Housing is key to Nebraska’s success and a basic human right. That message echoed in the rotunda of the Nebraska State Capitol Tuesday at the first Housing Affordability and Justice Lobby Day attended by a bipartisan group of Nebraska State Senators and multiple nonprofit partners. Habitat for Humanity Nebraska affiliates rallied for affordable housing across Nebraska. Partners who joined the rally included Women's Fund of Omaha, Front Porch Investments, LLC, Spark CDI,Habitat for Humanity of Lincoln, Fremont Area Habitat for Humanity, Grand Island Area Habitat for Humanity, North Platte Area Habitat for Humanity, Heartland United Way, Hope Harbor, Nebraska Appleseed, NeighborWorks Lincoln, Together, Collective Impact Lincoln and Habitat Omaha partner families, staff, advocates, board members and volunteers.
The groups met with Senators about the need for adequate and diverse housing in Nebraska and five bills identified and priorities LB237, LB504/LB741, LB556, LB629 and LB801.
Dalene Skates, Executive Director for the North Platte Area Habitat for Humanity and Melanie O'Brien, grant writer for NPAHFH and many other area entities met with Senator Mike Jacobson (District 42),Senator Teresa Ibach (District 44) and Senator Steve Erdman (District 47) to share information on the need for affordable housing across the state.
58% of Nebraska household earn $75,000 or less. For them, housing is often unaffordable with 44%—more than 176,000 households that rent or own their homes–paying more than 30% of their income on housing. This leaves families with less for other necessities (ex. transportation to work, childcare, healthcare and food) and reduces their ability to contribute to the economy and build personal wealth.
“We must do more to address this issue if we want Nebraska communities to thrive,” says Skates.
For more information, contact the Habitat office at 308-534-6251.
About Habitat for Humanity:
NPAHFH works hard to make safe, decent, affordable homes available to low-income families. Through the support from the community we provide a hand up, rather than a hand out to those seeking a decent home of their own. Homes are built with volunteer labor and sold to qualified families at no profit, with no-interest loans.
North Platte Area Habitat for Humanity, 420 N. Cottonwood Street, North Platte, NE 69101 308-534-6251 www.npahfh.org