Hoppe Development Working with Nebraska Lawmakers to Improve Housing Systems

Nebraska State Senator Rob Dover recently held a hearing to explore how public funds and incentives can better support affordable housing. As a realtor and developer, Dover wants to improve housing programs to help more Nebraskans while ensuring these programs are effective. He said, “Economic development requires workers. Workers require housing. In short, housing is critical for Nebraska’s economic growth.”

The hearing featured experts, including Jake Hoppe from Hoppe Development, who shared how programs like tax-increment financing (TIF) make housing projects possible. TIF allows developers to use future property taxes from improved areas to fund new projects. Hoppe highlighted that TIF has been essential for creating affordable housing but suggested changes to make it more effective. “Nobody wants to be called blighted,” he said, proposing that TIF should not be limited to only “blighted” areas.

Hoppe also praised low-income housing tax credits, which help fund affordable rental housing by reducing costs for developers. These credits have supported the construction of about 5,000 affordable homes in Nebraska over the past decade. Hoppe suggested expanding other housing funds, like the Middle Income Workforce Housing Investment Fund, to include rental housing, not just homes for sale. He also urged lawmakers to simplify program requirements, saying current processes can be overly complicated.

Candice Alder, another housing advocate, noted that the Rural Workforce Housing Fund has supported hundreds of new homes in small towns like Norfolk. She and Hoppe agreed that these programs are vital for helping families and communities grow.

Dover plans to introduce new housing legislation next year to reduce barriers, streamline programs, and ensure funds are reinvested effectively. “It is my intention to move affordable housing forward across the state,” he said, emphasizing the importance of solving Nebraska’s housing challenges.