Pubdate: Fri, 14 May 1999 Source: Omaha World-Herald (NE) Copyright: 1999 Omaha World-Herald Company. Contact: http://www.omaha.com/ Forum: http://chat.omaha.com/ 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. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D