NORFOLK, Neb. -- Tuesday saw the city of Norfolk discuss its future plans for affordable housing in the city.

The discussion took place due to the Affordable Housing Action Plan which requires Nebraska communities to create a strategy for affordable housing.

Norfolk Director of Planning and Development Val Grimes said the Affordable Housing Plan must be adopted before Jan. 1, 2024.

Norfolk isn't alone in this endeavor as Nebraska cities with a population of under 50,000 must also submit an action plan to the state. 

"This plan is essentially in response to many cities, counties, communities having a lack of affordable housing in general," Grimes said. "The housing plan should hopefully assist those areas to kind of get to think as to why do we have that lack, what could we possibly do to help that, and just kind of an action plan to move that forward."

Grimes said the Nebraska legislature found all city sizes have the need for affordable housing, and have four specific guidelines a plan must include.

The first is to set goals for the construction of affordable housing. The second is to determine the percentage of affordable housing zones in the city. The third is to make plans, which will encourage affordable housing to be constructed. Finally, the fourth guideline is to make necessary changes to the city code to encourage affordable housing construction.

If the city misses the deadline, Norfolk will have to follow the housing plan created by the state instead.

For more information on affordable housing, you can read how the Norfolk Housing Agency currently works to provide housing to low-income residents.