Family Housing Advisory Services, Inc. was chartered as a non-profit
corporation by the State of Nebraska in 1968 as the Urban League Housing
Foundation, Inc. FHAS was founded to improve opportunities for
low-income families to purchase homes in Omaha. During 1971, the
Articles of Incorporation were amended to permit the purchase and
rehabilitation of housing, and resale or rental, as appropriate. The
Articles also permitted FHAS to provide continued social services to
assist low-income purchasers to achieve and sustain homeownership, and
to enter into other activities which assist in stabilizing neighborhoods
where rehabilitated housing is located. It was also during this time
that the Urban League Housing Foundation, Inc. became the Urban Housing
Foundation, Inc.
The work experience of conducting a rehabilitation program centered
on the resale of rehabilitated dwellings to low-income purchasers had
rapidly illustrated the parallel need to "rehabilitate" the families as
well, since the socioeconomic problems many face do not end with the
purchase of a new home. FHAS applied for and received certification as a
Comprehensive Housing Counseling Agency from the Department of Housing
and Urban Development (HUD) on April 14, 1970. This certification
increased FHAS’s ability to offer potential low and middle- income
purchasers consumer information and assistance with home management,
maintenance, budget and debt management following occupancy of their new
home.
In early 1973, FHAS phased-out the rehabilitation program as a result
of growing suspension of the HUD housing subsidy programs. At the
program’s conclusion, units with a total market value of approximately
$1,711,000, had been rehabilitated and sold. FHAS continued to provide
the only Housing Consumer Education and Information Program in Omaha for
low to middle-income families.
It was in 1991 that Urban Housing Foundation, Inc. became Family
Housing Advisory Services, Inc. The nineteen-nineties have provided for
significant growth and expansion for FHAS services. Between 1992 and
1994 the Fair Housing Center, Metro Mediation Center, and the Project
Jericho Mobility Program were developed by FHAS to answer specific needs
of the community. 1999 brought new changes to FHAS as the Mediation
Center was established as an independent non-profit, and Project
Jericho, exceeding its original service period, was concluded. The Fair
Housing Center, in addition to the HomeSearch and Homeownership
Programs, continue to accomplish FHAS’s mission of helping people secure
and maintain decent, safe, and affordable housing and strengthening our
community through education, counseling, dispute resolution and
advocacy.
Family Housing Advisory Services, Inc., recognizing the distinct
dynamics of the South Omaha community, increased outreach in 1996
through a satellite office (24th & M St) staffed with a bilingual
counselor. FHAS further expanded outreach in the metropolitan area
through a branch office in Council Bluffs. In 2003, FHAS took this model
of outreach and collaboration a step higher and formed a strategic
alliance with one other excellent nonprofit agency, Omaha 100, Inc.
With this alliance, the services are expanded and enhanced through
mortgage financing. Together we are increasing affordable housing
opportunities for all.