“We didn’t have much money,” he said, “but we had a lot of support, responsibility, and care for others. That stays with you.” 

Those early values would shape how Art approached service throughout his life. After serving in the military and building a career in education, accounting, and eventually business ownership, he settled in Omaha and looked for ways to connect more deeply with his community. He joined the local Optimist Club, a service organization focused on supporting youth. At its peak, the club had hundreds of members working to mentor, encourage, and uplift young people through programs like student recognition, bike safety, and youth sports.  

“It was heartwarming to see the impact we could have,” Art said. “We recognized kids not for sports or grades, but for their resilience—what they had overcome.” 

It was through the Optimist Club that Art began to learn about many small, often overlooked nonprofits working across Omaha to support vulnerable children—especially those affected by abuse and trafficking. Organizations like Bikers Against Child Abuse left a lasting impression.  

“These smaller groups don’t always have a big presence, but they’re doing incredible work,” he said. “That’s where I wanted to help.” 

As Art reached a stage in life where he could give more financially, he opened a fund at the Omaha Community Foundation to simplify his charitable giving. The flexibility of the fund allows him to make a single charitable contribution from his retirement account and then take time to decide where those dollars will go.  

“It gives me space to do my homework,” he said. “I can call these smaller nonprofits directly, learn what they need, and make sure my support really matters.” 

Having children of his own—and a growing awareness of local needs—sparked Art deep interest in supporting child advocacy causes. Over the years, that interest has grown into a focused commitment to helping young people thrive, especially those impacted by abuse, trauma, or lack of access to support. 

For Art, giving back is not about recognition or wealth—it’s about gratitude.  

“I’m just thankful to be in a position where I can give,” he said.  “I get to do this, and that’s a pretty good place to be.” 

The post The Art of Optimism Starts With Giving Back appeared first on Omaha Community Foundation.

“Our first round of grants went out to community partners within the first seven days,” said Donna Kush, President and CEO of the Omaha Community Foundation. “We focused on supporting victims and their immediate needs, from finding temporary housing solutions to clean up efforts.”

As recovery efforts moved from immediate relief to long-term rebuilding, the Omaha Community Foundation established the Tri-County Long-Term Recovery Group (LTRG), a coalition of direct service organizations, government agencies, volunteer groups, and philanthropic partners. The LTRG’s mission is to meet the transitional needs of survivors while planning for long-term resiliency for the families and community. The group coordinated training for Disaster Case Managers, who are helping individuals and families navigate the complexities of FEMA applications, insurance procedures, and long-term housing needs.

One of the group’s early successes was assisting a small business owner working in the construction industry who lost all his tools in the tornado. The group found resources to provide the necessary equipment to help restart his business.

Looking ahead, the Omaha Community Foundation and the LTRG partners are focusing on sustainable recovery.

“Once the cleanup is done and the media attention is gone, that is where the real work starts,” Kush said. “Disaster recovery is a long process, and the Omaha Community Foundation is here to see our neighbors through the entire process of rebuilding.”

The LTRG is committed to supporting Omaha, Elkhorn and Blair, and all affected communities, ensuring that resources are available even after FEMA and insurance companies have fulfilled their roles.

Through these efforts, the Omaha Community Foundation and the LTRG is laying the groundwork for stronger, more resilient communities that can come together and offer solutions in the face of future disasters.

The post Omaha Community Foundation supports victims, community following devastating tornadoes appeared first on Omaha Community Foundation.

As a teenager in the foster care system, Maggie’s cards were stacked against her. She lacked motivation and the support of a trusted adult to encourage her aspirations. The absence of a stable foundation made her path to success seem out of reach.

Maggie’s life took a turn when she connected with the staff at the Omaha Home for Boys. This marked the beginning of a life-changing chapter for her, thanks to the guidance and support provided by her Independent Living Specialist from OHB.

This specialist at OHB is part of the larger Branching Out Independent Living Program. Branching Out assists young adults in developing the skills and confidence needed to live successfully on their own. This program is partially funded by the $260,000 The City of Omaha’s ARPA Community Grant Program.

Maggie’s journey to becoming an independent adult began with the basics – driver’s education, budgeting classes and resume writing. From there, she worked on saving for a car and eventually moved into her first apartment where her newfound independence flourished.

Maggie’s educational support at OHB was also a tremendous building block to help her reach her goals. She graduated from high school, and with encouragement from her Specialist, she applied for a scholarship.

“It’s a big blessing on my end to have this scholarship. I’m so glad I have the opportunity to use it,” she said.

Today, as an independent adult, Maggie has beat the odds that so many former foster care youth succumb to. Only three or four percent of youth who age out of foster care earn a four-year degree.

“It makes me feel really blessed. I’ve had this amazing support system on my side since I started this program,” she shared. “They’ve helped throughout everything – high school, college, my homelessness. I wouldn’t be here where I’m at without it.”

Maggie is on track to graduate from college with her Criminal Justice degree in May and hopes to pursue a Master’s Degree after that.

OHB’s ultimate goal is to equip youth, young adults, and families with the skills and confidence needed to succeed.

ABOUT THIS STORY

The City of Omaha partnered with the Omaha Community Foundation to administer the ARPA Community Grant Program because of the foundation’s work with local nonprofits and awareness of community needs. The grant program focused on providing funding to expand or enhance existing programs in areas of Crisis Intervention & Violence Prevention, and Workforce Development.

The City of Omaha ARPA Community Grant Program awarded $9.6 million to 35 nonprofit organizations. Eligible programs included youth programs such as mentoring, gang prevention and intervention, mental health, crisis response, and assistance to unemployed workers including workforce readiness training, certification, and employment services.

See all City of Omaha ARPA Community Grant Program grant recipients.

This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SLFRP0230 awarded to the City of Omaha by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

The post Omaha Home for Boys Branches Out when Providing Permanent Housing and Life Skills with ARPA Funds appeared first on Omaha Community Foundation.

The Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa understands that childcare is an essential service in our rural communities, and now is a crucial time to fund these organizations. In the past year and a half, the Foundation granted nearly $275,000 to support childcare. Funded projects included building improvements, educational materials, equipment, and more.

“One of the most valuable attributes of a community foundation is its ability to be responsive to issues that are affecting our local communities,” said Southwest Iowa Foundations Director Sunni Kamp. “Each of our nine foundations has its own local advisory board, and because of this approach to our work, the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa has both the localized support and philanthropic knowledge to be a funding leader on the most prominent issues across our region.”

We reached out to nonprofit organizations providing childcare throughout our network to hear what challenges they currently face. There are three main areas in which Southwest Iowa childcare providers experience obstacles, including meeting demand, covering operating costs, and recruiting and retaining staff.

Meeting the Demand for Childcare

According to the Center for American Progress, 23% of Iowa residents live in a childcare desert. Childcare availability is even lower among rural populations, with 35% of rural families living in areas without enough licensed childcare providers.  In the nine-county network of the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa, each of our counties has a census tract that is considered a childcare desert.

To increase available childcare spots, many communities are seeking out opportunities to expand existing facilities or open new childcare centers.

In Mills County, there is a shortfall of over 1,700 childcare slots.  In July 2022, Mills County parents, businesses, education leaders, and nonprofits formed East Mills Child Care Solutions to address the inadequate childcare options in the East Mills Community School District. Since then, the group has elected a board, facilitated a community needs survey, purchased a property to house a new childcare center, and begun fundraising for the Lakin Foundation Child Development Center of East Mills.

In Montgomery County, the Stanton Child Resource Center is the only organization offering childcare services in the Stanton area.  With many families on the center’s waitlist, the organization launched a capital campaign to construct a new facility. The new center will increase its capacity by 49 spaces and is expected to open in the early summer of 2024.

Childcare is crucial for the health of Southwest Iowa, and communities will need to keep exploring avenues for creating more childcare spots in rural towns.

Covering Operating Costs

Childcare centers continue to juggle providing their services at an affordable rate while paying inflated material costs and competitive wages. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index, the dollar has had an average inflation rate of over 5.5% per year since 2020, producing a cumulative price increase of over 17%. Most families across Southwest Iowa are not able to afford a 17% increase in childcare prices, which leaves providers with the difficult task of finding funding elsewhere.

Many childcare providers are nonprofit organizations, which means they rely on grant funding and public support to make up the difference in their budgets. Generally, organizations seeking funding have an easier time fundraising for tangible requests such as furniture and fixtures and have difficulty raising money for the essential costs of salaries, training, and other operational costs. If organizations are to continue to provide affordable childcare throughout Southwest Iowa, it is necessary for all funders to support the general operating costs of childcare centers.

Recruiting and Retaining Staff

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2022, the average annual wage of childcare workers in Iowa was $21,240. Lower wages in the childcare industry make it difficult for providers to attract and retain workers.  In Shelby County, Kids in the Village has supplemented their staff by hiring high school and college students to work after school hours and in the summer, but staffing a childcare center can be difficult to do year-round and during peak work hours of 6:00 am – 6:00 pm.

Additionally, training staff is very important, and is a required component of licensing by the Iowa Department of Human Services. But training staff can prove challenging, as it costs organizations both time and money. General support of childcare centers can provide the much-needed funding for increased wages and access to training.

Support Southwest Childcare

Even though these organizations face a myriad of challenges in today’s childcare landscape, they continue to do tremendous work. Childcare centers across Southwest Iowa in the past few years have celebrated the successes of facility expansions and improvements, grant funding for a variety of projects, phenomenal community and parental support, and staff who go above and beyond every day to care for our children.

If you are interested in supporting a Southwest Iowa childcare organization, please review the list of organizations below that have provided us with notes on their current funding needs or consider a general donation to support operating costs.

The Children’s Nest
Audubon, IA

• Employees: 8
• Children Served: 28
• Current Funding Needs: Salary support.
• Website: https://www.audubonchildrensnest.com

Kids in the Village
Elk Horn, IA

• Employees: 15
• Children Served: 56
• Current Funding Needs: Operational support, staff training, countertops, and cabinet replacements.
• Website: https://www.kidsitv.com/

Lakin Foundation Child Development Center of East Mills
Malvern, IA

• Timeline: Projected to open Fall 2024
• Projected Children Served: 150
• Current Funding Needs: Capital campaign for $5 million to renovate and furnish existing building in Malvern, IA.
• Contact: emchildcaresolutions@gmail.com 

Little Hawks Childcare Center
Manilla, IA

• Employees: 15
• Children Served: 62
• Current Funding Needs: Shading for playground, furnishings for preschool room, preschool curriculum.
• Website:https://www.facebook.com/people/Little-Hawks-Childcare-Center/

Red Oak Child Development Center
Red Oak, IA

• Employees: 35
• Children Served: 145
• Current Funding Needs: Educational technology, furnishings, funds for staff retention efforts.
• Website: https://www.redoakcdc.org/

Stanton Child Resource Center
Stanton, IA

• Employees: 21
• Children Served: 114
• Current Funding Needs: Capital campaign for construction of new facility – $1 million away from final goal.
• Website: https://www.scrckids.com/

Turnbull Child Development Center
Shenandoah, IA

• Employees: 30
• Children Served: 182
• Current Funding Needs: Cosmetic updates to building including paint, carpet, tile, and playground.
• Website: https://www.turnbullcdc.com/index.html

The post The state of childcare in Southwest Iowa appeared first on Omaha Community Foundation.

Over 100 students in third through twelfth grade across the region are heading to the lakes for peak fishing season with the Southwest Iowa Fishing Team. This local nonprofit’s mission is to promote, advance, and sponsor amateur fishing for youth across Southwest Iowa. The primary initiatives of the group are to instill the ideals of sportsmanship, diversity, equity, and inclusion through special educational workshops, mentoring, and community outreach. Student anglers can participate through online fishing, as well as kayak and boat tournaments.

After the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, during the peak time of social distancing, fishing became an important escape for many families.  In 2020, Southwest Iowa Fishing Team Founder Bob Harris also saw fishing as an opportunity for his grandchildren and their friends.

“All activities were being cancelled, and my grand kids loved to fish at our little farm pond,” Harris said. “I decided I needed to tap into their passion for fishing, so I found an online fishing tournament for my two grandsons to participate in. Before that, I hadn’t realized there were so many opportunities for competitive fishing. That first tournament got us hooked.”

In September of 2020, Harris proposed the idea of a fishing team to a small group of students. There was an enthusiastic response, and the fishing team had their first tournament at Hacklebarney Lake, near Villisca, Iowa. Sixteen students participated. The entire team caught a total of five fish. The biggest fish weighed one pound.

Today, the Southwest Iowa Fishing Team consists of over 100 student anglers from a dozen different schools. In the past year, the team caught a combined total of 663 pounds of fish in boat tournaments, 13,137 inches in virtual and kayak series, and 2,208 fish overall.

Sixty percent of students who participate on fishing teams are not involved with traditional high school sports. This extracurricular activity provides students with an opportunity to participate in a sport outside of school, with the potential to earn scholarships to advance their education.

“Fishing is fun, but we also had to teach these students how to help the fisheries,” Harris said. “We needed to teach them what good conservation looks like, and how to take care of these bodies of water. I am very proud of the fact that we have worked closely with the Iowa DNR to educate our students and give back to the communities where we fish.”

The rise in popularity of fishing after 2020 resulted in a strain on the aquatic life in lakes across Southwest Iowa. The Southwest Iowa Fishing Team turned to grant funding to restore and replenish the deteriorating habitats in these lakes. Like all animals, fish need a healthy living habitat to survive, grow, and reproduce.

The Southwest Iowa Fishing Team received a total of $27,050 in grants throughout 2021 from six out of nine counties that make up the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa, including Cass, Crawford, Fremont, Harrison, Montgomery, and Shelby. These grants were provided to support the purchase and placement of artificial fish habitats into lakes across the region.

Students were involved in every phase of the conservation efforts, including designing the fish habitats, building the structures, and placing them in bodies of water. After a structure is placed into a lake, the fish habitat provides a space for fish to nest, feed, and seek shelter. After eighteen months, the structure becomes a complete living habitat. The quality and quantity of fish habitats in a body of water directly affects fish populations. Since 2021, over 350 fish habitats have been placed in lakes across Southwest Iowa.

Moving forward, the Southwest Iowa Fishing Team is hoping to expand into more metro and rural areas across the region. Currently, the organization is fully led by volunteers, and operates on generous corporate sponsorships and donations. If you or someone you know is interested in supporting the Southwest Iowa Fishing Team, the group is currently looking for volunteers to help develop a new website or coordinate social media content. Other volunteers are also always welcome. You can contact the organization at swifishingteam@gmail.com.

The post Amateur fishing takes off across Southwest Iowa appeared first on Omaha Community Foundation.

• Local nonprofits continue to advocate for safer, better connected biking and walking options throughout the metro.
• A dedicated bike lane is being tested to great success on Harney Street with hopes of expanding lanes citywide.
• The two-mile North Omaha trail is one of several other trail projects planned with the goal of connecting North Omaha to the urban core and making biking a more viable transportation option in the metro.
• Making biking and walking improvements to Maple Street is a wiser investment than adding a third car lane.
• Building the biking and walking infrastructure is a public health investment that will improve the quality of life for residents.

Omaha’s trails are mostly used for recreation, not transportation. That’s partly because the city lacks the infrastructure to reach everyday destinations by walking or biking. Julie Harris, Executive Director of Bike Walk Nebraska, wants to change this.

Bike Walk Nebraska, in partnership with Metro Smart Cities, created Omaha’s first protected bike lane. Cycling is up 140% on Harney Street, between midtown and Old Market, since the nearly 2-mile bikeway opened last year.

“We’re seeing rider satisfaction increase, and businesses, neighborhood associations, and downtown associations are very happy,” Harris said. “There have been challenges, but overall, it’s been amazing.”

In the Omaha-Council Bluffs area biking and walking to work have remained consistently low over the last 10 years. A 2019 ConnectGO survey found that 65% of respondents did not feel safe cycling for transportation.

This falls in line with a survey of the 50 largest metros in the United States. Findings revealed 60%—the majority of respondents—identified as interested but concerned, meaning they would bike if they felt safer.

“These are the people who say, ‘I wish I could do that, but there’s just no way—it’s not safe.’ We need to design our bike facilities to attract those riders,” Harris said. “Just putting a line of paint on the ground is not going to get someone to ride their bike down Leavenworth. But a protected lane makes a difference for those people who are concerned.”

Her goal is to get more of these protected lanes throughout the city, connecting both north-south corridors and east-west corridors. Another way of increasing safety for pedestrians and cyclists is trails.

North Omaha Trail Expected to Improve Connectivity and Quality of Life

Manne Cook is the lead for Spark CDI’s North Omaha Trail Project, a two-mile trail that is currently under construction and will go from 31^st and Ames Avenue to 24^th and Lake Street. Brush removal and concrete work are in progress with murals and artwork to be added along the way.

Once extensions to existing trails are complete, the North Omaha Trail will eventually link North Omaha to the Beltline Trail, Fontenelle Park, Field Club Trail, and Council Bluffs via the Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge.

“You’ll be able to ride from downtown Council Bluffs to North Omaha, just short of Benson at the 40^th and Hamilton area,” Cook said. “After that, there is exponential growth to the trail system.”

Cook worked in city planning before joining Spark CDI as an Urban Development Manager. He is also a board member for Mode Shift Omaha, an organization that advocates for more walkability and bike-ability.

You may see Mode Shift members at city council meetings, hosting bike rides and coffee chats, and contributing to education and news on behalf of cyclists and pedestrians. Cook is also the founder of Just Ride, a local bicycle club committed to mobility justice. It was established on the belief that people have the right to move through public spaces without the fear of violence, harm, or oppression.

In addition to offering more transportation options, people simply enjoy trails—they improve the quality of life and are something people want to live by. Cook pointed out that these types of lifestyle improvements are crucial for the city to stay competitive and attract talent.

“So much good is happening right now, and it’s going to keep progressing in a positive way,” Cook said. “A lot of people are going to be surprised in the next couple of years by the improvements that are happening and continuing to happen locally. We need to keep thinking about how to make it sustainable and scalable.”

Advocating for East-West Commuter Connections

The Harney Street bike lanes are intended to help expand those east-west connections that could draw more commuter cyclists. But to make a larger impact, Harris said the city needs to commit to planning infrastructure for bicyclists and pedestrians when installing or reconstructing roads and building bridges and neighborhoods.

In fact, Harris is advocating for a relatively easy investment into east-west connections right now.

“Look at West Maple Road,” she said. “It’s two lanes in each direction and there is talk about adding a third lane in each direction. Think of the resources we could save if instead of adding a third lane for cars, we put in sidewalks and a bike lane. Metro will not put a bus line on West Maple if they have to dump people into a ditch; adding sidewalks would draw the bus lines to that area. This is an opportunity to activate people to ride public transit, bike, and walk.”

Harris added that another car lane will only increase the number of cars using the road. Congestion may decrease at first, she said, but it will draw demand and, eventually, the traffic problem will become worse than it is now.

“What we need is a better network of protected, separated bike lanes,” she said. “Until we have a network, we won’t be able to see the true benefit of biking.”

Cook holds a similar opinion.

“Don’t invest in highways,” he said. “Nobody goes and lives somewhere because of a highway.”

Cook offered a reminder that people within the community have a say in what happens, and residents and nonprofits are increasing the pressure and speaking out about the needs.

A fully developed network of options for people will take a lot of time and resources. But it’s not something the city has to do all at once, and some of these measures come at a minimal cost if they’re done during construction.

“We can make little trail connections here and there,” Harris said. “When we have a new street built or one reconstructed, we make the decision to include safe bike accesses and sidewalks. They knit a city together and make connectivity happen.”

Public Health is the Best Investment We Can Make Now

Cook strongly believes that public health is at risk if we don’t make strategic infrastructure investments now.

“This is a moment in time when we are living toward the end of the pandemic and a lot of social change,” he said. “All this change has happened, but in ten years are we going to look back and wonder if we dropped the ball?”

He worries Omaha will miss this window of opportunity. He wants elected officials to educate themselves on the issue, stop defaulting to what’s already been done, and act with compassion and intentionality.

“The investments we make now will define the future,” Cook said. “Investments in public health and quality of life are the best investments we can make.”

These nonprofits are committed to an equitable outcome, and perhaps more importantly, an equitable process.

“It’s going to be on my gravestone: It’s all about the process,” Harris said. “If we get the process right, we’re going to be in pretty good shape. How are decisions getting made? When are decisions getting made? Who is included in the decision? Is a discussion happening every time a decision is made? That’s what’s going to move us forward.”

Consider supporting nonprofits that are working to improve Omaha’s transportation.

• Bike Walk Nebraska
• Mode Shift Omaha
• SPARK CDI

Follow Just Ride if you want to have fun riding your bike with others while advocating for freedom from violence, harm, and oppression in public spaces.

Check out The Landscape

Transportation Research

The post Is Omaha Pedestrian, Bike Friendly? With Better Infrastructure, It Could Be appeared first on Omaha Community Foundation.

The International Council on Refugees and Immigrants (ICRI) is addressing this through a new peer support program, offering a different model of support than clinical therapy.

“In recent years, it has become normalized in the U.S. to go to therapy or take medication,” said Dekow Sagar, Founder and Executive Director of ICRI. “But therapy is not known or accepted in many countries, so we believe peer support model will be more impactful.”

Last year, ICRI received $50,000 from the Community Resilience Fund to hire, train, and certify former refugees as peer support specialists who would connect other immigrants and refugees to mental health services that are culturally and linguistically appropriate.

Seven people have already been through training, including local members of the Somali, Afghan, Karen, Kachin, and South Sudanese communities. They are all well equipped to empathize with and support the experiences of their peers.

Before the pandemic, the Omaha-Council Bluffs area had significant mental health concerns among its residents. One in four people experienced symptoms of depression. Many migrants are within the demographics that experience the highest risks of depression: young people of color in poverty, especially women.

Mental health issues have only increased over the last two years, exacerbating an urgent community issue.

“For us to recover, it will be critical to address our community’s increased mental health needs,” said Emily Nguyen, Director of Research and Strategy at the Omaha Community Foundation.

Refugees often face compounding challenges. After experiencing trauma in their home countries, they must adjust to life somewhere new.

“It is isolating,” Sagar said, speaking of his own experience as a young man. “I had extremely depressing moments. I knew people that wanted to go back [despite the danger]. Even if you are surrounded by thousands of people, it doesn’t mean anything if you don’t have a support system.”

The peer support model is a grassroots approach and a strategic, evidence-based one. Peer support specialists go through extensive training and take a skills test to get certified. Once certified, they can serve in a peer support role.

Ten clients are currently using these peer support services. As more specialists are trained, ICRI will be able to increase its caseload.

“This program was just an idea when we got the grant,” Sagar said. “Now we have people from the community who are trained. We are in a good spot.”

ABOUT THIS STORY

In 2021, the Community Resilience Fund supported Omaha-area nonprofits serving communities disproportionately affected by Covid-19. ICRI was one of 37 nonprofits to receive a grant. Thanks to generous community support, a total of $527,942.75 went to programs and services focused on arts and culture, housing, learning recovery, mental health, and workforce. See the list of grant recipients.

Moving forward, the Community Resilience Fund will operate on an as-needed basis to provide timely, flexible grantmaking when unexpected and urgent needs arise in our community.

The post New Mental Health Initiative Focuses on Cultural Competence for Immigrants and Refugees appeared first on Omaha Community Foundation.

Project Houseworks relocated her laundry room to the main floor.

Since 1995, the nonprofit has been providing free home repairs for low-income seniors in Omaha. Last year, they helped 168 homeowners.

“We do a lot of modifications for seniors like grab bars or tub-to-shower conversions,” said Lynette Farhart, who was the Executive Director of Project Houseworks at the time of this story’s writing. “This gives them safety and independence.”

Project Houseworks received a $15,000 grant from the Community Resilience Fund for their home repair program for seniors, a demographic greatly impacted by Omaha’s lack of affordable housing.

Senior Repair Programs help homeowners, age 60 and up, age in place—making it so they can live in their own homes safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability. Project Houseworks covers up to $30,000 for repairs or modifications.

Some of the most common repairs are related to deferred maintenance in older homes, such as roofing, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, windows, doors, floor coverings, wall repair, and paint.

Local housing research shows that preserving existing affordable housing for seniors plays a key role in housing stability. Project Houseworks offers an economical approach to improving the region’s affordable housing.

“One thing that jumps out in The Landscape’s housing data is that Nebraska has a lower percentage of people with severe housing problems compared to other states,” Farhart said. “That’s good, but one of the reasons we focus our work on seniors is they have a much higher percentage of severe housing needs, especially seniors of color.”

Most of the seniors that Project Houseworks serves live on a social security income that averages $1,500 per month, which is far below the poverty level.

“Senior homeowners are barely getting by paying utilities, food, medicine, and everyday expenses, which means they cannot afford to hire a plumber, electrician, or contractor,” Farhart said.

This forces seniors to make difficult decisions. Do they remain in a home that is fully paid for but accruing increasingly insurmountable problems or sell their home and move to a rental property they can’t afford? Some seniors like Virginia come up with creative solutions to make do.

In the past, Project Houseworks has mostly focused on North Omaha, but there are different areas of need where they are expanding. Farhart said that home maintenance is a growing problem in South Omaha, an area where they already feel behind.

“The focus now is bringing the community together and raising awareness of how critical the issue is right now,” Farhart said. “People are living in bad situations, and as a community, we can come together and create change.”

The post Omaha Nonprofit Helps Seniors with Home Repairs appeared first on Omaha Community Foundation.

A single mother, Meredith Metcalf was well aware of the issues faced by moms seeking paid work and did something about it. She started MOMentum in November 2020. The nonprofit’s mission is to reduce the feminization of poverty by eliminating barriers to employment for moms while helping employers diversify their workforce.

“Women were already struggling before the pandemic, being moms and navigating the professional world,” Metcalf said. “The pandemic made it ten times worse for everyone.”

The United States is the only industrialized nation that does not mandate any paid family leave. A 2019 study found that 63% of full-time working parents have a hard time paying for child care. For low-income parents, that increases to 95%.

Moms, on average, are paid 75 cents for every dollar paid to dads. Women of color face a wider pay gap. Latina mothers earn 46 cents, Native American mothers 50 cents, and Black mothers 52 cents for each dollar paid to white fathers. That adds up. Annual losses range from $15,300 to $38,000.

MOMentum was among the first round of grant recipients for the Community Resilience Fund, and the funding gave the new nonprofit a boost along with a 2021 grant for the Omaha Venture Group.

“We were slowly fundraising at the time and $10,000 is a game-changer when you are just getting started,” Metcalf said. Funding went toward helping mothers secure and maintain new employment opportunities.

MOMentum offers job coaching and support services in addition to hosting community events to strengthen social support systems.

“We’ve helped over 70 women since March 2021, connecting them to employers, helping them with applications and resumes, providing Uber vouchers, and referrals for child care,” Metcalf said.

Metcalf especially saw a need for more support for single mothers and moms experiencing poverty or instability—two things that often go hand in hand.

“Most women we serve have lower levels of formal education: a high school diploma, GED, or neither,” she said. “Our focus has been in strategically partnering with employers who can provide a living wage for mothers. They are looking for well-paying, stable jobs they can grow and succeed in. Our threshold is $15 per hour, but we recognize that still isn’t enough even for a single mom with one kiddo.”

Before Covid-19, nearly half of all working women—46% or 28 million—worked in jobs paying low wages, with median earnings of only $10.93 per hour.

Of the women who reach out to MOMentum, about 75% are unemployed. The rest are focused on finding new positions with more flexibility and better pay. They want help thinking through a career path. They might ask: What other options are out there? Is additional schooling needed? If so, what’s the best the school to attend?

In her grant application, Metcalf referenced data from The Landscape on women in the workforce.

In Omaha-Council Bluffs, women earn $11,000 less per year than men. On top of that, the local workforce has unfilled positions, but a significant number of potential workers don’t have access to those jobs.

“Accessible jobs that pay a livable wage are critical to helping our community recover from the pandemic,” said Emily Nguyen, Director of Research and Strategy at the Omaha Community Foundation.

The nonprofit is trying to help women consider traditionally male-dominated fields like manufacturing or construction.

“The issue is with some of those openings is, if it is a union facility, you have to start by working the second or third shift before bidding into the first,” Metcalf said. “I’m hoping to partner with more employers in the trades that have first shift openings.”

Another common issue experienced by working mothers is the lack of backup child care.

“They usually have child care but need backup solutions,” Metcalf said. “There are few options for a single mom who doesn’t have family in town if their kids are sick or the daycare suddenly closes. She has to take off work.”

MOMentum is helping women start their own child care programs in partnership with the Nebraska Cooperative Development Center, hoping to increase child care options. She also wants MOMentum to be a part of providing that backup care for moms.

“When I have money to bring someone on board, my first hire will be an emergency child care coordinator to go to the mom’s home and be that backup care,” she said. That way, Mom can get to work. 

ABOUT THIS STORY

In 2021, the Community Resilience Fund supported Omaha-area nonprofits serving communities disproportionately affected by Covid-19. MOMentum was one of 37 nonprofits to receive a grant. Thanks to generous community support, a total of $527,942.75 went to programs and services focused on arts and culture, housing, learning recovery, mental health, and workforce. See the list of grant recipients.

Moving forward, the Community Resilience Fund will operate on an as-needed basis to provide timely, flexible grantmaking when unexpected and urgent needs arise in our community.

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• The most equitable transportation systems offer multiple options for transit and are designed for everyone in a community.
• Cars are overused and local spending on public transit is low when compared to other states and peer cities.
• Omaha is implementing a comprehensive transportation plan in the urban core to spur economic development and create more connectedness. Changes include less private parking, more two-way streets, a new transit bridge between Omaha and Council Bluffs, expanded bike lanes, and three miles of streetcars.
• Local nonprofits are partnering to fill in the gaps in the city’s most urgent transportation needs.

Every member of a community needs to have access to reliable and timely transportation—it’s an important part of a healthy and vibrant life. However, Omaha depends primarily on cars for transportation, so those without a car may not be able to achieve the life they want.

Without a car, everything in the Metro becomes significantly more challenging. The effort and time it takes to get around can become insurmountable for those who don’t have access to their own vehicle. Ultimately, a lack of transportation limits people’s access to good jobs, schools, healthy food, and healthcare.

“Transportation is access and access is the equity of opportunity,” said Scott Dobbe, Executive Director of Omaha by Design.

We checked in with representatives from three local nonprofits to get their insights about how The Landscape of transportation looks these days: Eastern Nebraska Community Action Partner (ENCAP), Omaha by Design, and the Greater Omaha Chamber. Our goal for these conversations was to examine transportation in Omaha through the lens of what local nonprofits are doing, especially to help level the playing field for people of all ages, races and ethnicities, zip codes, and income levels.

Public Transit is for Everyone

Most of us take transportation for granted in this car-driven culture, with minimal consideration or planning for those who do not own a car, according to Aaron Bowen, Executive Director of ENCAP.

“The general idea is if you are experiencing poverty, just ride the bus. But why is that the best we can have to offer?” Bowen said. “Everyone deserves a reliable route to work whether they have a car or not. Families already have enough on their plate with kids, medical appointments, work, and taking care of other family members. They don’t need to wait at the bus stop with three kids in the snow, hoping they’ll get to work on time.”

Dobbe echoed this sentiment, saying, “The city we inhabit shapes the opportunities for each of us and all of us to thrive. That makes transportation critical.”

It’s widely accepted that the best transit systems provide multiple suitable transportation options for everyone, no matter their income level. One person may choose to ride their bike to work most days but take the bus when it’s too cold; meanwhile, their co-worker may carpool with a friend. Another person needs to be able to safely walk to get groceries, while yet another may want to drive to the same store for a big shop.

“When we think about equitable transportation it’s about having multiple different options other than driving a car. If you want to drive that’s fine, but that’s not going to work for everyone,” said Stephen Osberg, Director of Transportation and Urban Development at the Greater Omaha Chamber.

Omaha Transportation Spending is Low

For decades now, we’ve known that local transportation spending and services are lacking when compared to both other states and peer cities to Omaha. Transportation has shown up as one of the top five community needs in every assessment that’s been done for years, with our biggest priority being to create more connectedness throughout the city with improvements to public transit, walking, and bicycling.

“Omaha’s per capita spending on transit is shamefully low,” Dobbe said.

Osberg agreed, adding, “Metro does a lot with little, but they need the support to do more.” He pointed out that Metro (public transit) can’t compete when compared to other cities’ spending on transportation per capita. Omaha spends $40 per capita on transportation while its peer cities spend an average of $75 per capita. Low spending is reflected in ridership.

The Landscape found that people of all income levels use public transit at a consistently low rate with only one percent of overall residents and three percent of those in poverty using public transit to get to work, compared to a national average of five percent.

Emily Nguyen, Director of Research & Strategy at the Foundation, said that it’s a bit of a chicken or the egg scenario. “Without deeper investment in public transit it is harder to see the ridership increase,” she said.

Without a Car, Job Options are Limited

Currently, there are only two small census tracks—near Midtown Crossing and Crossroads Mall—where someone can reach 45,000 jobs within a 45-minute period or less via public transit.

“But even there, that’s only 28% of available jobs in the city,” Osberg said. “By providing better transportation services and changing land-use patterns, the city would open opportunities for workers. Because if you don’t have choices in the kind of jobs you have to choose from there is no freedom.” 

Transportation Costs Workers Too Much

Lower-income workers are spending more than they can afford on transportation, with many workers spending from 20% to 30% of their take-home pay on transit. AAA estimates an annual cost of $9,000 (or $750/month) to own a car.

“That’s a great burden we place on folks,” Dobbe said. “Your life is stressed if you’re spending 30% of your income on transportation.” He added that these numbers emphasize the enormity of the challenge but also the opportunity for Omaha to show that it cares for its residents by becoming a city that doesn’t leave anyone behind. “If we subsidize the airport and federal highways, we can also publicly support transit.”

The Pandemic Exacerbated Problems

Similar to other areas within our community (such as housing and health), the pandemic shined a light on the gaping holes in Omaha’s transportation system.

Throughout the pandemic, public transit ridership decreased; some routes went from running every 15 or 30 minutes to running just once an hour, the number of routes decreased, and some routes were eliminated. Seniors were adversely affected as some of the reduced routes were in areas where many of them live. Additionally, the pandemic caused many people to need more help than usual from social services, which led to new transportation needs.

Despite these setbacks, Omaha continued to move forward on its 30-year transportation plan.

Action to Strengthen the Urban Core

Osberg spoke about the city’s robust plan to grow Omaha’s network of transportation, especially in the urban core. As a part of this plan, downtown will get more two-way streets, a new transit bridge between Omaha and Council Bluffs, expanded bike lanes, three miles of streetcar tracks, and a re-envisioned parking plan downtown.

The plan is driven by The Heartland 2050 Vision and is being implemented through a partnership between the city, the Chamber’s ConnectGO initiative, and a lot of public engagement that included over 8,000 survey responses, focus groups, workshops, and interviews. Osberg noticed a resounding theme in the feedback. “One thing we heard more than anything is people want to live in walkable neighborhoods where they can fulfill their daily needs,” he said. “So, we oriented our strategy toward connecting neighborhoods together through transit, biking, and walking.”

ConnectGO’s goal is to offer more transit options and connectedness within the urban core that will create economic development and turbocharge the city’s transportation investments. As of now, development in the urban core has maxed out, Osberg said, and it’s time to approach land use more creatively and build more density.

“We need people to get to and from where they are going because car storage is just too expensive and takes too much space,” he said. In the past, downtown employers have built their own parking garages for employees, which greatly increases the square footage required for each worker.

With more transit options and less parking, the urban core will gain more usable, more valuable space. For example, a 4-5 story office building can become an 8-10 story office building. As a part of this change, employers will need to be more proactive in figuring out how to provide transportation for their employees through paid transit passes, organizing formal carpools, and more. “They have to have a plan for how they are going to move everyone to and from the site. That is less shiny, but it really moves the needle,” Osberg said.

A Streetcar Brings New Options

The addition of three miles of streetcar downtown provides a new option for getting around the highest-density area of the region and is expected to improve the overall function of public transit in Omaha.

The Landscape reports that the current transit system is more focused on trying to reach everyone rather than being centered around high-density areas.

The streetcar will help to solve this issue, providing more access to transit where it’s needed most. Nguyen,  Director of Research & Strategy at the Foundation, added that “increasing ridership in these higher density areas is a better investment into public transit because it provides a higher return.”

The more development we have in the urban core, the more people it can support—and the more economic development that’s possible. Osberg said the streetcar will not only add travel options and improve connectedness—but it will also serve as an economic development tool.

“Without the streetcar, Omaha might see around $1 billion in development within the urban core over the next 15 years,” Osberg said. “The streetcar should help bring $3 billion in development “and without it, you don’t have the same vibrancy.”

Connecting the North-South Corridor

But what about connecting North and South Omaha to the urban core? Osberg said this is an important initiative that is also being tackled. The urban core transit development is being paid for with local dollars via tax-increment financing since it will bring a high rate of economic growth to the city.

Extending a rapid transit bus line going North-South, while crucial to the city’s overall transit needs, will not bring the same level of economic growth that is expected downtown. So instead of local spending, the city is seeking federal grant funding for a rapid transit connection to downtown from both North Omaha and South Omaha.

Osberg said that Omaha has already won a federal grant for $1.6 million to begin the process of dramatically enhancing transit service along 24^th Street. The project will be $45 million all told and if grants continue to be won, Omaha’s second rapid transit route could be in operation as early as 2026.

Meanwhile, Residents’ Needs Don’t Wait

While much is in process to improve the transportation system, additions and improvements to the infrastructure take time. Meanwhile, many residents are stuck.

“Seniors and working families aren’t looking for a plan,” said Aaron Bowen of ENCAP. “I don’t know if many riders have picked up the latest transportation report. They know what they need: they need rides now.”

ENCAP

ENCAP Offers Custom Solutions

To address the most urgent needs, ENCAP launched its own transportation program three years ago. Their fleet of 13 vehicles provides transportation to and from school for ESL/migrant and homeless students of OPS, and reliable rides to career seekers and older adults. The program also delivers food to homebound seniors, individuals impacted by domestic violence, and families with children receiving support via Douglas County Community Response.

ENCAP drivers take riders door to door throughout every zip code in Douglas and Sarpy County, filling a gap for people who don’t have access to public transportation, people who are underpaid or underemployed, and those who work shifts that don’t fit within public transit run times.

The program is designed to provide custom solutions. For example, a parent can drop their kids off at daycare, then go on to work. At the end of the day, they may be able to stop at the pharmacy before picking up the kids from daycare and heading home again.

One of ENCAP’s partners is providing 145 rides to work per month for young adults who have aged out of foster care.

“The need for that population is extremely high. They have very little support. Almost 40% don’t have transportation to get to job opportunities,” said Rhonda Freeman, ENCAP’s Transportation and Nutrition Manager. “Without transportation support, a lot of young people will lose job opportunities, and as that happens, it gets harder and harder for them to get stable employment. My team works very hard to make sure they get to work on time… This is their chance to increase their economic stability.”

Rhonda goes on to tell the story of one young woman who called ENCAP this week to say she bought a car and doesn’t need a ride to work anymore. Having free transportation for several months gave her the time she needed to save up to buy a car of her own. Now someone else can sit in the seat she occupied, and hopefully get the boost they need to begin their adult life.

“We want to make it as easy as possible for people to get to work and home again. And we want to measure impact, not this many rides, this many riders,” Bowen said. “We want to know if someone was able to keep a job, or if a senior feels less isolated and has a more vibrant life.”

Once they prove it works, ENCAP hopes to vastly expand its partnerships and services.

Osberg reinforced the idea that a coalition of local organizations could quickly solve the most urgent transportation needs.

“There are so many human services that people in the region need and almost all of them have their own transportation systems, which creates duplicate services,” Osberg said. “With new software, it’s possible to coordinate all those trips. And with collaboration, it’s possible to consolidate those services into one entity that is responsible for that type of transportation.”

A Commitment to Transportation Connects Us

Transportation improvements are a major investment, and like any public venture, they don’t happen overnight. But with good planning and thoughtful processes, local nonprofits are working hard to partner with residents, local businesses, and city leaders to improve the future of transportation.

“Transportation is the connective tissue of a strong community,” Dobbe said. “By improving transportation for everyone we show our commitment to being an equitable and inclusive city.”

support a NONPROFIT WORKING IN TRANSPORTATION

• Eastern Nebraska Community Action Partner (ENCAP)
• Omaha by Design
• Greater Omaha Chamber

Check out The Landscape

TRANSPORTATION FINDINGS

The post Nonprofits Push for More Equity in Omaha Transportation appeared first on Omaha Community Foundation.