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*There are 1,053 people in emergency and transitional shelters.

*There are 1,017 people in no institutional group quarters.

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Douglas County, Nebraska detailed profile - houses, real estate, cost of living, wages, work, agriculture, ancestries, and more

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Douglas County, Nebraska (NE) Detailed Profile

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THE NUMBER OF VACANT AND ABANDONED HOUSES 

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THE NUMBER OF VACANT AND ABANDONED HOUSES 

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https://planninghcd.cityofomaha.org

*There are 300 abandoned and vacant houses.

*So far, 191 properties owned by different banks and 80 others identified as problematic through complaints are registered with the city and required to pay $500 every 50 days, as part of the new abandoned and vacant property ordinance in effect since late November.

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Omaha's ordinance aimed at cracking down on problem properties has been in effect for six months.

The coauthors of the ordinance said it's been effective so far.
[Video: Coauthors of 'problem properties' ordinance say it's been effective so far]
Owners of vacant houses are registering their properties and getting fined until they fix the problems.

Omaha City Council President Ben Gray said neglected properties are a disgrace to good neighborhoods.

"We've got to be more aggressive with property owners and especially banks that have foreclosed on properties like this one," Gray said.

So far, 191 properties owned by different banks and 80 others identified as problematic through complaints are registered with the city and required to pay $500 every 50 days, as part of the new abandoned and vacant property ordinance in effect since late November.

If the overgrowth, crumbling structure or other safety concerns aren't resolved, those properties could be demolished eventually.

"Those are the ones we have to monitor, and the time's going to come when we're going to have to tear them down and sadly, that's what will happen," says Jay Davis, Omaha's Superintendent of Permits and Inspections.

Davis said the new ordinance is forcing negligent owners to care, but John Chatelain, with the Metropolitan Omaha Property Owners Association, said city leaders are trying to control what's not theirs and hurting neighborhoods.

"Why haven't investors purchased these homes? The answer is there's too much government bureaucracy, too much government meddling in those houses already," Chatelain said.

Chatelain told KETV NewsWatch the City of Omaha should already be able to hold property owners accountable with previous ordinances, and not have to add additional regulations and restrictions.

But city leaders argued previous ordinances were not effective because they did not have enough "teeth."

"It's going to be a little bit of a slow and tedious process, but if you don't start somewhere, you won't ever get this done," Gray said.

The city handles problem properties based on complaints. Those having issues with a property not being maintained should call the Mayor's Hotline or the city planning department.

The city handles these problem properties based on complaints, so if you're having issues with a property that's not being maintained, call the Mayor's Hotline at 402-444-5555 or email hotline@ci.omaha.ne.us.

Here is the full City of Omaha Abandoned and Vacant Properties Ordinance: http://planninghcd.cityofomaha.org/images/ORD_40565_AbdVacProp.pdf.

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Nearly 300 abandoned, vacant properties registered through new ordinance

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Omaha's ordinance aimed at cracking down on problem properties has been in effect for six months. The coauthors of the ordinance said it's been effective so far. [Video: Coauthors of 'problem properties' ordinance say it's been effective so far] Owners of vacant houses are registering their properties and getting fined until they fix the problems. Omaha City Council President Ben Gray said neglected properties are a disgrace to good neighborhoods.

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*There are 20,000 homeless people in Nebraska

*There are 2,000 homeless people in Omaha

*The average age of a homeless person is 9 years old.

*3.5 million people are homeless every night.

*1.35 million are children.

*23% of homeless people is families with children.

*50% of all homeless woman and kids are fleeing from domestic violence.

*40% of homeless men served in the armed forces compared to the 34% in the general population.

*16% of homeless adults suffer from severe and persistent mental illness.

*30% of homeless single adults suffer from substance abuse and addiction.

*Up to 25% of urban homeless population is employed.

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*Public housing had a median wait time of 9 months. 25% of housing had a wait time of 1.5 years
*Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) had a median wait time of 3 years. 25% had a wait time of at least 7 years

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The National Low Income Housing Coalition is dedicated solely to achieving socially just public policy that assures people with the lowest incomes in the United States have affordable and decent homes. Learn more "