Other News Happening with Sarpy's Habitat

Gene & Chuck traveled to Ft.Smith, AR for this years Collegiate Challenge. Where they assisted in leadership of  21 students, 16 from Macalester College & 5 from Texas Tech.
Collegiate Challenge is Habitat for Humanity’s year-round alternative break program that provides opportunities for students from youth groups, high schools and colleges to spend a week of their school break building a house in partnership with a Habitat for Humanity affiliate in the United States. To view photos. 21 Mar 09

Women's Day Build - "Ginny Weston recruited female workers, including her 31-year-old daughter. The mother became a Habitat for Humanity volunteer within the last year and encouraged women in her church, St. Columbkille Catholic Church in Papillion, to participate in the "women build" effort Saturday." Read the complete Omaha World Herald article. 11 May 08

In this short session of the Nebraska State Legislature, many bills will be discussed. Among the bills introduced in this session is one that would benefit economically disadvantaged families in the state. Senator DiAnna Schimek is sponsoring a bill that would make the state’s Habitat for Humanity affiliates sales tax exempt when it comes to purchasing materials used to build homes. For more information. Feb 08

Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County receives $7,000 from The UPS Foundation
Bellevue, Neb. – Jan. 2, 2008 – Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County received a $7,000 grant from The UPS Foundation, the charitable arm of UPS (NYSE:UPS). The grant will be used to build simple, decent Habitat homes in Sarpy County.
Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County has built/rehabbed 21 homes so far, and this grant will help the nonprofit continue building Habitat homes in 2008, said Executive Director Margaret Stamp.
“On behalf of Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County, I would like to extend our gratitude to The UPS Foundation for this wonderful blessing of a $7,000 grant,” Stamp said. “This funding will help us build more Habitat homes in Sarpy County that economically disadvantaged families are able to afford.”
Established in 1951 and based in Atlanta, Ga., The UPS Foundation identifies specific areas where its backing clearly impacts social issues. In support of this strategic approach, The UPS Foundation has identified literacy, hunger relief, and volunteerism as its focus areas.
In 2006, the UPS Foundation distributed over $45 million worldwide through grants that benefit organizations.
“Giving back to the communities is an important part of UPS’s nearly 100-year-old culture that’s embraced by our employees through volunteerism, making donations and sharing their unique skill sets,” said Lisa Hamilton, president of The UPS Foundation. “Together with nonprofit partners such as Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County we work to make a positive impact on the lives of people in need.”

Affordability of Housing in Sarpy County
  In Sarpy County, the Fair Market Rent (FMR) for a two-bedroom apartment is $682 . In order to afford this level of rent and utilities, without paying more than 30% of income on housing, a household must earn $27,280 annually. Assuming a 40-hour work week, 52 weeks per year, this level of income translates into a Housing Wage of $13.12.
  In Sarpy County, a minimum wage worker earns an hourly wage of $5.15. In order to afford the FMR for a two-bedroom apartment, a minimum wage earner must work 102 hours per week, 52 weeks per year. Or, a household must include 2.5 minimum wage earner(s) working 40 hours per week year-round in order to make the two bedroom FMR affordable.
  In Sarpy County, the estimated mean (average) wage for a renter is $9.90 an hour. In order to afford the FMR for a two-bedroom apartment at this wage, a renter must work 53 hours per week, 52 weeks per year. Or, working 40 hours per week year-round, a household must include 1.3 worker(s) earning the mean renter wage in order to make the two-bedroom FMR affordable.
  Monthly Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments for an individual are $603 in Sarpy County. If SSI represents an individual's sole source of income, $181 in monthly rent is affordable, while the FMR for a one-bedroom is $547 .
  A unit is considered affordable if it costs no more than 30% of the renter's income.
Source: National economically disadvantaged Housing Coalition, Dec. 2007

The Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County elected John “Mac” McLean Tuesday evening as its new president.
McLean, 60, is a retired Air Force Colonel whose career accomplishments include serving as vice commander of the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base. He is currently the Executive Director of the Strategic Air & Space Museum in Ashland. “Habitat for Humanity is a terrific organization whose focus is to provide quality housing for those in need,” McLean said. “The Sarpy County affiliate for Habitat has done a terrific job in growing to try and meet the needs in the Sarpy and Cass county area and I am excited to have the opportunity to help the Habitat team continue its wonderful work.“ Sarpy Habitat Executive Director Margaret Stamp said she looks forward to the leadership and experience that McLean will bring to the Board of Directors. “Mac McLean understands the mission of Habitat for Humanity, and he will use his talents and experience to continue moving that mission forward,” Stamp said.
McLean replaces former President Ivna Johnson who resigned from the post in April, but continues to volunteer with the nonprofit. Sarpy Habitat Vice President John Taylor has been serving as acting president in the interim. Oct 07

John Taylor, Vice President of Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County, has been awarded the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Nebraska Region Volunteer Excellence Award in the Retiree category. For more information. Sept. 07

The Metropolitan Utilities District (M.U.D.) is helping a Hurricane Katrina family get a fresh start in a High-Efficiency Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County home. For more information.

Thank you to Dodge Cares, Inc. for donation $3,116 on May 1, 07 to Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County. The money was donated through a project called “Creating Hope from the Ground Up. The project raised funds for 15 local nonprofits. Special thanks two home builders, Brau Builders, Inc. and Jordan Michael Signature Homes. These builders each built a home, and the net proceeds from the sales of the homes were equally divided among the 15 charities.

Wells Fargo Bank presented Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County with a donation of $20,000 on April 10, 2007. The check was presented to the Board of Directors by Pam Bails, a Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Consultant and a member of the Sarpy Habitat Board. This donation was made through the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation. The foundation contributes financial support to nonprofit housing organizations when Wells Fargo employees volunteer to help renovate or build a home for a economically disadvantaged family.

Congratulations! Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County's 2007 Volunteers of the Year are Carol Tesk, Family Support Chair, & Kris Richt, Family Selection Chair. Carol and Kris were chosen because of their instrumental leadership and dedication to the mission of Habitat for Humanity. Thank you Carol and Kris for all you do!

Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County wants to work with churches throughout Sarpy County! There are several ways that we can work together to provide homes that economically disadvantaged families can afford. Check out how this can happen.

The Disaster Corps program aims to provide increased support for disaster-affected HFH Gulf Coast affiliates through engaging members of the Baby Boomer generation as volunteers. Following a 2-week intensive training in disaster response, Disaster Corps volunteers will commit to a service period of 2 to 4 weeks with a disaster-affected Gulf Coast affiliate.
Future Institute trainings:
 - January 8-19, Phoenix, AZ
 - February 5-16, Las Vegas, NV
View the fact sheet & the flyer with contact information. This requires Acrobat® Reader®.

Thank you for your outstanding support. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, a partner with Habitat for Humanity, announced the awarding of grants for two houses to be built in Sarpy County in 2007. This is the second year that the Sarpy affiliate has been awarded the Thrivent Builds Homes grants which provide economically disadvantaged families with affordable housing. This brings the total to four homes that have been built for deserving families in our community. With these grants, Thrivent Financial provides 70% of the funding, Lutheran churches in Sarpy County provide 10% and the Habitat affiliate provides the final 20%.

"Creating Hope from the Ground Up" is a project by Dodge Cares, Inc. to raise funds for 15 local nonprofits, including Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County! This project involves two home builders, Brau Builders, Inc. and Jordan Michael Signature Homes. These builders each built a home, and the net proceeds from the sales of the homes will be equally divided among the 15 charities, thanks to Dodge Cares, Inc. The homes are located in the Copperfield Subdivision in Omaha, at 3840 S. HWS Cleveland Blvd. and 3834 S HWS Cleveland Blvd. The homes will be available for public tours on Oct. 25th from noon to 3 p.m.

The home located at 3840 S HWS Cleveland Blvd. was built by Brau Builders. It has four bedrooms, four baths, a kitchen with glazed maple cabinets and a huge walk-in pantry. Convenient back staircase, large mud-laundry room. Private tours may also be arranged by calling Jeff Ransch at 391-5333

The home located 2834 S HWS Cleveland Blvd. was built by Jordan Michael Signature Homes. It has four bedrooms, four baths, and three-car garage. It has a 2-story great room. Includes a whirlpool and veranda in sitting room. Granite kitchen with stainless appliances and walk-in pantry. Private tours may be arranged by calling Dirk Blume at 672-0391.

Dodge Cares, Inc. is a 501 c3 tax exempt charitable organization that was incorporated in

October of 2002. Dodge Cares solicits, collects and distributes tax-deductible contributions form NP Dodge sales associates and employees as well as the general public. NP Dodge Company matches the contributions of its sales associates and employees to Dodge Cares up to $250 per year per person to approved charities.
 

Habitat for Humanity’s Youth Programs department is looking for photos of youth involvement in Habitat for Humanity – both on and off the work. This contest is open to all young people between the ages of 18 and 25. For more information.