BOISE, Idaho — Affordable Housing is one of the biggest challenges of our time. But as the season of giving ramps up, there is an effort to help families across the state get into affordable and housing, as well as provide support.
Deanna Ward is the Director of Development at the Home Partnership Foundation, a non-profit out of the Idaho Housing and Finance Association.
"Everybody's experiencing the high cost of housing," she said.
Ward knows all too well the housing crisis that many Idaho families are facing. "The challenge in finding affordable rentals, mortgage rates, all those factors are kind of coming into play here, I think. It's making housing a challenge even for households that are employed."
Ward says a lot of families are just one missed paycheck, car accident, or health issue away from losing their home, which has elevated their need to grow. But there's help and hope; the Avenues for Hope Housing Challenge.
"We've raised $12.2 million in our first 12 years, which has provided significant resources for the nonprofits who really are on the front line of helping our neighbors in need," said Ward.
This statewide online campaign brings together almost 100 nonprofits that are all working to get Idaho families into homes and keep them in their homes. All those organizations have a dedicated page on AvenuesforHope.org so you can see the impact they're making and how you can help.
Ward says, "We have 94 great nonprofits that are on the frontlines helping our neighbors in need. They're from all the way to the north, south, east, west, all over the state."
Thanks to corporate sponsors, there is also more than $350,000 in prizes and matching funds. It's all about making your donations go further, providing not just a house or an apartment, but a home to families in need right here in our community.
"We have a goal to raise $3 million this year. So, it's not a small task. But it's so rewarding to hear the stories of the people we've helped," says Ward. "Kids having a place to do homework, parents have a stable place to get ready for work, elders having the ability to remain in place and with dignity, and homeless youth. There's just so many different populations that the Avenues for Hope nonprofits serve."
The minimum gift is only $25 and they come in from all over the world. Avenues for Hope runs through December 31st.
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