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City seeks $1.4M older-adult home-modification grant to help seniors age in place
Summary
City planning staff described a proposed FY24 Older Adult Home Modification Grant that would bring approximately $1.4 million to Omaha to fund accessibility and fall-prevention work in homes, with up to $5,000 per unit and an anticipated 120 units served over three years.
City planning staff briefed the Omaha City Council on March 4 about a proposed FY24 Older Adult Home Modification Grant that would fund home modifications to help older residents remain in their homes and reduce falls and institutional care.
Steve Zivney of the Planning Department said the program targets residents aged 62 and older with household incomes at or below 80% of area median income. The proposed grant totals approximately $1,400,000 and includes administrative and assessment costs; staff said the program would invest up to $5,000 per unit for modifications such as grab bars, safer showers, ADA-height toilets, ramps or lifts, improved lighting and other fall-prevention measures. The program anticipates funding about 120 units over three years and will use occupational therapists to assess individual needs and scope work.
Zivney said the program is intended to let older residents age in place rather than move to assisted living or nursing facilities. He described potential partnerships with community organizations such as visiting nurses and local stakeholders to help with outreach and to manage the program’s intake and implementation.
Councilmember Rowe asked about the grant amount and per-unit breakdown. Zivney explained that the difference between the total grant and the per-unit allocation covers program administration, occupational-therapy assessments before and after work, contractor management and outreach/marketing for a new program.
When Council members asked about HUD funding stability, Zivney said negotiations and paperwork are underway with HUD and other grantees, that the immediate funding round was progressing and that program administrators were proceeding cautiously given broader federal budget uncertainty. He said the city expects to sign documentation once local ordinances and procedural steps are completed.
The item was presented at a public hearing for council review; council action on formal acceptance or appropriation of the grant was not recorded in the meeting transcript as taking place at this session.
