacent structures and property. However, it also presents an opportunity for residents, community developers and investors, as there is plenty of available and affordable land.

While there is no panacea for the problems that plague this area, Habitat and many other area organizations are working hard to spur development, investment and revitalization in North Omaha. The North Omaha Development Project has had incredible success with both planning and implementation, as has the Omaha Economic Development Corporation. In addition to providing a strong foundation for a family, each new Habitat home gives others the confidence to make an investment on that street. By helping hardworking, low-income families realize their dream of homeownership, Habitat is building communities one family, one house, and one street at a time.

Omaha is only as strong as its communities, so I challenge you to turn your attention toward this part of our city. Habitat relies on the dedication and generosity of volunteers, supporters, and community partners to further our mission of eradicating poverty housing. Will you join us?

Drop me a line at mmathews@habitatomaha.org to learn more about getting involved.

-Megan Mathews

---

[1] A Strategy for Community Investment, North Omaha Development Project, October 2007.

[2] 2005 Revised Report, Omaha Economic Development Corporation (OEDC), 2005.

[3] A Strategy for Community Investment, North Omaha Development Project , pg. October 2007

[4] A Strategy for Community Investment, North Omaha Development Project, October 2007.

The Red Ferrari

The red Ferrari came to rest on its top at the base of a large cone-shaped pile of rubble. One wheel is missing and its body is dented and dirt-caked. I watch it spin momentarily before coming to a stop, as it becomes partially buried in the damp earth. The headlights are gone and the windows are merely openings that let debris roll into its sleek interior. More dirt slides past it and then broken bricks start tumbling down the growing pile, barely missing the expensive sports car. The roar of the near-by Cat pulls my attention as the machine leaps forward, sinking its steel teeth into the soft clayey soil. It belches dark gray clouds in satisfaction, and raises another bucket from the gaping wound, reddish bricks falling from its fangs, as it dumps another heaping mouthful onto the jagged pile. I turn back to look for the Ferrari, yes, it’s still there, but barely, only a bright red fender gleaming in the warm morning sun remains visible.

Quickly, I approach the car, kneel and pluck it from certain burial.  Rubbing my thumbs gently across its smooth body to remove the crusted soil, I uncover a trace of nostalgia. Matchbox cars were extremely popular with boys during the 1960s and 1970s. I turn the miniature vehicle in my hand to examine it more closely; perhaps, I had this model; it looks familiar. Maybe the former owner of this red Ferrari sat cross-legged on the side of Templeton Street, just as I sat cross-legged at the side of my street, so many years ago. Did we both make tiny racetracks at the dusty roadside, pretending not to hear our mother’s call for lunch on a hot humid midsummer’s day? The faint sound of running boy feet, muffled by emerald grass, leaps across time and distance.

I wave to Chris sitting astride his roaring beast and he good-naturedly returns the gesture, no doubt wondering why I’m wearing a dopey grin. Chris continues excavation for the basement of the new Habitat home that will soon occupy this shady lot. He methodically deposits a set of broken concrete steps on the large pile of ruins. Human beings connect with each other in many ways; sadly, most are now intangible electronic bits. Shortly, children will laugh and play again at 2509 Templeton. They will explore their new home and race through their yard and neighborhood. Perhaps, one will pause for breath next to the old elm stump, near the backyard fence, and there find the red Ferrari.

dan

“United We Serve” kicks-off reminding us that we can all give back

Today marks the kick-off to a nationwide summer of service. Through “United We Serve” President Obama is asking us all to volunteer our time and talents to help build stronger communities and make a lasting change in our country. Each and every one of us has been impacted by the generosity of another at some point in our life. It might have been from a food bank that provided our family with something to eat. Or a neighbor helping to make home repairs when we were unable to do them ourselves. Maybe it was a parent helping with homework or a friend who always knew the right thing to say. No matter what, we have all experienced the positive effects of the generosity of others.

Now is our time to give back, to help make our community a stronger, better place for all who live there.

Volunteerism can be intimidating. For some it may be the thought of giving up part of their limited free time. For others it maybe the daunting task of finding a way to get involved. And for many more it may just be the fear of the unknown.

For me, I think it was a little of all three. I always knew I wanted to do my part to help others but I was worried that I didn’t have the time. I didn’t know where to go to find out about opportunities and I was nervous that I didn’t have the necessary skills or experience to be of any real help. I was able to overcome these self-made obstacles as my college graduation approached and I applied for AmeriCorps VISTA service opportunities.

For the past four months I have been serving at Habitat for Humanity of Omaha as the Public Relations and Faith Relations Coordinator and I love it. Even though most of my work is not direct service, it feels great to know that I am helping to build the capacity of a great organization and making a lasting difference in my community.

Everyone has the potential to do great things by giving back to others. No matter who you are, there is a service opportunity out there that is right for you. It does take some work to find the right fit and you will have to give up some of your free time.  But the benefits you will receive by helping others will far outweigh any of the hassle. Volunteerism is both addictive and contagious. I can’t imagine the rest of my life without some type of community service in it now that I know how great it feels to give back.

“United We Serve” will run from June 22 to September 11, the National Day of Service and Remembrance, and it is a great way to make the plunge into the world of service. Take this summer to make volunteerism a regular part of your life and encourage your friends and family to do the same. Whether you give back for a few hours a day, one afternoon a week or even one day a month get out there and serve for you and your community. In the words of President Barack Obama, “…America’s new foundation will be built one community at a time – and it starts with you.”

-Nina

 

• More information about “United We Serve” and ways to get involved
• Information about the AmeriCorps programs and available positions
• Useful tips on how to start your own service project
• Have you had a great service experience? Share your story

Blitz homes have been dedicated

I still wonder how it was all possible, but yesterday marked the end of Builder’s Blitz 2009. Remarkably, we reached our goal of building 3 1/2 houses in a single week. Our builders – Hearthstone Homes, M Group, Sullivan Homes and the Women Build team – turned a neglected plot of land into something beautiful: a revitalized neighborhood that will be home to four new and wonderful families.

At yesterday’s dedication, the families, builders, volunteers, neighbors and so many other supporters came together to celebrate the week’s success and wish the new homeowners well. We heard from the partner families; we heard from the builders. Even Mayor Fahey, choosing to spend his last day in office with Habitat,  shared a few words.

There were tears and shaky voices as the new homeowners gathered with their children and received their keys. After the presentation, each home was blessed and opened to visitors. It was a splendid finish for what seemed an impossible task.

• Find photos on our online album.
• Fahey feels the love on last day in office (OWH)
• Habitat for Humanity homes go up quickly (OWH)

-Melissa