Notre Dame Housing Annual Report 2021-2022

Annual Report

July 1, 2021- June 30, 2022

Board of Directors

President of the Board Letter from

It is incredible to look back and see what has changed in this past year. In July of 2021, we were just beginning to reopen the senior center after the pandemic restrictions kept residents separated. New staff hit the ground running and hot lunches, programs, and excursions were available like before. It wasn’t long before participation in these programs began to reach new highs. In July, participation in programming began at 76 participants per month. Now, 300-400 seniors participate in programs each month.

This past year has also brought along a housing crisis, with rent being an average of $950 a month. Many people, especially seniors, cannot afford that. In fact, there is a need of 80,000 affordable units to meet the demand.

It is difficult for anyone to find an affordable home, with the City Council noting that there is a gap, and Omaha is 10,000 homes behind what residents need. Additionally, the homeless shelters are full. Omaha’s Salvation Army reported a waiting list of 100+ people for homeless housing.

When a senior is able to move into Notre Dame Housing, housing opens up for others. If this resident was a homeowner, his or her home can go on the market for someone who needs one.

Similarly, if they were formerly homeless, a bed at a shelter opens up.

Finding a long-term home for a senior impacts the entire community. Overall success for the community comes when people are able to age in place longer. Residents at NDH spend 15 times less, on average, than someone at an Assisted Living facility. Residents who live long-term at NDH have a home within a community of 125 neighbors, on-site programming, service coordination, hair care, exercise equipment, a hot lunch, and transportation opportunities to stores and on excursions.

The needs of seniors are changing, and we try to constantly understand what those needs are. When residents talk, we listen. We opened a hair salon so residents do not need to make appointments off campus to have their hair cut and cared for. This is crucial in inclement weather or for those with mobility issues and lack of transportation. Additionally, we are on track to open the new Enrichment Center soon. Last year we had the drawings finalized and are excited about what is to come. This new space will allow residents to enjoy more programs, as we will be able to offer different programs at once.

I am honored to see how many people on staff, volunteers, residents, programming partners, and donors have come together to keep NDH uniquely at the forefront of serving low-income seniors in Omaha. I look forward to seeing what the next 25 years brings.

Sincerely,

Scott Bear, President of the Board of Directors

Mission

To provide service-enriched affordable housing, fostering independence and dignity.

Vision

To create a community that provides older adults with the resources to maintain a safe, comfortable and self-sufficient lifestyle.

Purpose

To provide service-enriched affordable housing to low-to-moderate income seniors.

Corporate, foundation, institution, & individual support

NDH is thankful to our generous donors who make an impact in the lives of seniors.

Amy L. Scott Family Foundation

Creighton Social Work Practicum students serve residents while learning on the job

Angel is a Creighton University senior studying toward her bachelor’s degree in Social Work. She is spending a semester at Notre Dame Housing to obtain more experience serving and cultivating genuine relationships with older adults in the Omaha community.

Angel is a Division I Women’s rowing team member at Creighton, where she has been elected as Captain this upcoming year. Angel has also worked as a Caregiver through Visiting Angels, where she adopted her adoration for working with older adults. Angel believes there’s no courage without vulnerability; it is a sliding scale of “dare greatly.”

Angel is originally from Lake in the Hills, Illinois, and is currently living in Omaha with a fellow student-athlete from Australia. She enjoys trying new recipes, attending local farmer’s markets, and live music in her free time.

Mandy Zueger graduated from Creighton in May with her Bachelor of Psychology and Bachelor of Social Work and completed her practicum at NDH during her final semester.

Mandy has 5 years of volunteer experience serving older adults in facilities such as Endless Journey Hospice, Grief’s Journey, Sommern Glenn, and the Intercultural Senior Center. Mandy believes in positive energy and communication, building strong relationships, and making every moment count!

Mandy is originally from Littleton, Colorado. She currently lives in Omaha with 4 college roommates. She enjoys spending time with Miso, her bunny who is training to be a pet therapy animal. Mandy also enjoys spending time with friends, learning to play the ukulele, and tasting the delicious food of Omaha.

Highlightsofthe year 1

Programming

In the last year we offered 402 programs to residents and local seniors with 3,583 participants total. Some of these programs are offered regularly, like Methodist College’s Mobile Diabetes Clinic, and American National Bank monthly banking services.

We work with The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging to serve nearly 400 hot lunches each month, serving 5,138 total.

We have increased transportation with the NDH van. Residents can go to grocery stores, restaurants, department stores, and more without having to plan how to get there and back.

Life Enrichment Center

The new space has been defined and drawings have been approved. This will include the largest, most modern food pantry area we have ever housed.

Other areas will include medical exam room, a large meeting space for programs and group discussions, and an entertainment area with chairs, couches, TVs, and games. These areas are important to residents because meetings and programs have all been conducted in the senior center, so only one group can meet at a time. Our goal is to keep the space flexible, so it can easily change to meet the needs of the residents over time.

Amazon Wish List

The seniors who live at NDH don’t always have the funds to buy exactly what they want/need. We surveyed residents and made a comprehensive Amazon Wish List. Items for group activities and games are a gift for everyone. We were also able to make a Christmas care package with items for each individual resident, thanks to people utilizing the wish list. Each resident received items like packs of toilet paper, dish soap, lip balm, and more.

In total, 100 items were purchased totaling $2,253.

Food Pantry

We expanded the reach of our food pantry greatly, serving 67,920 pounds of food to nearly 4,000 residents and community members throughout the last fiscal year. This was more than 27,000 additional pounds served from the previous year. We utilized Facebook advertising, print advertising in the Omaha Star, street signage, and targeted display ads on the Internet to attract locals to utilize the pantry.

In-House Salon

We listened to what residents wanted in their community and began building a salon early in 2022. This salon contains a barber’s chair, sink, two salon dryer chairs, and a hair dresser. We thank our The Amy Scott Foundation for donating the funds to make this a reality.

Access to hair care has a direct effect on self-esteem and isolation. If people don’t feel their best, they may not want to go out. Providing this service on-site means that regardless of weather or personal mobility, residents can look their best.

Mother and daughter

Resident fondly remembers living with her mom at NDH

Portia Trulove Simms, Blaze’s mom, lived at NDH for about 10 years. She recruited Blaze to live at NDH to be near her, where they happily resided at NDH for six years together.

Blaze remembers her moms charm and class, and how “proper” she was in any given instance. Their favorite activity together was baking holiday cookies.

Portia was an early bird! She loved waking up in the morning starting the day off right. Portia would often be caught cleaning or helping make coffee early in the morning. Her go-getter attitude is

remembered by many residents at NDH.

Resident Mike Driscoll remembers Portia’s drive to maintain the community room and make a good pot of coffee. He also remembers Portia’s “love for a Whopper.”

Residents remember Portia for her beauty and style.

Even from a young age artists would approach her to ask to make her portrait. “One artist came up to her and asked for her portrait, and she said, ‘Yes! As long as I am fully dressed!’ That portrait then hung in the Joselyn Museum,” Blaze remembered.

For the rest of her life, she was recognized for her inner light that shone brightly.

Excursions

Residents can register for a monthly excursion. Utilizing the NDH van, they can enjoy cultural experiences on top of group shopping trips. This fiscal year, residents enjoyed fishing, a trip to DeSoto Bend, viewing the Sistine Chapel exhibit, the Shriner Circus, a trip to the Durham Museum, a fish fry, and more! These excursions help provide education and engagement, combat isolation, and are simply a source of fun!

Financials

The revenue for Notre Dame Housing (NDH) comes from a variety of sources, such as grants from foundations, individual donations, and for the fiscal year of 2021-2022 a Paycheck Protection Program Loan from the U.S. Department of Treasury. The Notre Dame Sisters made a significant donation ($500,000) to NDH for capital improvements for the property. This donation allowed a high interest loan to be paid off early avoiding incurred interest.

Our efforts to combat isolation, provide safe, affordable housing, address food insecurity, and provide educational programming for our residents and those in the community, are truly making a difference in the lives of those we serve, and our expenses reflect that. Programing continues to remain our main expense. We are proud that we can keep our administrative costs low through our partnerships with DP Management, LLC, and Kimball Management Inc.

INCOME 21-22

$780,641

EXPENSES 21-22

$692,692

Thank you to our generous donors for your support

100% of your donations go towards bridging gaps and providing services and programs like the food pantry, transportation, and so much more

$10,000 AND ABOVE

Amy L. Scott Family Foundation

The Gary and Mary West Foundation

Weitz Family Foundation

$9,999-$5000

Arthur Ostry

James C. Semerad Foundation

$4,999-$2,500

Home Instead Inc.

$2,499-$1000

Sharon and Fred Beschorner

Susan Brown

Molly and Mike McMeekin

Notre Dame Sisters Housing Board Members

$999-$500

American National Bank

Rose and Earl Berkey

Linda and Roger Snodgrass

Katherine Martens-Stricklett and Dustin Stricklett

$499-$100

Jayne Ball

Benevity Community Impact Fund

Catholic Daughters of AmericaCourt of our Lady of Peace 1956

Nancy and David Christy

Margery and Bryant High Horse

John Hiller

Julie and Kevin Kaminski

Sandra and Dan Koch

Donna Limbeck

Julie Radil

Kathleen Smith

Patricia Thompson

Rita Viano

$99 AND UNDER

M. Gregory Burrows

Ana Capek

Ann and Dan Determan

Ronald Foltz

Glori Geu

Terri Godoy

Lakelyn Hogan

Elizabeth Jackson

Lois Jordan

Max Korensky

Marilyn and Kenneth Knox

Jeffrey Kunold

Jeanne Larsen

Patrick Loveless

Mary McKeighan

Rita Melgares

Anne and Matt Medlock

Rev. James Novotny

Phyllis Peterson

Delores Ebel and Gerald Rathouz

Sr. Monica Marie Reichmuth, RSM

Jean Reiner

Alan Telecky

Catherine Tierney

Angel Mae and Rob Thomas

Agnes Tucker

Patricia and Mark Wangler

Stacy and Jeff Watson

IN-KIND DONATIONS

Tracy and Kenneth Cook

Anne and Daniel Determan

Lois Jordan

Julie and Kevin Kaminski

Molly Mullen and George Hatcher

Diane and Randy Shada

Jennie Shiley

107 NDH has a total of

apartment units which are consistently occupied by more than 125 people.

VISIT US: 3439 State St, Omaha, NE 68112

CALL US: (402) 451-4477

DONATE: www.notredamehousing.org

FOLLOW US: @ndhousinginc on Facebook & Twitter