JOPLIN, Mo. — Seeking public advice on where to locate some 500 new affordable housing units in Joplin following the May tornado, members of the Missouri Housing Development Commission held their second and final public hearing Tuesday night.

Consensus from the crowd: Build the units, but not in our backyards.

Residents neighboring the new land being considered by the commission  expressed concern that the new homes could lower property value and alleged potential residents could cause new crimes in the areas.

“I don’t have a problem with affordable housings, as long as its in a neighborhood of a like kind,” said one resident.

Of the nearly 30 locations the commission is considering, commission member William Ulm said due to budget constraints, the commission will likely only be able to fund six or seven projects.

“No final decisions have been made” about which locations will receive the credits, Ulm said, but “we take your comments very seriously,” he told residents.