Awards go to an urban and a rural NE affordable housing project

LINCOLN — A small northeastern Nebraska town and an area nonprofit are this year’s winners of the Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund award.

The annual award, presented by the Nebraska Commission on Housing and Homelessness, was established in 2018 to recognize organizations and projects that have leveraged state affordable housing trust funds to create quality affordable housing.

The 2024 standouts are the Village of Clearwater and NeighborWorks Homes Solutions.

Clearwater was awarded $221,000 through the trust fund in 2021. With a local boost of $35,000, the village partnered with Stearns Construction to build a duplex. Both units have been sold.

In Omaha, NeighborWorks received a $338,800 grant in 2020 that was supplemented with a $20,000 match. NeighborWorks partnered with the Metropolitan Community College Fort Omaha campus, which had students in its construction management program build two modular houses onsite. Students then helped move the house components to lots in North Omaha, where they reassembled the homes.

“Communities throughout Nebraska are coming up with creative solutions to develop affordable housing,” said K.C. Belitz, director of Nebraska’s Department of Economic Development. “DED is grateful to support many projects that are putting quality housing within reach of Nebraska’s families.”

The trust fund is administered by the DED and is one of the state’s resources for affordable housing development, aiming to serve the lowest-income individuals for the longest period of time.

Since its establishment by the Nebraska Legislature in 1996, the trust fund has supported construction or rehabilitation of thousands of homes throughout the state, while at the same time helping nonprofits and local governments address their needs. The fund receives a portion of the documentary stamp tax from Nebraska real estate transactions.

Amy Thelander, chair of the Commission on Housing and Homelessness, said the 2024 award winners show the impact the trust fund has on both urban and rural communities.

“Clearwater demonstrated how a small town can accomplish big things through shared vision, teamwork, and determination,” she said.

Thelander added, “The partnership between NeighborWorks Home Solutions and Metropolitan Community College met a critical need for housing while giving students in North Omaha opportunities to hone their construction skills.”