LINCOLN- Multiple bills are in the works in the Nebraska Legislature following the release of Nebraska's 2022 Strategic Housing Framework, a 63-page report detailing the state's top housing needs and calling for 35,000 affordable housing units to be built by 2028. State Sens. Tony Vargas and Tom Briese led a briefing on the report last week, emphasizing the importance and urgency of this issue. "I think that the lack of available housing across Nebraska...is curtailing economic growth in our state more than we realize," said Briese.

Sen. Vargas also stated that Nebraska has not been following the typical housing practices followed by other states, as well as research that indicates that states need to build at least 5,000 new housing units every year to keep up with demand. The Strategic Housing Report outlined several issues contributing to Nebraska's housing needs, including rising costs, loans, and a lack of available land.

Besides the goal of building 35,000 affordable housing units, the report also sets a goal of reducing the percentage of housing-burdened homes in the state from 44% to 33% by 2028. This drop would amount to around 44,000 homes in Nebraska. While housing issues in metropolitan issues are well known, the report also details the unique issues rural Nebraskans are facing, while around 17% of rural housing units are vacant.

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