Habitat for Humanity Lincoln expands to rural Nebraska
Applicants encouraged for transformative housing partnership
NEBRASKA CITY – Habitat for Humanity Lincoln broke ground Wednesday for a two-family duplex that is the first for the transformative housing program in Nebraska City.
The Habitat for Humanity Omaha serves five counties including Cass County, but the Lincoln nonprofit is just now expanding out to Otoe and Seward counties.
Executive Director Shay Homeyer said the Nebraska City homes will feature five bedrooms, two baths and a basement.
Homeyer: “When we say affordable housing some people think, ‘oh it’s a knock off type housing.’ No, these are just a brand new home. They are beautiful homes. They are built to help stabilize a community for people that are hard-working adults.”
She said partnerships with lenders and volunteer construction labor are key to affordability.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction are planning to erect the building’s frame beginning May 13. After that, she said, the program relies on home owners’ sweat equity and other volunteer builders.
Homeyer: “Then after that we take over with other volunteer capacity. So we will be looking for volunteers in the area who want to come help with this project. You don’t have to have any building experience. We will train you, so that’s great for the community. That helps us bridge that gap of affordability, as well.”
Homeyer said the needs for affordable housing are evident and the grants and financing are available for multi-family homes.
Homeyer: “Really nationwide there is a crisis for housing. The trend is going to be multi-family homes because of that housing crisis.”
Kirby Reardon, Habitat for Humanity Lincoln board president, said Habitat for Humanity is happy to expand its mission to areas underserved by these types of projects.
Reardon: “To be able to help more people and expand our reach to help provide more affordable housing within southeast Nebraska. We saw an underserved need and we are just here to fill it.”
Homeyer said a housing project might typically have 200 applicants, but there were only 20 for the Nebraska City houses at the time of ground-breaking. She said more applicants are welcomed.