Talk of the block

Saturday, Oct. 19, marked a milestone for neighborhood revitalization in Omaha. Habitat for Humanity of Omaha staff gathered with hundreds of volunteers, community partners and Deer Park Neighborhood residents to improve the safety, appearance and value of more than 20 homes along 12th Street between Franklin and Bancroft streets. This community effort marks Habitat for Humanity of Omaha’s third and final Rock the Block of the year.

Deer Park holds special meaning for Habitat Omaha as our first neighborhood revitalization partner. Since 2011, we’ve worked together with the neighborhood to:

• Demolish vacant, condemned houses
• Build, renovate and sell Habitat Omaha homes to first-time homeowners
• Make repairs to owner-occupied homes

It’s been inspiring to support this historic Omaha neighborhood as it increases neighborhood association membership, strengthens relationships with community partners, and tackles concerns, like graffiti, head on. Habitat Omaha is also coordinating light-touch renovations on 11 homes in the neighborhood, which will be sold at an affordable cost through our Homeownership Program, as part of our affordable housing partnership with the Omaha Housing Authority.

There’s no doubt Deer Park residents are making significant strides to achieve their hopes and dreams for their neighborhood. And the results are helping create an Omaha where more families will thrive today and into the future. We’re grateful to be part of a community committed to supporting stronger neighborhoods.