OHA WANTS GRANTS FOR TENANT GROUPS

The Omaha Housing Authority wants to award minigrants to low-income resident
groups that organize drug- and crime-fighting activities in their back yards.

Up to $2,000 would go to OHA tenant associations that develop ways to
enhance public safety and quality of life in their neighborhoods. In all,
$30,000 would be available for the minigrant program.

The new initiative is but one element of a $704,080 grant the OHA is hoping
to secure to fight drugs and crime in public housing in 2000 and 2001. The
grant proposal was approved Thursday by the OHA board.

So-called drug-elimination grants are awarded annually by the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development and are expected to stretch over
a two-year period. Agencies compete for the federal funds.

The OHA has received drug-elimination funds since at least 1990. Much of the
funding has paid for recreation and anti-drug and crime programs based at
the LaFern Williams Center. In recent years, more focus has been placed on
security systems and guards at high-rise towers and family housing projects.

Dave O'Denius, OHA development director, said the new minigrant program was
modeled after a similar initiative in Omaha's weed-and-seed strategy.

Included in the $704,080 grant proposal is $300,000 to pay for security
officers who would monitor activity in family housing projects and high-rise
buildings.

Other programs to be paid for with the grant:

$148,960 to pay two years of salary and benefits for a recreation manager
and recreation supervisor.

$54,262 for transporting adult residents to and from job-training programs,
interviews and work. An additional $20,000 for youth-related transportation
costs.

$20,000 to install more lights around public housing projects.

$10,500 in training expenses for drug-elimination program staff and OHA
residents.

$10,000 for the Center Stage theater program.

$10,000 for the youth leadership program.

$7,680 to hire two college-enrolled OHA residents to assist with summer
youth activities at the LaFern Williams Center.