Availability, cost...key concerns in Beatrice area housing

BEATRICE – Finding housing….being able to afford it…and overcoming barriers to finding a home were topics covered during a discussion at the Beatrice Public Library Tuesday.

Whether it’s serving the homeless, helping immigrant families navigate the details of finding housing…or simply demand and supply…it can be difficult. Lynn Remmers, Executive Director of the Beatrice Housing Agency says there is a lack of rental housing in Beatrice.  "The biggest barrier we have in Beatrice is a lack of decent, sanitary and safe housing. I don't know how to fix it. I'm hoping that the agency itself can find new landlords that want to participate. It is the landlord's property and the landlord does have the right to check on their properties to see what's going on. They should...whether I'm renting it or someone on housing is renting it. It's important for landlords to change the furnace filters,...check on their properties. A lot of them do, but a lot of them don't."

Local realtor, Krista Wiedel says there is a shortage of homes for sale…..about 14 in Beatrice as of Tuesday…..most for over $200,000. That’s well beyond the reach of many whose income limits them… or who may be homeless.

Whitney Antons works with homeless youth as part of Central Plains Center for Services. "Central Plains, along with the Housing Authority and Blue Valley Community Action, we all take part in a youth homelessness demonstration project...that helps youth get on this one coordinated entry system so that agencies statewide can assist in trying to help these youth. The biggest barrier we're facing within this community is there's no housing. And if there is, there's landlords that have come in and raised the rent, astronomically. And, there's no way any of these programs that are here to help people find housing....they can't afford it."

Attendees heard about a shelter that grew out of a pastoral group in Fremont, refurbishing an old hotel into a handful of beds for the homeless. Executive Director of Care Corps Lifehouse, Julie Sleister says through the collaboration and compassion of many churches, community groups, agencies and non-profits, they how have built a new shelter with 60 beds to help those transitioning in life.

"Our partnership offers us the unique capability to offer broader, more continual services for households making the journey out of poverty. We can ensure more sustainable results for the future, for those we serve. Today, our emergency shelter is a 24-hour a day, 62-bed facility, providing a safe, and secure environment for those who are homeless. While meeting basic needs, we are working to empower individuals and families....so homelessness is a rare, brief...one-time occurrence."

Sleister said people in need of shelter can come from all walks of life and need compassion and support without judgment.

Part of the meeting at the public library involved a panel discussion moderated by Beatrice Mayor Bob Morgan, discussing the barriers to housing in Beatrice.