Group denied permit for transitional home in Omaha claims discrimination

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Organizers of a home for transitional living are accusing the Omaha City Council of discrimination after the council denied their request for a permit.

The house is located near 60th Street and Sorensen Parkway, less than a mile away from the Omaha County Club. For decades, the home was used as a group home for Boys Town and other programs for juveniles.

The property has been vacant for about three years. As 6 News reported in February, Tessa Domingus with the Mental Health Association of Nebraska hoped to turn the place into a transitional living home for people on parole or work release.

“I think that all people deserve opportunities in all neighborhoods,” Domingus said.

However, the Omaha City Council had the final say. After a lengthy, heated public hearing, the city council said no to a permit.

“It was a difficult case,” said Omaha City Council President Pete Festersen. “City council members understand the value of re-entry programs, but we also listen to our constituents and there was substantial opposition.”

Festersen said a petition of opposition was signed by more than 200 neighbors. Complicating the issue, the home is less than a block away from an elementary school.

Domingus calls the denial a clear case of discrimination.

“We heard a lot of, ‘Not in this neighborhood,’” Domingus said. “I think the comments like that really reveal the biases towards the population that we serve.”

Some of the comments include the following:

“No one that’s going to be in opposition today has a problem with what these folks are doing,” said nearby resident Jason Caskey. The issue and the reason why we are here is the location.”

“Unfortunately, there’s some non-profits that promise good, that sound good but they’re unable to deliver because of human behavior either by staff members or clients,” said another Omaha resident.

“Really, I don’t feel like this is the right spot for this neighborhood,” said Omaha City Councilwoman Aimee Melton.

Domingus argues that MHA’s programs are successful because they are in safe neighborhoods.

“All neighborhoods have schools, parks, I believe there’s churches there,” Domingus said. “Someone said it’s on the walking path that my children take to the pool, to the golf course, those things exist in all neighborhoods.”

Domingus says MHA is not giving up and is exploring all options to move forward.

“By denying programs like ours, you’re perpetuating both social and economic inequalities in communities,” she said.

Domingus told 6 News that in the public hearing, she was accused of lying and not doing enough public outreach. Domingus vehemently denies those claims.

Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson sent a letter of support for the home, citing his experience with an MHA home in Lincoln. He also wrote that he was assured that only non-violent offenders would live there.

This is the second time the Omaha City Council rejected an application from MHA.

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