Norfolk looking for feedback on affordable housing

NORFOLK, Neb. -- As a New Year’s deadline approaches, a city in northeast Nebraska is looking for ways to bring affordable housing to its residents.

The city of Norfolk held an open house Thursday to get feedback from residents on all things affordable housing.

It comes as a deadline to come up with an affordable plan slowly approaches.

Earlier this year the Nebraska Legislature required Nebraska cities with a population lower than 50,000 to adopt an affordable housing plan by Jan. 1 of next year.

City Planer Val Grimes said Thursday's event was the beginning of the progress of forming that plan.

"It is kind of the groundwork to help get a feel for what people feel about affordable housing and maybe what they would be willing to see in their neighborhoods and...integrate maybe some affordable housing into the neighborhoods," Grimes said. "I'm actually hoping for it (affordable housing) to kind of be throughout the town is probably the goal." 

Should Norfolk not come up with a plan by the Jan. 1, 2024, deadline, they will have to accept a plan from the state government instead.

During the open house, citizens answered questions through stickers, marking how they felt about certain issues.

This included what they felt was considered affordable housing, what they felt prevented citizens from buying houses, and how the city should approach affordable housing.

While the open house only lasted an hour, there will be another opportunity to provide feedback.

Grimes said an online survey will be released in the coming days, which will feature the same questions asked at the open house.

Residents will have a few weeks to complete the online survey once it is released.