Habitat for Humanity of Omaha

Since 1984, Habitat for Humanity of Omaha has worked to eliminate substandard housing in Douglas and Washington Counties, with a focus on blighted areas of North and South Omaha. And as long as substandard housing exists, efforts will remain steadfast.

The need to address substandard housing in North and South Omaha is staggering. One hundred percent of the families served by Habitat for Humanity of Omaha are considered "very low income" by HUD guidelines. Specifically, ten percent of these families live below the poverty line which is higher than the national average (U.S. Census Bureau 2006). The community need is great; Omaha is ranked 3rd in the U.S. for African-Americans living in poverty and nearly 60% of children living in North Omaha live beneath the poverty line (1st in the U.S.). According to the Omaha Planning Department director, Omaha has critical shortage of decent, affordable housing and to make matters worse, the City of Omaha more than 2,800 houses on the City's unsafe, substandard list and more than 800 on the demolition list. The need to address these statistics is crucial.

Habitat Omaha changes lives and transforms neighborhoods by building new or renovating homes, completing critical roof and exterior repair projects on owner occupied houses and demolishing condemned houses. Together, Habitat Omaha's programs strive to provide low to moderate income families with opportunities to successfully achieve and maintain homeownership while improving the safety, appearance and values of neighborhoods.

Habitat Omaha serves families whose income is 30 to 60 percent of median for the Omaha area. Each Partner Family is required to complete up to 350 hours of sweat equity before purchasing their home. Sweat equity involves working on the construction site as well as attending a series of educational sessions related to financial planning, budgeting and home maintenance and repair. Every home owner pays 100% of the appraisal price of their home through a 20 - 30 year, affordable Habitat loan. Habitat's goal is to create successful homeowners who will improve their quality of life and transform neighborhoods.

2016 By The Numbers

0 Families Received Free Houses
4 Global Village Trips (Bulgaria, Cambodia, Costa Rica and Portugal)
42 Homes Completed (new and renovated)
41 Blighted Homes Demolitions
79 Faith Congregations Engaged
91 Critical Home Repair and Rock the Block Projects Completed
100+ Children Who Now Have Their Own Backyard
200+ Families Impacted
8,000+ Total Sweat Equity Hours Completed by Habitat Omaha Family Partners
12,000+ Total Volunteer Shifts
63,000+ Habitat ReStore Customers Served
64,000+ Total Volunteer Hours
$450,000+ Paid in Property Taxes by Habitat Omaha Homeowners

Habitat for Humanity provides a 'hand up, not a hand out' to families needing just a little help. Habitat Omaha is a trusted and highly effective leader in the community working to end substandard housing. With a strong foundation of constituents, including committed family partners, Advisory and Board of Directors members, individual, corporate and foundation donors, as well as the City of Omaha and many partnering agencies, Habitat Omaha is well positioned to continue making an impact in the community.

Growing from a volunteer driven organization in 1984 to employing 75 people today, Habitat Omaha has invested the resources necessary to continue growing and serving more. Because of Omaha's Habitat ReStore sales and homeowner mortgage payments, 100% of donor dollars are applied to program expenses. Nearly 90% of Habitat Omaha's budget is spent directly on programs and services.

Since 1984, and with the help of more than 12,000+ annual volunteer opportunities, Habitat Omaha has served more than 1,400 local families and more than 450 worldwide through programs and services. Total valuation of Habitat Omaha homeowner properties is more than $24 million and Habitat Omaha homeowners contribute more than $450,000 in local property taxes annually.