# Housing construction eases shortages nationally; Nebraska still struggles  
**Published:** 2026-05-17T10:30:37.000Z  
**Source:** [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/05/17/repub/new-construction-reduces-housing-shortage-in-most-states/)  
**AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001)  
**Canonical:** https://lincolne.news/article/housing-construction-eases-shortages-nationally-nebraska-still-struggles

New construction is helping address housing shortages across most of the United States, with [rents declining and affordability improving in much of the country](https://stateline.org/2026/05/14/new-construction-reduces-housing-shortage-in-most-states/), according to recent federal data. However, [Nebraska continues to struggle with housing availability](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/05/17/repub/new-construction-reduces-housing-shortage-in-most-states/), particularly for lower-income residents.

A Stateline analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data released Thursday found that Connecticut, New Jersey and Rhode Island are the only states that have lost housing units per capita since 2020. Most other states have built more than enough housing to account for population growth.

The increase in housing supply has driven down median rents nationally. According to an Apartment List report from May, the nation's median rent fell 1.7 percent in April compared with the same month last year. Single-family home affordability also is improving, with the National Association of Realtors reporting gains especially dramatic in the South and Midwest.

The improvement stands in stark contrast to Nebraska's situation. [In Nebraska, the rental housing crisis is primarily caused by a severe shortage of homes affordable and available to renters with the lowest incomes](https://nlihc.org/sites/default/files/SHP_NE.pdf). Only 38 rental homes are affordable and available for every 100 extremely low-income households, meaning Nebraska needs roughly 38,000 more homes affordable for extremely low-income households.

State and local efforts to address the crisis have expanded. [The village of Bertrand and others across Nebraska have made dents in the problem, though they still struggle with a housing shortage](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/05/02/rural-nebraska-village-aims-to-survive-grow-with-new-housing-efforts/). Last year, Nebraska's affordable housing trust fund awarded $9.9 million to 17 housing projects to help build roughly 300 dwellings.

Meanwhile, [Lincoln has set a goal to support 5,000 new or rehabilitated affordable housing units by 2030](https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/City/Departments/Urban-Development/Affordable-Housing-Progress-Report). The city's rental market remains relatively affordable compared to national averages, with median rent around $1,200 monthly. However, affordability concerns persist for fixed-income residents and workers earning lower wages.

At the state level, lawmakers have proposed legislation to increase funding for affordable housing. [The Nebraska Legislature passed measures in March intended to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the state's efforts to increase affordable housing](https://update.legislature.ne.gov/?p=40349), though more resources are needed to address what officials characterize as a statewide crisis.

## Sources

- [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/05/17/repub/new-construction-reduces-housing-shortage-in-most-states/)
- [Stateline analysis of national housing data](https://stateline.org/2026/05/14/new-construction-reduces-housing-shortage-in-most-states/)
- [National Low Income Housing Coalition Nebraska Housing Profile](https://nlihc.org/sites/default/files/SHP_NE.pdf)
- [Rural Nebraska housing development efforts](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/05/02/rural-nebraska-village-aims-to-survive-grow-with-new-housing-efforts/)
- [City of Lincoln Affordable Housing Progress Report](https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/City/Departments/Urban-Development/Affordable-Housing-Progress-Report)
- [Nebraska Legislature expanded affordable housing proposal](https://update.legislature.ne.gov/?p=40349)

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This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Nebraska Examiner, enriched with 2 web searches. The original source is available at https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/05/17/repub/new-construction-reduces-housing-shortage-in-most-states/.