Habitat for Humanity of Omaha
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Omaha Habitat for Humanity
1 - To build decent, affordable houses in partnership with low-income families. Since 1984, 448 houses have been built/renovated.
2 - To provide opportunities for community service through various volunteer programs, including partnerships with Workforce Development, General Assistance, and the Community Corrections Center of Omaha. The number of volunteers that have participated and benefited from our programs tops 12,000 annually.
3 - To operate a retail store selling new and used building materials (called a ReStore in Habitat parlance) to fulfill a three-fold purpose: to raise funds for Habitat's primary construction program, to make low-cost building materials available to the community, and to reuse saleable materials and thereby help preserve our environment.
Homeownership
Habitat Omaha’s Homeownership Program serves families whose income is 30% to 60% of median for the Omaha area. Many families who qualify live in unsafe, unsanitary or crowded rental units as the need for decent, affordable housing in the Omaha metropolitan area continues to grow. 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 educational sessions related to financial planning, budgeting, home maintenance and the creation of healthy neighborhoods. Habitat homeowners pay 100% of the appraised price of their home through a 20 - 30 year, no-interest Habitat loan. Since 1984, Habitat Omaha has constructed more than 484 homes in partnership with low-income families and over 12,000 annual volunteers. We will build or renovate up to 45 homes in 2016.
Home Repair Program
Qualified families receive a no-interest loan to help pay for necessary repairs, allowing homeowners to spread the expense over 1-10 years to make it affordable. Habitat Omaha serves as the general contractor, hiring only subcontractors we know and trust. All work includes a 1-year warranty through Habitat Omaha.
Project Demolition
Launched in April 2011, Habitat Omaha’s Project Demolition addresses the critical need to remove blighted houses in our community. It is estimated that there are more than 3,000 properties listed as unsafe/unfit for living by the City of Omaha with another 800 on the demolition list. Most of these properties are concentrated east of 42nd Street. Despite increased efforts by the city to address this concern, fewer than 70 of these houses have been torn down each year. Habitat Omaha’s Project Demolition works with public and private partners to identify these properties (often times in close proximity to schools and other developments) and tear them down to make way for a new home or space to meet a need in the community. Removing these blighted structures helps to eliminate havens for crime and squatters, increases surrounding home values, improves community pride and makes future investment in the neighborhood more likely. Through December 2015, Habitat Omaha has torn down 155 blighted houses.
Neighborhood Revitalization
Our Neighborhood Revitalization program (NR) is a multi-faceted, block-by-block community development model that marries all Habitat Omaha's programs with data collection and coalition building for more significant neighborhood transformation. As building programs are implemented within a focus area, the NR team works to strengthen the neighborhood association, provide referrals to address other community needs and bring people together through special events and beautification projects. Focus areas include Deer Park in South Omaha and Kountze Park in North Omaha. More neighborhoods will be adopted into this successful program moving forward.
Where we work
External reviews

Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of volunteers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Habitat Omaha relies on the donation of time and talent from thousands of people annually to help construct homes; keeping them affordable for the low-income families that purchase them.
Number of overall donors
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Habitat Omaha relies on the generosity of many to strive toward a community where everyone has a decent place to live.
Number of people no longer living in unsafe or substandard housing as a result of the nonprofit's efforts
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Each year, Habitat Omaha helps more families realize their dream of homeownership or complete critical home repairs than the previous year. Habitat Omaha strengthens families and neighborhoods.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Habitat Omaha supports our neighbors to achieve this strength and independence through homeownership. Every day, we see how quality, affordable housing replaces people’s struggles to keep a sturdy roof over their heads with opportunities to build healthy, prosperous futures. This impact is transformational not just for individuals but for our entire community – fighting poverty, revitalizing neighborhoods, strengthening our economy, and creating stability for the next generation.
We started our work in Omaha in 1984 and expanded to Washington County in 2007, Waterloo in 2014, Burt County in 2016 and Sarpy County in 2020.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
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.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
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.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
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.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Habitat for Humanity of Omaha
Board of directorsas of 06/17/2022
Levi Scheppers
OrthoNebraska
Buck Heim
Kutak Rock
Drew Collier
Connie Ryan
Streck, Inc.
George Achola
Burlington Capital
Rollie Johns
CSG International
Levi Scheppers
Nebraska Orthopaedic Hospital
Julie Fritz
Community Volunteer
Caren Woodruff
Cisco (retired)
Jeff Gordman
Jeff Gordman Advisory, LLC
Keith Jankuski
CHI Health
Marcos Hernandez
US Bank
Bob Dalrymple
Bank of the West
Javier Fernandez
OPPD
Dan Houghton
Buildertrend
Ryan Iwansky
D.A. Davidson & Companies
Laura Nelson
First National Bank
Angel Starks
Nebraska Realty
Brian Miles
Bridges Trust
Cynthia Grayson-Gooch
Metropolitan Community College
Teri Mercer
McCarthy Capital
Gustavo Oberto
Lindsay Corporation
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data