Rising rents and decreasing availability have created a perfect storm in the metro’s housing market. Allowing more federal aid for emergency rental assistance could provide another lifeline. The metro area care process for the homeless has already received nearly $17 million in emergency rental assistance. But the nonprofit says it still needs an additional $19 million over the next three years to meet the many people’s needs. Finding a home here in the metro is a problem. According to United Way of the Midlands; Housing and utilities had the top requests for assistance: 72 percent of the 325,000 211 helpers. “We thought it might be coming down a little bit because of COVID, but to the contrary, it’s continuing to increase,” said Matt Wallen, senior vice president of United Way of the Midlands. “We’re seeing an increase in evictions and eviction notices. We’re already serving over 13,000 families,” said MACCH Executive Director Jason Feldhaus. Feldhaus says the problem is inflation; It boils down to stagnant wages and a lack of affordable housing. Starting in December 2021, rent prices in our area have gone up by more than six percent, according to the United Way. 53,000 people are in dire straits, paying too much of their monthly budget for rent. “Rental stress. In other words, they’re spending more than 30 percent of their housing costs on rent and assistance,” Feldhaus says. “Inflation doesn’t just hit us at the grocery store, it hits us when we pay the rent. So it’s important for the community to help out as much as we can,” Wallen said. MACCH acts as a liaison between the City of Omaha and direct aid providers. Access to $19.2 million from the U.S. Treasury for COVID-19 relief will allow them to continue supporting families in need until now. But Feldhaus hopes that raising the minimum wage will ease the stress residents face in the long run by working with property managers and new housing. “A large investment of these dollars has been to build more affordable housing. So we hope that over the next 33 months those units will come online and help remedy that,” Feldhaus said. The Omaha City Council still needs to take a final vote on whether to approve the $19 million for MACCH. This will happen in the coming weeks. Today is giving at United Way. You can donate at the link provided. Top headlines: Summer capital Omaha to clear Ashland mobile home parking lot Nebraska hospital groups list: Gov. Pillen’s budget proposal ‘ignores the crisis’
Rising rents and decreasing availability have created a perfect storm in the metro’s housing market.
Allowing more federal aid for emergency rental assistance could provide another lifeline.
The metro area care process for the homeless has already received nearly $17 million in emergency rental assistance. But the nonprofit says it still needs an additional $19 million over the next three years to meet the many people’s needs.
Finding a home here in the metro is a problem. According to United Way of the Midlands; Housing and utilities had the top requests for assistance: 72 percent of the 325,000 211 helpers.
“We thought it might be coming down a little bit because of COVID, but to the contrary, it’s continuing to increase,” said Matt Wallen, senior vice president of United Way of the Midlands.
“We’re seeing an increase in evictions and eviction notices. We’re already serving over 13,000 families,” said MACCH Executive Director Jason Feldhaus.
Feldhaus says the problem is inflation; It boils down to stagnant wages and a lack of affordable housing. Starting in December 2021, rent prices in our area have gone up by more than six percent, according to the United Way. 53,000 people are in dire straits, paying too much of their monthly budget for rent.
“Rental stress. In other words, they’re spending more than 30 percent of their housing costs on rent and assistance,” Feldhaus says.
“Inflation doesn’t just hit us at the grocery store, it hits us when we pay the rent. So it’s important for the community to help out as much as we can,” Wallen said.
MACCH acts as a liaison between the City of Omaha and direct aid providers. Access to $19.2 million from the U.S. Treasury for COVID-19 relief will allow them to continue supporting families in need until now. But Feldhaus hopes that raising the minimum wage will ease the long-term stress residents face as property managers work with new housing.
“A large investment of these dollars has been to build more affordable housing. So we hope that over the next 33 months those units will come online and help remedy that,” Feldhaus said.
The Omaha City Council still needs to take a final vote on whether to approve the $19 million for MACCH. That will happen in the coming weeks.
Today is Give Wednesday at United Way. You can donate at the link provided.
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