Finally, there is a statewide organization in Idaho focused on housing
Gem State Housing Alliance is a nonprofit organization focused on making it easier to build more housing for Idahoans. It advocates for cities and communities that want to construct different types of housing by providing policy advice and support.
The alliance began as a grassroots effort with many stakeholders — nonprofits, businesses, municipalities, developers — working in the housing space. Each was trying to solve complex issues such as affordability, workforce housing, and zoning codes that all contribute to the housing crunch.
This group frequently talked about the duplicative work they were doing and expressed interest in creating a statewide advocacy organization to align and professionalize scattered efforts happening in Idaho.
One of those people was Ali Rabe, now the executive director at Gem State Housing Alliance.
“I was on 13 different calls at one point where people were talking about housing,” said Rabe, the former executive director at Jesse Tree, a Boise-based nonprofit focused on preventing eviction and homelessness. “It’s a big issue that comes up because it touches every aspect of life. Our communities are centered around housing.”
Working separately, though, was problematic.
“We were never able to move to the next phase of ‘how do we change the situation that we are in?’” Rabe said.
A Collective Approach
The Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health provided the lead grant that funded a study to see what a statewide, pro-housing advocacy organization should look like in Idaho. The Idaho Community Foundation and Wells Fargo also contributed to the study that eventually recommended a nonprofit advocacy organization.
Why would a health foundation care about housing and fund a study?
“Housing and health are fundamentally linked,” Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health Program Officer Lisa Bearg said. “When housing is unstable, chronic conditions, behavioral health, and opportunity all suffer. Investing in housing is investing in health, and that’s why we are committed to prioritizing housing as a core part of our strategy. This is a complex issue, and having an organization focused on all of Idaho represents such a meaningful step in advancing healthier, stronger communities.”
The Alliance applied and received a grant from the Welcoming Neighbors Network, a group of independent, place-based organizations that advance pro-housing policies. Gem State Housing Alliance formed, then hired Rabe as its leader.
She has a 12-person board of directors that features builders, developers, finance experts, engineers, and pro-housing citizens. Gem State also has a dozen experts on its policy advisory board.
“We want to represent everyone’s voices in Idaho,” Rabe said. “It’s a great group of people that we’re aligned with from all over the state. This is definitely not just a Boise problem.”
Board member Maggie Lyons can attest. She leads the Panhandle Affordable Housing Alliance and has seen the housing crisis impact Kootenai County. She said people are moving away from the area because they can’t find housing, and are commuting daily to and from Shoshone County.
“That’s about a 30-35 minute drive, but it’s over the Fourth of July pass and in the winter it’s terrible,” she said. “Housing is less expensive over there. We have a lot of people who are living in Spokane and Liberty Lake (Washington) and traveling here to work. From a worker housing standpoint, the state will not stay healthy if our local workers don’t live where they work.”
Board member Rick Miller agreed. He works in economic development in four Eastern Idaho counties and has seen the impacts of the housing crunch.
“I have a county that says on any given day there are 10 to 20 people living out of their cars,” Miller said. “There’s nowhere to live or rent. It’s either find roommates or live out of your car. That’s not a healthy situation. If you can’t provide housing for workers, it causes a ripple of negative effects.”
The ‘NIMBY” Issue
The anti-development sentiment, often referred to as NIMBY (not in my backyard), has impacted the housing inventory in Idaho. Mention density or apartments in some parts of Idaho, and you get looks as if you swore in church. Many cities have antiquated zoning codes that prevent the development of housing except single-family homes on large lots. Those restrictions make it difficult to create new housing.
“We are not just advocating for just density,” Rabe said. “We want more homeownership options that look different than the current type of product that comes online, which is a half-million-dollar home. We are advocates for smaller homes of different types and sizes that can meet different families’ budgets, which will loosen the need for more apartments.”
Idaho has been one of the nation’s fastest-growing states in recent years. The influx of newcomers have driven up housing prices, making housing in many parts of the state unattainable for working families.
“We have a misunderstanding that we can stop growth — that ship has sailed,” Lyons said. “And when I say we, I mean a small minority of people, most of them have moved here in the last five years, who don’t want any change. They are going to city council meetings and P&Z meetings, and demanding that there be no approval of developments. By doing that, they are doing the opposite of what they want, which is to preserve the integrity of these communities. The irony is the people complaining about any approval of development are complaining about traffic.”
Home Ownership is the Goal
Homeownership has long been considered a part of the American dream and one of the best ways to build wealth. Many Idahoans are unable to purchase homes because of cost and a lack of inventory in the affordable price range. The dream seems out of reach.
“Homeownership is everything, especially with the rental market being what it is,” Rabe said. “Average rent costs are up to $2,000 a month in a lot of cities. That doesn’t go anywhere for a family. We’re seeing more people rent rather than own because they can’t save up for a down payment because they’re putting all their money towards their rent. Older folks who have been renting their entire lives are getting rent increases they can’t afford. Once you get older, you’re on a fixed income and can’t afford a $200 or $300 rent increase, which is typical now in some rental markets.”
Miller added, “Costs are continuing to increase and incomes are not following it. Policies can drive up costs. Jobs can’t afford the housing that’s being built. Hopefully, the housing alliance can help communities with policies that are preventing homes from being built.”
Policy work is a large part of where the Gem State Housing Alliance will put its focus.
“I think having a statewide resource for communities that don’t have as much staff or professional staff that can help get the resources they need,” Miller said. “Cities are all saying the same thing — we can’t afford housing for our people.”
Lyons also thinks the alliance can be a resource cities and counties.
“We can educate them on what options are available and how the private market right now cannot respond because of regulatory burdens and outdated zoning,” she said. “Our focus really is restoring homeownership for middle- to upper-middle-income households. Without housing stability, there’s inherent health problems that come with that.”
Rabe sees the connection between housing and health.
“If we can build smaller homes on existing infrastructure or smaller home lots, that actually helps people live closer to their jobs,” she said. “It reduces commute times and creates healthier communities.”
And that’s the goal of Gem State Housing Alliance.
“When Idaho families can’t afford to live near jobs, schools, and support systems, their health is at risk,” Rabe said. “Gem State Housing Alliance is focused on removing barriers so more Idahoans can stay rooted in communities that help them thrive.”
