As many people continue to grapple with the deepening crisis of affordable housing and limited availability, local housing experts on Thursday met to try to tackle the dilemma.

City leaders, HUD representatives, housing directors, and community partners gathered for the 17th annual Tri-State Housing Summit at the Rialto Banquet Hall in Hannibal to discuss the state of housing in Northeast Missouri, Western Illinois, and Southern Iowa.

They covered issues that impact residents seeking suitable and affordable accommodations including housing availability, price, age, and quality, and how to improve in those area.

The Northeast Community Action Corporation, or NECAC, hosted the summit. The not-for-profit agency provides assistance to the low-income, elderly, youth, and people with disabilities by offering social service, community health and public housing programs through contracts and grants with federal, state and local governments, other not-for-profit agencies, and private businesses.