(Lincoln, Neb.) Gov. Dave Heineman awarded more than $11.3 million in funding to communities and local housing partnerships as part of the 2005 Nebraska Affordable Housing Program. Grants were made available to fund housing projects across the state through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnership, and Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund (NAHTF) programs.

“This funding is part of a federal allocation used to help ensure Nebraskans in need have access to affordable housing,” Gov. Heineman said. “More than 40 programs providing housing assistance in communities of every size received funding this year. Ensuring that affordable housing needs are met is part of a comprehensive approach to community development that goes hand-in-hand with local growth and economic development.”

The projects receiving funding this year provide housing for rent or purchase by low-income individuals and families, the elderly, as well as the physically and developmentally disabled. In addition, the funding will help rehabilitate existing homes and building a residential dual diagnosis facility.

Projects receiving grants in southeastern Nebraska include:

City of Auburn — $250,000 in CDBG funding to rehabilitate nine owner-occupied homes and demolish several rundown homes.

City of Beatrice — $250,000 NAHTF grant to rehabilitate 11 owner-occupied homes.

Falls City — $250,000 in CDBG funding to rehabilitate 10 owner-occupied homes.

Nebraska Housing Developers Association, Lincoln — $400,000 NAHTF to help eligible homeowners in communities across the state update homes with equipment or features that improves accessibility and supports their independence.

NeighborWorks, Lincoln — two NAHTF grants totaling $700,000 to help 18 low-income, first-time homebuyers make down payments and begin several rehabilitation projects. The second grant will help low-income families qualifying as first-time homebuyers make down payments on newly-constructed homes in the Liberty Village development.

Southeast Nebraska Community Action Council, Humboldt — $350,000 NAHTF grant to help 16 low-income families make down payments, and complete minor rehabilitation projects in Nemaha, Otoe, Richardson, and Pawnee counties.

Southeast Nebraska Affordable Housing Council, Lincoln — $250,000 HOME assistance for low-income, first-time homebuyers make down payments on 10 homes as part of a purchase, rehabilitate and resell program in an area including Cass, Otoe, Nemaha, Pawnee, Johnson, Richardson, and Saunders counties. A NAHTF grant totaling $550,000 will help build 10 single-family homes in Nebraska City and five single-family homes in Auburn as rent-to-own properties.

City of York — $250,000 CDBG to rehabilitate nine homes owned and occupied by low-income families.

York County — $296,000 CDBG to help low-income families qualifying as new homebuyers make down payments on 16 homes in York County.

Projects receiving grants in northeastern Nebraska include:

City of Columbus — $376,000 CDBG to rehabilitate eight homes in Columbus and help low-income, first-time homebuyers make down payments on 10 homes.

City of Fremont — $123,300 NAHTF to help six eligible homeowners rehabilitate homes.

Midwest Housing Equity Group, Omaha — $190,000 NAHTF to help construct a new 19,000 square ft. HERO Program dual diagnosis facility that will house 64 men and women, and provide classroom, kitchen, medical, and office space.

City of Norfolk — $196,500 NAHTF money to help homeowners rehabilitate nine homes.

Northeast Economic Development Inc., Norfolk — $300,000 NAHTF to rehabilitate 14 owner-occupied homes in the area including Burt, Cedar, Colfax, Cuming, Dakota, Dixon, Dodge, Douglas, Madison, Pierce, Platte, Stanton, Thurston, Washington, and Wayne counties.

Northeast Housing Initiative, Allen — $300,000 in HOME assistance for 12 low-income families qualifying as first-time homebuyers make down payments on homes in Cedar, Dixon and Pierce counties through a purchase/rehab/resale program.

City of Omaha — $1.636 million NAHTF to help rehabilitate 36 units in the OIC and Highland South neighborhoods; help low-income families make down payments on 12 new homes in Omaha’s Charles Place neighborhood; and construct six new housing units in the Long School Redevelopment Area.

Progress Corp. Inc., Oakland — $49,500 NAHTF to rehabilitate 16 rental units in Oakland’s Oakwood Apartment Complex.

Three Rivers Housing Development, Tekamah — $252,000 in HOME assistance to help qualifying low-income families make down payments on eight homes in an area including Burt, Cuming, Dodge, and Washington counties through a purchase/rehab/resell program.

City of Wayne — $178,000 NAHTF to help eight low-income, first-time homebuyers make down payments and complete minor rehabilitation projects.

Wayne Housing Development Corporation —$305,000 HOME funding to help low-income families make down payments on 12 homes through a purchase/rehab/resell program.

City of Wisner — $70,000 NAHTF to rehabilitate eight rental units in the Hilltop Apartment Complex.

Projects receiving grants in central Nebraska include:

City of Bloomfield — $250,000 CDBG to rehabilitate 11 homes owned by low-income elderly, disabled residents and families.

Central Nebraska Economic Development (CNED), Inc., Bassett — $40,000 NAHTF to develop CNED’s capacity to implement a housing program in an area including Blaine, Boyd, Brown, Cherry, Custer, Garfield, Greeley, Holt, Howard, Keya Paha, Loup, Rock, Sherman, Valley, and Wheeler counties.

Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska, Kearney — $250,000 NAHTF to rehabilitate 12 owner-occupied homes in Franklin and Webster counties.

CORE Development, Inc., Neligh — $392,000 NAHTF to help low-income families make down payments on 14 homes in Antelope and Holt counties. A second grant will help rehabilitate nine owner-occupied homes in those counties.

Housing Development Corporation, Hastings —$263,000 NAHTF to build eight new homes in Hastings’ Southwood Subdivision and help low-income families make down payments on the homes.

Village of Niobrara — $250,000 CDBG to rehabilitate 11 owner-occupied homes.

Northeast Economic Development Inc., Norfolk — $200,000 NAHTF to rehabilitate nine owner-occupied homes in area including Boone, Antelope, Nance, and Knox counties.

Northeast Housing Initiative, Allen — $200,000 in HOME funding to help low-income families make down payments on eight homes in Antelope and Knox counties through a purchase/rehab/resell program.
Sutton Housing Authority — $337,000 NAHTF to build five duplexes as part of Horseshoe Bend Villas, an elderly housing complex. Two apartments will be rented at the going market rate with eight apartments available for low-income individuals and couples.

Projects receiving grants in western Nebraska include:

Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska, Kearney — $300,000 NAHTF to rehabilitate 18 owner-occupied homes within the service area that includes Furnas, Frontier and Red Willow counties.

High Plains Community Development Corporation, Chadron — $120,000 NAHTF to help low-income families make down payments on 18 homes in an area including Chadron, Crawford, Harrison, Alliance, Hemingford, Gordon, Rushville and Hay Springs. In addition, $100,000 in HOME assistance will help low-income families make down payments on two new homes in an area including Dawes, Sheridan or Box Butte counties through a purchase/rehab/resale program with assistance from the YouthBuild Program.

City of Lexington — $150,000 CDBG to rehabilitate nine owner-occupied homes.

Lincoln County Community Development Corporation — $100,000 HOME to help low-income families who qualify as first-time homebuyers make down payments on 10 homes in the area including Brady, Hershey, Maxwell, North Platte, Sutherland, Wallace and Wellfleet through a purchase/rehab/resale program. A second $100,000 NAHTF grant will help rehabilitate five owner-occupied homes in Brady, Hershey, Maxwell, North Platte, Sutherland, Wallace and Wellfleet.

McCook Economic Development Corporation — $200,000 NAHTF to help low-income families make down payments on six homes through a purchase/rehab/resale program.

Sandhills Resource, Conservation & Development Council, Mullen — $200,000 HOME to rehabilitate nine owner-occupied homes in the communities of Stapleton, Gandy and Tryon.

Southwest Nebraska Community Betterment Corporation, Grant — $150,000 HOME to help low-income families make down payments on 16 homes in an area including Perkins, Chase, Dundy, Hayes, and Hitchcock counties.

Western Nebraska Housing Opportunities, Gering — $200,000 NAHTF to help low-income families make down payments on seven homes in Scotts Bluff County through a purchase/rehab/resale program.