Sen. Eliot Bostar awarded Housing Champion Award for legislation

Habitat for Humanity Nebraska affiliates, their housing partners and state senators joined forces to advocate for homeownership Thursday, March 27, in the Nebraska State Capitol Rotunda. Participating affiliates included Omaha, Lincoln, Fremont, Columbus, Grand Island, Hastings, and North Platte.

The Homeownership Matters rally highlighted the importance of statewide initiatives focused on rural and urban affordable housing and the profound impact homeownership can have on individuals and communities.

Speaker of the Legislature John Arch talks about the importance of homeownership during a rally in the Capitol Rotunda.

“We know the benefits of homeownership as it relates to mental and physical health, to all those things that are tied to having a community and to having social interaction,” Speaker of the Legislature Sen. John Arch said. “For that reason, I stand here, and I advocate we as a society, as a state, need to focus on helping people get into homes so that those roots can be put down. Community can be built, and society can benefit from that.”

Hunter Traynor, executive vice president of legislation and policy at the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce, noted that affordable housing is needed to help the state grow through economic development.

“There are 50,0000 unfilled jobs in Nebraska,” he said. “Looking out over the next 10 to 20 years, growing Nebraska’s workforce will be essential to the mission of growing Nebraska. The most important factor we hear from businesses about growing their workforce is affordable and accessible housing.”

Autumn Mayfield understands the importance of owning a home. In 2018, the Blair resident purchased her first home in partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Omaha.

“It gave me a deep sense of peace and security, knowing I could provide my children with the comfort and reassurance of a place they could always call home,” she said.

Preserving the state’s current housing stock is also critical. Mitzi Johnson, an Omaha homeowner, was concerned she could not keep her 1899 home—which had belonged to her grandparents—because it needed repairs. Funding from Front Porch Investments through their Greenlining fund allowed Johnson and her husband to make the improvements, including a new front porch and a renovated kitchen.

OPPD CEO Javier Fernandez, right, presents Sen. Eliot Bostar with the 2025 Housing Champion Award.

“Our story is a testament to the resilience and determination that homeownership can inspire despite the challenges posed by historical injustices and financial constraints. We persevered, driven by the desire to preserve our family’s legacy and create a nurturing environment.

“This tenacity is mirrored in countless families who strive to overcome obstacles and achieve their dreams of homeownership,” Johnson added. “This significance of inclusive policies and programs that empower individuals and communities cannot be overstated.”

Habitat Nebraska affiliates also presented Sen. Eliot Bostar of Lincoln with a Housing Champion Award for his work on a bill passed during the 2024 legislative session that allows homeowners who have a declarative long-term affordability covenant to pay property taxes on the lower of the resale value or the assessor’s valuation. The award recognizes outstanding individuals, organizations or entities that have significantly contributed to improving homeownership opportunities in Nebraska.