OMAHA — Mercy Housing Midwest (MHMW) is pleased to announce it was recently awarded a $15,000 grant from United Way of the Midlands. Thanks to the generosity of the United Way of Midlands’ donors, Mercy Housing Midwest will be able to provide onsite resident services at two multifamily affordable housing communities in Omaha and La Vista, Nebraska, helping to secure housing and financial stability for residents.

The MHMW Resident Services Program is a two-generation approach to breaking the cycle of poverty. These programs serve individuals and families living at Timbercreek Apartments and Crestview Village, with a goal of helping residents become stable in housing and finances, perform better in school, improve their health and community. Mercy Housing residents in Omaha have a median household income of $12,192, less than 25% of the regional household income (American Community Survey). A report by the Nebraska Legislator’s Intergenerational Poverty Task Force states that programming addressing the needs of youth along with their adult family members is needed to interrupt generations of poverty. Poverty may affect families for at least three generations and can continue without intervention. While adult family members are participating in resident services programming or maintaining a job, youth are participating in out-of-school time programs. Children struggle to thrive in homes where parents are not financially stable.

With this grant, MHMW can offer ongoing financial stability programs, focused on financial literacy, budgeting support, employment skill-building, financial workshops, and goal setting. Also, we can provide youth education services offering homework help, and skill-building opportunities in leadership, community service, anti-bullying, literacy, arts, science, and finances. Our housing stability programs focus on lease education and rental assistance referrals, helping residents build education relating to eviction-prevention and rent planning to help them remain housed and support their families.

A resident who is a domestic violence survivor has lived in a MHMW community for 10 years. Over the past year, she has participated in over 83 services through these programs, including many community service and volunteer activities at the property, such as helping with the summer lunch program for youth. She now has a full-time job and regularly volunteers in the community. She said that without MHMW’s Resident Services Program, she probably wouldn’t have made it through the trying times to be where she is today.

“United Way of the Midland’s support for this program is greatly appreciated by Mercy Housing Midwest and many lives will change in a positive way, thanks to all who made a contribution” — Shelly Voss, Resident Services Manager, Mercy Housing Midwest.

About United Way of the Midlands

Thanks to donors, volunteers and community partners, United Way of the Midlands (UWM) is not only focused on addressing our community’s human needs today; it is focused on what can be and what should be. It is building on today’s strong partnerships to create even more comprehensive human service efforts tomorrow, so our community can solve some of the root causes of poverty. UWM is community-based, community-focused. Thanks to those who share their strength, UWM is COMMUNITY STRONG. Please visit UnitedWayMidlands.org for more information.

About Mercy Housing Midwest

Mercy Housing Midwest (MHMW) creates stable, vibrant, and healthy communities in the Midwest by financing and operating affordable, program-enriched housing for families, seniors, and people with special needs who lack the economic resources to access quality, safe housing opportunities. The foundation of stable, affordable housing at MHMW is supplemented with no-cost resident services to help residents become stable in housing and finances, perform better in school, and value health and community. Please visit mercyhousing.org/mountain-plains/#midwest for more information.