Mid-Plains housing study finds 25% of homes vacant across 18-county region

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (KNOP) - A regional housing study completed through the 6 Regions One Nebraska initiative is giving Mid-Plains communities a closer look at their housing needs — and local leaders say the next step is turning that information into action.

The Mid-Plains region selected housing as one of its priorities through the statewide initiative, which brings communities and partners together around issues that can vary by region. The housing effort examined inventory and conditions across 18 counties.

Gary Person, president and CEO of the North Platte Area Chamber and Development Corporation, said the study underscores how closely housing is tied to growth, workforce and community development.

“Every community finds out is that it really is difficult building its community, or rebuilding its community without viable, affordable housing,” Person said. “In order to address that, you need all the information you can possibly absorb that is factually based instead of speculation.”

Person said other regions identified different priorities, including child care, leadership training and community building. In Mid-Plains, leaders chose to focus on housing in part because communities need enough available homes to capitalize on opportunities for growth.

The report found that 25% of houses in the 18-county region are vacant, according to Person. He said those homes may be older and in need of rehabilitation, affected by absentee ownership or tied up in other circumstances.

“As a region, what we chose to do is to take an inside look of all the housing inventory in those 18 counties,” Person said. “It’s eye-opening.”

Karl Dietrich, a planner with JEO Consulting Group, said the study first established a baseline to help communities understand their existing housing concerns. The work is now shifting toward identifying solutions that fit each community.

Dietrich said JEO and Mid-Plains will continue meeting with individual communities to discuss those concerns and maintain momentum.

“We’ll be meeting with communities, having those further discussions, and talking about what are the ways that we can kind of help keep that ball rolling, keep that momentum going,” Dietrich said.

Person said the regional housing document includes information on programs and resources communities can use as they consider ways to address vacant properties and other local needs. Potential approaches may include tracking vacant homes, rehabilitation, redevelopment and other efforts tailored to a community’s circumstances.

He said progress will depend on local engagement across the region’s 90 communities.

“The more people that work on it together, the more success you’re going to have,” Person said. “It happens a little at a time.”

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