Key to Fremont

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Fremont Housing Agency has provided affordable housing to the Fremont area since 1972 with the construction of the Gifford Tower highrise apartment building at 2510 N. Clarkson St. Many will remember when public housing was limited to serving the elderly and disabled, but over the past 20 years, the mission of the Fremont Housing Agency has changed to provide affordable housing to anyone over the age of 19 who meets the screening criteria.

Stanton Tower was constructed at 2600 N. Clarkson St. in 1982 and currently is designated only for those older than 62. Stanton Tower features a new kitchen which provides a noon meal to residents at a low cost. Full-course meals are served Monday through Friday in the recently redecorated congregate dining room. Deli-style meals are prepared on weekends.

Handicapped accessibility has become a major feature as FHA continues to serve more clients who are confined to wheelchairs or power carts. Gifford Tower has three recently remodeled apartments that are fully handicapped accessible. In addition to all the entrances being handicapped accessible, the dining room tables are adjustable to allow for larger carts to move under while dining.

The housing agency boasts “going green” with energy conservation efforts made to common areas and residential units. New windows that qualify under the Energy Star program give Stanton Tower a modem facade. Additionally, lighting has been converted to energy saving fluorescent fixtures, and old appliances have been replaced with Energy Star rated appliances.

The housing agency is governed by a Board of Commissioners led by a number of area business men and women interested in providing decent, safe and sanitary housing to benefit low to moderate income elderly, disabled and handicapped persons and small families. Current board members are Don Gifford, Gene Martin, Darlene Saeger, Skip Sawyer, Stanford Darling and Dean Johnson. Applications are being taken for the resident commissioner position. Commissioner appointments are recommended by the mayor and approved by the city council for a staggered five-year term. Sue Kleider serves as executive director with 20 years experience in public housing management. A full maintenance and janitorial staff sees to nearly every repair need a resident may encounter.

The Fremont Housing Agency offers area families affordable housing through the Housing Choice Voucher program and an additional portfolio management of 64 units of Tax Credit Affordable Housing for seniors 62 and older located on the west edge of Fremont across from the Fremont Golf Club.

The Fremont Housing Agency is scored through HUD’s PHAS (Public Housing Assessment System) in the areas of financial management, property management, REAC inspections and resident satisfaction and has been classified as a high performer the past six years, which qualifies FHA for additional capital funds in which the tenants, board of commissioners and executive director are involved and working together to produce an annual and five-year agency plan for modernization and renovation of apartments, facilities and mechanical systems.

Capital fund recent purchases include new window treatments, carpeting, paint and furniture to refurbish the common areas, hallways and most residential units with some receiving new kitchen cabinets.

In order to qualify for either tower, a person must be elderly, disabled or handicapped and/or qualify as an individual 19 or older or a small family - one or two in the household. Occupancy Standards decide the number of persons allowed in one- and two-bedroom units, therefore, in times of high vacancy rates, eligible small families may occupy a one-bedroom unit.

In order to qualify financially, an applicant’s gross yearly income cannot exceed established income limits set by HUD. Rent is always based on HUD’s formula, a percentage of the adjusted income.

The Fremont Housing Agency has an open wait list and continues to take applications for all programs.

Fremont Housing Agency is the General partner and management agent/owner of Somers Point I and II, offering affordable housing in 64 townhouse-style homes located on the west edge of Fremont near the Fremont Golf Club. This program serves eligible citizens 62 years and older who qualify according to the area median incomes established by NIFA. Somers Point I opened in June of 2000 and Somers Point II in October 2003.

All FHA facilities have been smoke free since 2006.

It is the mission of Fremont Housing Authority to pursue new and creative ways to continue to meet the changing needs of the populations of Dodge County and Fremont:

Promoting affordable, decent, safe and sanitary housing for all residents.
Treating residents with kindness, consideration, dignity and respect.
Expanding housing opportunities for all residents of Fremont and surrounding communities.
Enhancing existing housing programs through the provision of support services;
Improving the overall quality of life in agency developments.
Encouraging and developing the empowerment of residents.
Providing residents with comfort and a place to call “home”.
Applying Fair Housing practices with all applicants and residents.

Information from Nebraska Department of Economic Development and Nebraska Public Power District show:

Number of single units built in past two years: 111.
Number of multiple units built in past two years: 155.
Average cost per square foot of single units built in past two years: $110.
Average monthly rental for a three-bedroom house: $715.
Average monthly rental for a two-bedroom apartment: $500.
Average cost of houses sold in the past two years: $105,000.
The median selling price for a house in Fremont ($105,000) is less expensive than the median in either Omaha ($121,540) or the U.S. ($132,870).

Fremont Area Habitat for Humanity volunteers will build the organization’s 50th home in 2009. Since 1993 Habitat has built homes for low-income families in the Fremont area. The local organization plans to build five more homes this year.

The international Habitat program builds homes with partner families and provides families with interest-free mortgages. A selection committee selects partner families based on established criteria. The homes are built with donations of labor, funds and materials. Karen Melang is executive director of the Fremont Area Habitat for Humanity Affiliate, P.O. Box 932; 721-8771. The office is located at 605 N. Broad St. E-mail: habitatfre@aol.com.

Jefferson House, an emergency youth shelter located at 437 N. Jefferson Road, has helped more than 900 children since it’s opening in southwest Fremont on Feb. 1, 1999.

The shelter, which was expanded in the past year, is licensed to house up to 12 children from infants to age 18 for up to 30 days. It gives child protective service workers a chance to locate a more permanent place, such as foster homes or a relative with whom the child can live.

The shelter is staffed 24 hours a day with operations overseen by a volunteer board of directors.

Jefferson House is operated by Heartland Family Services.

Fremont’s Care Corps homeless shelter moved into its current facility in 2007. Care Corps operates 24 hours a day in downtown at 723 N. Broad St. The shelter has a dayroom, kitchen, staff offices and rooms for individuals and families.

Care Corps Homeless Services’ program is designed to address the underlying causes of homelessness so children and families in the greater Fremont area can live healthy lives.

Programs offered include: prevention program, shelter program, case management, healthcare assistance, professional counseling, life skills education, aftercare and transitional housing.

The shelter depends heavily on volunteers and private donations.

Kathleen Theis is executive director. For more information, call 721-3125, or visit their Web site, www.care-corps.org.