NeighborWorks' goal remains to help families buy a home

by Jody Carlson

For the past 16 years NeighborWorks Northeast Nebraska has provided assistance to more than 474 families who wanted to purchase a home of their own.

NeighborWorks has two main housing assistance programs.  Through the New Construction Program, new homes are built and sold to low-to moderate-income households with up to $25,000 in down-payment assistance.

The Purchase/Rehab/Resell program provides rehabilitation to existing homes, making sure that they are safe and energy efficient for the families.

NeighborWorks then provides up to $20,000 in down-payment assistance to these families, which reduces the amount they need to borrow and keeps their payments more affordable.

During 2010, NeighborWorks helped 10 families purchase new homes and 42 families purchase existing homes.  Even with the tough economy, this was a record-breaking year for NeighborWorks Northeast Nebraska.

Homebuyer education is also provided monthly in both English and Spanish to anyone who wants to learn more about the home-buying process.  More than 150 families were educated this past year.

But you might ask, "If I'm not thinking of purchasing a home or can't qualify for the assistance, how does this affect me?"

The programs offered by NeighborWorks Northeast Nebraska not only benefit the families purchasing the homes they also provide many economic benefits to the communities in the NeighborWorks' nine-county service area of Antelope, Boone, Colfax, Cuming, Madison, Pierce, Platte, Stanton, and Wayne.

Local contractors are employed to build the newly constructed homes and provide repairs to the rehabilitated homes.  The materials to build and repair the homes are purchased locally whereby stimulating the local economy.  The property values are improved thus creating more tax dollars available to help keep the local communities going.  Overall during 2010, the total economic impact to the counties served was in excess of $13 million.

The economic benefits of these programs are felt throughtout the communities, counties and entire state of Nebraska.

More information about the programs and services provided by NeighborWorks Northeast Nebraska can be obtained by contacting either the Norfolk or Columbus office. Contact information is available at www.nwnen.org.

 

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Article published on Mar 21, 2011