Omaha nonprofit helps repair homes for low-income seniors

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Some homes in North Omaha are in need of significant repairs, but those can be hard to do when you are tight on money or are getting older.

That’s where Project Houseworks steps in to help with their ‘Aging in Place’ program. It helps low income seniors fix up their homes for free.

On Monday, work was underway to repair an elderly Omaha woman’s home -- a free service she never imagined she would get. Delcenne Wommack-Brown has lived in her home for 35 years, and her kitchen and bathroom are in need of repairs.

“Me being on a fixed income and my husband not being here anymore, I can’t afford that,” Brown said. “Putting in systems and all that kind of stuff you don’t have money for that. I just had to put in a water heater.”

A couple of years ago, Brown learned about the Aging in Place program. Since then, it’s helped turn her house around. Hailey Ghumm with the program told 6 News that’s their goal.

“To help them age in place to stay in their homes as long as possible,” Ghumm said. “Affordable housing is just unattainable right now so keeping them in their homes longer just helps with the housing crisis.”

In 2023, the program helped repair 179 homes with the help of state and city funding. The nonprofit recently received over $1 million from the city of Omaha to help continue its work.

“Our waitlist is about six months long and it’s never ending,” Ghumm said. “I think the need is rising with the cost of inflation going up.”

Brown believes the waitlist shouldn’t discourage anyone in need of housing help to call.

“They’ve helped me a lot,” Brown said.

To qualify for the program you must be over the age of 60 and have a fixed income. For more information click here.

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