Nebraska

Nebraska housing crisis: Seniors struggle to find affordable housing

Published

1 year ago

June 10, 2023

Nebraska housing crisis: Seniors struggle to find affordable housing

OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — The Eastern Nebraska Office On Aging takes calls for help from seniors looking for a place to stay. They refer to resources, but often, there just isn’t an affordable place available.

For long-term care facilities, “there are a lot of new ones being built, but a lot of those might not be in the price range that most older adults can afford,” said MaryAnn Eusebio, the information and assistance division director.

The shortage of affordable housing goes beyond just seniors. Many are staying in their homes longer, which impacts younger buyers.

“If they have that sort of age-friendly option they can go to, they’re more likely to sell their large single-family home to a new, younger couple that can now raise their family there,” said Todd Stubbendieck of AARP Nebraska.

Stubbendieck said his widowed mom is in a situation like that, still in his childhood home in central Nebraska.

“If she had a better option, that wasn’t assisted living, she might be convinced to do that,” he said, “But I live in fear of all the steps that she has to live with every day.”

Just one of the groups working to improve the shortage is Habitat for Humanity of Omaha.

After speaking with North Omaha seniors who said they wanted to stay home but couldn’t find a suitable affordable option, the nonprofit included 20 homes geared toward seniors in their large Bluestem Prairie development in North Omaha, including 10 “empty-nester” villas, which will keep accessibility front of mind and be appropriate for older adults to plan to age in.

Learn more: Habitat for Humanity breaks ground on Bluestem Prairie development

Another project, completed two years ago, Nobility Point, added 60 long-term care units in North Omaha.

“We want to make sure that our longest-standing residents can stay in the place that they have always called home, even if that looks a little different,” said Lasha Goodwin of 75 North.

And for older adults who can no longer afford or are forced out of their homes, the lack of options is especially harmful.

Early last year, local nonprofit Together Omaha restored a hotel to provide temporary housing for seniors with nowhere to go.

Learn more: Together Omaha provides temporary home for those 65 and older at repurposed hotel

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Nebraska

Sidney graduate Karsyn Leeling earns Gatorade Nebraska Girls Track and Field Player of the Year

Published

3 hours ago

June 26, 2024

Press Room

Sidney graduate Karsyn Leeling earns Gatorade Nebraska Girls Track and Field Player of the Year

SIDNEY, Neb. (KNOP) – Karsyn Leeling was named 2023-2024 Gatorade Nebraska Girls Track and Field Player of the Year. The Sidney High School athlete had a senior season to remember in track and field. In May she wrapped up her high school career with three Class B state championships claiming titles in the long jump, triple jump and the high jump. She would also break a state record in the high jump back in April.

Leeling went on to win a national title in the high jump at Nike Outdoor Nationals clearing six feet even to earn All-American honors.

She maintained a 3.66 PGA in the classroom and will continue her track and field career at the University of Nebraska this coming fall.

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Nebraska

Pillen officially announces intent to call special session for Nebraska tax reform

Published

10 hours ago

June 25, 2024

Press Room

Pillen officially announces intent to call special session for Nebraska tax reform

LINCOLN, Neb. (WOWT) – Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen took the next step in securing a special session in the state’s legislature this summer.

Gov. Pillen on Tuesday sent a letter to Speaker John Arch, officially announcing his plans to call senators back to Lincoln on July 25. The purpose of the session is to make more headway on addressing property taxes in Nebraska.

“In my sine die address in April, I stated that I would call a special session this summer to facilitate another opportunity for us to meet Nebraskans’ demand that their elected leaders fix this crisis now,” read the Governor’s letter, in part. “I have traveled extensively across the state since the Legislature adjourned and have heard from a wide range of people. Their message is clear: stop this massive overall tax increase by fixing property taxes.”

Gov. Pillen has been hosting town halls across the state over the past two months since the legislative session ended, working to educate Nebraskans on what he calls a “tax crisis.”

He still has several of those meetings planned:

Wednesday, June 26

1:30 p.m. (CT) Columbus: Columbus Chamber of Commerce, 753 33rd Ave, Columbus

Thursday, June 27

10:00 a.m. (CT) Valentine: Mid Plains Community College, 715 E Hwy 20, Valentine

1:00 p.m. (MT) Chadron: Chadron State College, Student Center – Lakota Room, 1000 Main Street, Chadron

4:30 p.m. (MT) Alliance: Westside Events Center, 2472 County Road 62, Alliance

Friday, June 28

8:30 a.m. (MT) Ogallala: Petrified Wood Gallery, 418 East 1st Street, Ogallala

1:00 p.m. (CT) McCook: Coppermill Steakhouse, 202 Coppermill St., McCook

4:00 p.m. (CT) Lexington: Central Community College – The Opportunity Center, 1501 Plum Creek Pkwy, Lexington

Along with slashing property taxes, Gov. Pillen also wants to ensure that the legislature knows he will call a special session regarding other “unfinished business” leftover from the 2024 legislative session, which could include Nebraska’s move to a “winner-take-all” state during elections.

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Nebraska

Nebraska Unemployment Rate Unchanged at 2.5% in May

Published

18 hours ago

June 25, 2024

Press Room

Nebraska Unemployment Rate Unchanged at 2.5% in May

Nebraska’s unemployment rate in May was unchanged at a seasonally adjusted rate of 2.5%. That rate is unchanged from September 2023 and up 0.4% from May 2023.

Nebraska’s rate is the fourth lowest in the nation. The national seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for May 2024 is 4.0 percent, up 0.1 percentage points from the April 2024 rate of 3.9 percent and up 0.3 percentage points from the May 2023 rate of 3.7 percent.

“Nebraska’s total nonfarm employment has been on an upward trajectory since February and reached an all-time high in May at 1,077,200,” said Commissioner of Labor John H. Albin. “Omaha’s leisure and hospitality industry saw a large gain over the month, with all the metro areas reaching record highs in total nonfarm employment.”

Further details are available here

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