Notre Dame Housing began as the result of planning by the Notre Dame Sisters when they came to realize that fewer persons were entering religious life and the North American Motherhouse they called home would become an immense financial liability unless something was done. The Motherhouse was contiguous with Notre Dame Academy, an all-girls school from 1929 until it closed in 1974 when this all-girls school joined with an all-boys school to form the new and still-operating Roncalli Catholic High School, leaving the Academy empty.
For a period of time, the Sisters used the school’s facilities to support retreats and group conference needs. Then, after careful consideration and significant planning, the Sisters tore down the 1964 wing of the academy and built new HUD Section 202 housing in 1996 and 1997. Over the course of 11 years (and two projects rolled into one), the Sisters completed the transformation of the Motherhouse into 62 units of affordable housing with a Section 42 tax credit and Historic tax credit project for its renewal.
Notre Dame Housing is much more than affordable housing for older adults; rather, it builds community within the boundaries of the campus and interacts in the neighborhood to build community through the provision of services on site for residents, by residents going into and contributing to the larger community, and by taking care of one to the other among residents and neighbors.
Learn more about the history of Notre Dame Housing and how it was established.
The Notre Dame Sisters arrived in Nebraska in 1911 and eventually arrived in Omaha to assist Fr. Edward Flanagan at this newly formed Boys Home in the center of Omaha.
Sisters purchased the Seven Oaks Farm from Fr. Flanagan who proceeded to purchase the present site of Boys Town.
Construction of the Motherhouse began in 1925 and by 1926 Notre Dame Academy opened with 15 students.
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