LEAP HOUSING TO OFFER $112,500 TO SPECIAL NEEDS OR ELDERLY BUYERS OF 8 BRAND NEW AFFORDABLE HOMES

LEAP Housing is providing $112,500 in down payment assistance to qualified buyers of 8 brand new homes. The homes are priced at $363,000, but with the down payment assistance available potential home buyers only need to qualify for a mortgage of $250,500 to be able to purchase a home. 

The LEAP Housing Trust is taking applications until the 8 homes are sold. 

Qualified households must be at or below 80% Area Median Income (AMI) with a household member that meets the broad definition of special needs according to the Federal Home Loan Bank, which includes provisions for elderly household members. (See full definitions below.) Two of the eight homes may be purchased by households without special needs. 

Interested buyers are directed to complete the preliminary intake form HERE. 

The homes, located at Caritas Commons, have 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and are built by local home builder Flynner Homes. Located in NW Boise, these homes boast incredible proximity to the foothills, access to services, and arrive downtown via Hill Road or State Street in just minutes. To see the full MLS listing of the Caritas Commons homes, please visit here. Interested buyers and their agents can visit a staged unit upon request. 

The LEAP Housing Trust is Boise’s first community land trust with affordable rental and homeownership opportunities. Land makes up a significant portion of any house price - and we eliminate that with the LEAP Housing Trust, thereby lowering the cost of housing. By removing land from the equation, costs are decreased further to a price point that is affordable through subsidy and down payment assistance. 

Holding the land in trust ensures affordability for longer than any mandated term of affordability. The homes in the LEAP Housing Trust will be affordable forever. 

LEAP HOUSING TRUST APPLICATION PROCESS

Documentation that will be requested by LEAP Housing Trust staff when reviewing preliminary applications: 

● 3-6 of most recent consecutive pay stubs 

● Start date of most recent employment 

● Hourly wage or annual salary 

● Tax returns from the last 2 years 

● Date of birth 

● Total number of dependents 

● Other forms of income (SSI, SSDI, Child Support, Alimony, Rental Income, etc.) 

We ask all applicants to have documentation ready when you submit your application, as a LEAP representative will follow up and confirm your information after the application submission. 

Income qualification limits for households earning no more than 80% Area Median Income (City of Boise’s Low Income Guidelines found here): 

● 1 person household - $47,150 annual gross income 

● 2 person household - $53,900 annual gross income 

● 3 person household - $60,650 annual gross income 

● 4 person household - $67,350 annual gross income 

● 5 person household - $72,750 annual gross income 

● 6 person household - $78,150 annual gross income 

● 7 person household - $83,550 annual gross income 

● 8 person household - $88,950 annual gross income 

To qualify for a special-needs household preference, a household must have at least one member who meets any of the following criteria: 

● Elderly (62 years or older) 

● Physical impairment 

● Mental Impairment 

● Recovering from domestic abuse 

● Recovering from substance use 

● Has HIV/Aids 

Housing Heroes Profile: Wendy Klahr

The Housing Heroes profile series covers LEAP’s advocates and major donors who advance the mission of affordable housing in Idaho. Wendy donated $10,000 to LEAP in the month of December during Avenues for Hope and would like to raise an additional $10,000 through folks that are near and dear to her cause and LEAP’s mission. Get Wendy one step closer to her $10,000 goal by visiting our Avenues for Hope donation page.

What if I told you that there’s a normal person out there who is actually doing something about affordable housing? She’s not a bleeding heart. She’s not a pundit. She hasn’t even shaped any policies. And, get this - she’s not a builder.

Wendy Klahr could be all of these things, but she focuses on one very particular part of affordable housing: land development.

A rather vague title and job function, land development is perhaps best described by an example. Wendy recently bought a vacant commercial lot near a busy section of Overland Rd. located near the old Rocky’s Diner.

Working within the parameters of city zoning ordinances, she collaborated with her architect to present a new planned use of the space to city planners.

The city ultimately approved Wendy’s plan and she subsequently sold her project to a builder who brought her team’s vision out of the ground, and voila! 15 brand new residential units were created.

So that’s what land developers can do.

If you’ve been following LEAP for any amount of time, you might recognize her business, Dark Horse Associates. Dark Horse sold LEAP the land that would become Caritas Commons, the Treasure Valley’s first community land trust for home ownership. 

To understand how special that is, recall the scorching hot real estate market of 2020. Here was a 1.6 acre plot of prime real estate off of State Street near the border of Boise and Eagle, just off Horseshoe Bend Road. 

Wendy already knew LEAP because she sold LEAP the land where Windy Court 2 now sits (LEAP’s second affordable housing development). The land across the street - the 1.6 acres - was perfect for LEAP. But how on earth could a fledgling nonprofit compete for that kind of land amidst a bananas-crazy real estate market? 

A patient seller, that’s how. LEAP put Wendy’s land under contract for nearly a year before it actually closed. Nobody does that. Especially with a kid in college.

“I worked with LEAP Housing to form an agreement for the sale of my property that worked for them and generated sufficient profits for Dark Horse. We did good in the community by doing good business,” Wendy said.
But certainly she could have made more money, right? 

“One of my colleagues chastised me a little, insisting that I had left hundreds of thousands of dollars on the table,” Wendy said with her trademark jovial tone and laugh. 

She continued, “He was probably right, and I could have probably sold it faster as well. But, for me, business is not just about providing a good living for my family. It’s about setting an example for my children and feeling good about what I do.” 

Not long afterward, she sold 2 acres of land to LEAP that is slated to become Whitney Commons, another community land trust with 11 homes. Like Windy Court 2 and Caritas, these swaths of land are (or were) situated in existing neighborhoods in the city’s urban core.

To think like Wendy, you allow yourself to see opportunity when others see a burnt-out building, a vacant lot or even a home that has a few tenths of an acre more than it should. Industry jargon that describes that kind of development is called “in-fill development.” 

“I have long been a proponent of infill development. I feel that if we can save our farmland and take advantage of infrastructure already in place, then that is something that we should do,” Wendy professed with mounting enthusiasm. 

“You have schools, police, fire, you have all these things in place and communities that already exist, it’s just smart to redevelop lots that already exist in those places. I’m not saying it’s the only good business idea or trying to make a moral statement, I just believe it’s smart to do.” 

One alternative to infill development is finding farmland on the outskirts of communities where neighborhoods are undeveloped and there is plenty of space. In those areas, housing density isn’t really a challenge. And for that reason, some might say that it’s an easier path than building locally. 
But there actually might be a moral challenge to taking an easier path. Or at least a missed opportunity.

Where you have mature neighborhoods with established schools, nearby grocery stores, bus lines (the whole nine yards), better outcomes seem nearly guaranteed. Wouldn’t it make sense for income-constrained families to get that chance? 

“There should be opportunities for housing at all income levels throughout our cities,” Wendy said. “That may not be true of every single neighborhood, but it can certainly be true in general.”

Wendy, while positive and affable, is not a Pollyanna, aka blindly optimistic. She’s even-handed and fair. And she is also direct. 

“I’ve worked in Seattle for many years as well as Idaho. I split my time. As bad as the housing crisis in Idaho is, we really haven’t seen anything yet. Seattle’s homelessness problem has compounded year after year as housing prices have increased. If you’re going to do something and have it make a real difference, the easiest time is now. The longer you wait, the harder it gets.” 

Wendy has slowed down her production a bit of late. She says she used to do as many as 15 - 20 projects a year but has reduced her volume to three projects in the last year.

Right now, she’s got her sights set on a nifty residential project in the Sycamore District not far from LEAP’s recent Taft project with Collister United Methodist Church. If she plays her cards right, she says she might be able to turn a single residential lot into three homes. 

LEAP’s Housing Heroes aren’t just the large developers, businesses, and organizations who are getting things done. Wendy has shown us that heroes are the ordinary folks - the small but mighty. The selfless. The dark horses.

Treasure Valley Housing Referral Flyer

A comprehensive list of Treasure Valley-specific housing resources is at your fingertips. If you are in immediate need of housing, are experiencing homelessness, or searching for affordable housing, use this flyer below to find helpful resources.

Discussing Affordable Housing with Idaho Mayors

When LEAP Housing started in 2016, we had one mission: to make the world a better place. Fast forward 6 years later and LEAP is doing just that and more by creating affordable housing opportunities for the full spectrum of Idaho residents. With 250 potential homes in our pipeline, we’re expanding our reach beyond Boise. In our journey to tackle the statewide need for affordable housing, we’re looking to partner with cities and their leaders throughout Idaho to do just that. That’s how LEAP had the pleasure of presenting at the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Community Health Academy (BCIF).

The goal of BCIF is to unite city and community leaders to explore how they can improve the health of their communities. Nine Idaho mayors and the BCIF team gathered to discuss how the housing crisis we’re facing in Idaho is affecting their communities and find solutions to combat this issue. Creating affordable, safe, and stable housing opportunities available to the full spectrum of folks living in Idaho not only creates jobs and a resilient economy but provides housing stability that is key to our health. During our presentation, we shared the innovative solutions LEAP brings to the table that help bridge the affordable housing gap in Idaho and how cities and their leaders can play a role in solving the affordable housing puzzle. 

The best part, however, was showing Idaho Mayors the realities of creating affordable housing in Idaho by embarking on a “housing tour.” We all hopped on a yellow school bus to travel and tour through LEAP-made homes in the Boise area. From units still in construction to fully furnished homes with live-in residents, Idaho mayors saw how realistic the possibility of creating affordable housing projects in their community can be.

LEAP CEO Bart Cochran and city leaders outside of Taft Homes.

Just like in our housing tour, we’ll walk you through the presentation and homes we toured (no need to ride the bus though).

Bright and early one August morning, the LEAP team headed to the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation office in downtown Boise where we had the pleasure of meeting the mayors from the City of Caldwell, Glenns Ferry, Idaho Falls, Lewiston, New Meadows, Nezperce, Payette, Weiser, and Wendell.

We began our presentation by talking about the LEAP programs that work in collaboration to create and preserve homeownership opportunities. 

• Our Welcome Housing Program provides a better beginning for those arriving through refugee resettlement by providing a soft landing through temporary housing. LEAP owns and operates three Welcome Housing condos on the Boise Bench to welcome Boise’s newest residents. 

• Our Yes You Can Homeownership Program is a free service led by our staff to closely work with folks looking to purchase a home but needing some assistance navigating the home buying process.

• Lastly, our Resident Owned Communities (LEAP ROC) Program works to preserve affordable housing that exists in Idaho by helping homeowners form a cooperative and purchasing their community from the current owner.

The above programs go to show that when it comes to housing, there isn’t a one size fits all solution. Creating affordable housing opportunities for Idaho families comes down to a lot of collaboration, creativity, and communication between stakeholders in a community. If you're wondering what a stakeholder is and why they would be interested in creating affordable and workforce housing, don't worry, we’re almost there.

We asked the present mayors who in their community had a vested interest in realizing housing opportunities. We were met with a creative list of responses. Everyone from employers, city/county entities, schools, healthcare systems, faith communities, and the general public all play a role in determining whether or not attainable housing has a place in their community. It turns out we can all play a part in solving this affordable housing puzzle. 

This question prompted a discussion of issues we’ve heard many times related to Idaho's growing and unaffordable housing landscape. From Payette to Idaho Falls, city leaders have noticed similar trends occur in their cities:

• Families in their communities are pulled apart as younger generations are pushed out by the rising prices of homes. 

• A lack of housing for their workforce. Employees that drive their cities' economic well-being are being displaced from the city they work in due to the unattainable cost of rent.

• Leaders in the community know of areas of land in their city that could be transformed into affordable and workforce housing. Still, they don't have the technical expertise to develop a project like that.  

It's no shock that at least 38% of Idaho households earning below 80% area median income (AMI) experience being cost-burdened. This means that more than 30% of their income goes towards paying rent. Severely cost-burdened renters are more likely to sacrifice other necessities like healthy food and healthcare to make rent along with being more at risk of unstable living conditions due to evictions. When it comes to improving the healthcare of folks in our community, it comes down to creating attainable, affordable, and stable housing opportunities.

After our presentation, our trusty steed (the bus) began the tour by taking the group to Taft Homes, Caritas Commons, and Windy Court. You can read more about these rental and homeownership communities here, but here are the highlights: 

The first stop on the tour was Taft Homes. The group was able to walk in and tour a still-in-progress two-unit affordable housing unit that will be home to two Boise households who earn at or below 30% area median income (AMI). Taft Homes came to be through a partnership with Collister United Methodist Church through our “Yes In God’s BackYard” (YIGBY) initiative to repurpose unused church land into affordable housing. Taft is the first set of homes constructed on land owned by a church in Boise!

City leaders walking through a Taft Home.
After a grand tour of Taft Homes, we headed to Windy Court. Our fully operational 8-unit community built from modular steel frames provides innovative and eco-friendly benefits for residents who earn 30-50% AMI, with a preference for households with a member who is 55+ or has a disability. The site is solar-powered, designed with residents in mind, and includes a playground, 16 raised vegetable garden beds, a communal BBQ pergola, and a lending library. In addition, the landscape prioritizes native drought-tolerant plants and water-conserving xeriscaping. 

In order to preserve the privacy of residents, we did not take any photos. However, here is what the community looks like.
Our last stop brought us to Caritas Commons. Soon to be home to 14 affordable housing units, Caritas Commons is the largest affordable homeownership community in Boise in over 30 years. Geared towards folks who make 80% AMI or below, these units are part of the LEAP Housing Trust, the first Community Land Trust in the Treasure Valley. A key factor of LEAP’s Housing Trust is that homes in trust will remain affordable in perpetuity, meaning buyer after buyer for generations to come will have access to affordable homeownership. 

Spending the morning touring LEAP homes with Idaho mayors was a unique experience. We saw firsthand how eager city members are to support affordable housing in their communities and the possibilities that can come through a bit of communication, collaboration, and creativity. Like in our presentation, we encouraged city leaders to partner with affordable housing developers like LEAP Housing to create safe, clean, and sustainable housing for all Idaho families.

Want to join the many corporations, organizations and individuals who have supported the housing trust with land or financial donations? Let us know at info@leaphousing.org!

3 Tips when Applying to Live in Affordable Housing

We know the application process for affordable housing can be complicated and time-consuming. So we’ve put together some tips to help you prep before you start the application process and give you a leg up in the application process.

1. The following MUST be included:

An application must be filled out for each adult (18 and older) or one application per married couple. 

● $30 Application Fee – Money Order ONLY (Application fee is per adult) 

● Copies of valid picture identification on all occupants over the age of 18. 

● Copies of Social Security card for all occupants. 

Examples Include: 

• Driver’s License/ State-Issued Identification Card

• Valid U.S. or Foreign Passport

• Military-Issued Identification

• U.S. Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)

• Certificate of Citizenship/ Naturalization

  2. Be prepared to answer questions on the following topics:

• Household Income (Examples: W2 Forms, pay stubs from the last 3 months, bank statements, unemployment statements, social security statements) 

      *Please note: Money received from the stimulus check does not count towards household income. 

• Personal Information for each Household Member

• Asset Information- Anything you own that has monetary value (Ex: cars, land, investments, etc.)

• Current & Past Landlord Information

• Emergency Contact Information

• Student Status (If you or anyone in your household is enrolled in higher education)

• Emergency Contact Information

  3. Keep these forms handy:

● Marriage certificate or tax return (If you are a married student) 

● Tax return or certification of dependent children (If you are a single-parent student) 

● Student Verification of participation (If at least one student is enrolled in a job training program receiving assistance under the Job Training Partnership Act or under other similar Federal, State, or local laws) 

*If you are working with a social worker, please inform him/her of your application. 

Property People is committed to the non-discrimination provision in the Fair Housing Act and Section 504 of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require assistance in the form of readers, interpreters, large print, or any other way to enable you to fully participate in our housing program, please contact us at info@leaphousing.org and we will assist you. 

How a Plot of Land Becomes a Home for Generations to Come

The goal of homeownership is often embedded in the idea of the American dream. However, hurdles like a high down payment, debt, know-how, and day-to-day expenses prevent folks from accessing a home of their own. So how does one become a homeowner when 46 percent of Americans are considered cost-burdened? 

What’s cost-burdened you may ask? The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines cost-burdened as households that pay more than 30 percent of their income towards rent or mortgage expenses.  

How can we get the pendulum to swing in the direction of creating homeownership opportunities for our community, with all the challenges folks are facing? This is where the LEAP Housing Trust comes into play. 

Sustainable & Self-Sustaining Housing

A housing trust is a self-sustaining model that takes a one-time investment to create affordable homes for purchase by working families with modest means. The home remains affordable family after family, in perpetuity. Here’s how it works: 

1. The housing trust acquires land through donations and private sales-the land is owned by the trust forever.

2. LEAP builds homes on that land.

3. LEAP sells homes to income-qualified buyers at below-market prices. The homebuyers never buy the land, just the home.

These are the steps that come together to make homes affordable in perpetuity, ensuring our public investments go further and do more. Generation after generation.

Individual Impacts

To break it down a little more, LEAP’s Housing Trust is a form of permanent affordable housing for Idaho households who make 80 percent of the area median income (AMI) or less. That's a household of 4 making an annual gross income of $67,350 in Ada County. Through the housing trust, families and individuals have a greater likelihood of attaining and sustaining homeownership opportunities versus competing with and paying open market rates.

Meet Caritas Commons

What are the benefits of a housing trust? LEAP’s Housing Trust is a community-run platform, made by Idahoans for Idahoans. Besides families being able to build equity through appreciation, the homes in trust build strong, safe, and high-quality communities. Caritas Commons, LEAP’s first community dedicated to affordable homeownership held in the LEAP Housing Trust is home to 14 single-family homes in Boise. Caritas Commons will feature a nature path complete with seating overlooking a future public walk and bike path, green features to maximize insulation efforts ensuring reduced usage of electrical-powered HVAC systems, and drought tolerant xeriscape landscape artfully dispersed around each home. Talk about sustainability.

Beyond creating affordable homes, LEAP's Housing Trust impacts our community at large and the Idaho families that reside in these communities.

Idaho’s First Housing Trust

LEAP created the Treasure Valley's first housing trust focused on rentals and homeownership opportunities for income-limited households. Why do we need a housing trust? The housing trust with homeownership opportunities ensures three things: 

1. Wealth building. By ensuring mortgages are never more than 30% of their income, along with market-driven equity increases, homeowners build more wealth than if they were still in the rental market. 

2. Safe from inflation. In an affordable rental home with rates controlled by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, costs year over year track with the Consumer Price Index (CPI). In the LEAP Housing Trust, the rate is fixed for 30 years.

3. Affordable forever. Most homes on the market that were affordable in 2015 are no longer affordable, even with no change in ownership. That won't happen to any of the homes held in Trust. 

No other program can ensure these three outcomes for homeowners. 

Want to join the many corporations, organizations and individuals who have supported the housing trust with land or financial donations? Let us know at info@leaphousing.org!

Women's History Month: Brittany Zanders

Introduction

In 1995, March was declared as Women’s History month, a time to celebrate women’s achievements and accomplishments in history (womenshistorymonth.gov). In the same spirit, LEAP Housing would like to recognize the outstanding women who have contributed to sustainable housing efforts through a series of blog posts. So, let’s meet Brittany.

A Warm Welcome

Brittany Zanders is part of LEAP’s Welcome Housing program and serves as the Resident Services Coordinator. The Welcome Housing program is set up with three temporary rental condos that LEAP Housing owns and runs to provide affordable short-term housing for people arriving as New Americans. Brittany's role is to ease and transition Boise’s newest residents into finding their “place” in the community. Specifically, Brittany connects households with community resources like education, training, and resource navigation.

Jacqueline, a former guest of the Welcome Housing program said about the program, “many, many people were a blessing in our lives, and that has completely changed us, because the love that they give us, that we want also to give love to others.” It’s apparent that Brittany's work isn't just confined to the Welcome Housing program itself but reaches the hearts of the people who experience the program, and as Jacqueline said, that love is inspiring. 

A Piece of the Puzzle

For Brittany, this passion to create change started at a young age- after a decade of working in the non-profit sector, traveling, and doing ministry service in Tanzania, Haiti, and Mexico, Brittany brought her talents to the Boise area. Putting her bachelor's degree in Nonprofit Administration and master's degree in Intercultural Studies to work, Brittany has proved to be a fundamental piece of the affordable housing puzzle. Recently, Brittany and the LEAP team have focused on the relaunching of the Welcome Housing program, with Brittany leading the team towards updating the program and the renovation of the condos.

Thank You

Whether it's collaborating on a personal level or at a community level, Brittany enjoys meeting and connecting with people. Brittney said it best when she said, “we all bring something to the table and it's when our experience and passion come together that the most impact can be made. It's awesome to witness and be a part of.” Everyone is capable of great things, and when people come together is when real change happens.

If you'd like to continue reading the LEAP Housing Women’s History blog series, you can read about advocate and donor, Cay Marquart here Women's History Month: Cay Marquart — LEAP HOUSING.

Women's History Month: Cay Marquart

Introduction

In 1995, March was declared as Women’s History month, a time to celebrate women’s achievements and accomplishments in history (womenshistorymonth.gov). In the same spirit, LEAP Housing would like to recognize the outstanding women who have contributed to sustainable housing efforts through a series of blog posts. So, let’s start with Cay.

Her Story

Cay Marquart is a Nebraska native and now resident of Ada County. You may have seen Cay out and about cycling, hiking, or river rafting with her partner or working alongside the Boise\Ada County Homeless Coalition. Before moving to Idaho, Cay completed a master’s degree in English and German and began a career in teaching that spanned 28 years. However, Cay’s passion for helping others didn’t end in the classroom. Cay has a long history as an activist; her passion for equality has taken her to Martin Luther King rallies, abroad to countries, protesting inequality, and to her “backyard”, supporting neighbors who needed a helping hand. Cay’s partnership with LEAP Housing is just one way Cay supports the communities of Idaho.

Impact on Community 

What does community mean to you? For Cay, community means reaching out. To connect with her community, Cay works alongside organizations that advocate for people who are income limited and experiencing homelessness. Cay is an adamant LEAP advocate, having donated property and $10,000+ towards the construction of housing communities. When it comes to affordable housing, every penny counts, and Cay’s contribution has made a major difference in the lives of Boise residents.

The House the Community Built

Cay and the LEAP Housing team go way back - when Cay and her partner retired to the Boise area in 2006, Cay purchased property in West Boise with the dream of building a tiny house community. This piece of property started the gears moving towards creating LEAP’s first modern sustainable housing community. Through the efforts of LEAP Housing and donors like Cay, Windy Court became a reality. Windy Court now provides 8 families with modern and beautiful affordable housing.  

Cay not only had a monetary impact on the creation of Windy Court, but also one of sustainability, having asked that the homes come equipped with solar roof panels, native plants, and a garden area for the families. Cay hopes that her contribution will ignite a fire in the community and set an example for future projects. 

Thank You

In his book A Path Appears, Nicholas Kristof said “drops in the bucket matter-that’s how you fill buckets. And it’s by filling these buckets we’ll create real change.” Women’s history is only celebrated in the month of March, but Cay’s contribution to the people of Idaho will reach generations to come.  Cay is truly a partner in building home, together.

If you'd like to read more of Cay’s story and ties with LEAP Housing, you can check out her Housing Heroes profile here: https://www.leaphousing.org/blog/housing-heroes-cay.

Housing Heroes Profile: Ellen Bush

The Housing Heroes profile series covers LEAP’s advocates and major donors who advance the mission of affordable housing in Idaho. Ellen’s commitment of $10,000 is one of eight donations offering matching funds to all donations in the month of December during Avenues for Hope. To utilize the match Ellen is providing, visit our Avenues for Hope donation page.

One of LEAP’s generous donors, Ellen Bush, fell in love with Idaho. 

Originally from California, she came to Boise for a job in the 1980s, moved away, and then returned to retire in 2018 in the mountains of Garden Valley. As the Executive Director of The Whitney Foundation, Ellen has benevolently granted funding numerous times to LEAP over the years. Thanks to the generosity of The Whitney Foundation, one of LEAP’s newest developments in west Boise received its name: Whitney Commons, which will be an 11 unit homeownership opportunity when construction is completed.  

But on a personal level, Ellen believes that LEAP has what it takes to persevere in the fight for affordable housing. She admires and supports the work that LEAP is committed to in Idaho. According to her, LEAP has the right approach to solving this puzzle: an emphasis on sustainability.  

As she puts it, “The LEAP Housing Trust itself is sustainable. And the homes at Caritas Commons and Whitney Commons are extremely sustainable because they are small units.

“They are not a high rise, which is an outdated, unviable model. This approach to home rental and ownership is very valuable.” 

In addition to emphasizing the sustainability of LEAP’s developments, Ellen believes that continuing to grow the general public’s understanding of what it is like to experience housing constraints is a must. “It is a constant challenge to everyone in the affordable housing community to keep the education level up for others in the Valley.”

Without it, there can be misconceptions about what affordable housing is, and what it provides to those in our communities. Safe, comfortable, and affordable are what should come to mind when the community thinks of housing; But more often than not, those aren’t the first things that come up when the topic is broached.  

According to Ellen, “LEAP is not known as much as I think that they should be.” With advocates like this on our side, we know that LEAP can create relationships with those businesses, nonprofits, and community members who can continue to help us grow and reach our mission goal: 1,000 units in 10 years.

We can create home, and hope, together.

Housing Heroes Profile: Cay Marquart

The Housing Heroes profile series covers LEAP’s advocates and major donors who advance the mission of affordable housing in Idaho. Cay’s commitment of $10,000 is one of eight donations offering matching funds to all donations in the month of December during Avenues for Hope. To utilize the match Cay is providing, visit our Avenues for Hope donation page.

Cay Marquart is no stranger to helping others. In fact, she is the donor behind the land that became LEAP’s first affordable housing development, Windy Court I. “We wanted to buy a piece of property and at some point help with affordable housing. We didn’t expect repayment; I just think it is wonderful that people are being helped.” 

But without LEAP, that land might still be an empty parcel. “I don't know if anything would have gotten off the ground at that property. It was really LEAP that got the ball rolling.” 

LEAP has the know-how on how to take bare land through the transformative process of becoming a welcoming home, or homes. As Cay points out, “The average person has no clue on how to begin the development process. Bart and the other team members at LEAP have the ability to see something that could happen, that other people might not be able to see. And they know how to make great things happen.” 

Cay is passionate about nonprofits partnering with other organizations in the community in order to create affordable housing opportunities.

 “We need partners to aid in the fight for affordable housing. We need to create these connections across the community. Because lo and behold, they come forth when you start reaching out.” 

Thanks to like minded organizations in Idaho, LEAP is able to reach further than ever across the state. St. Alphonsus Hospital is one of those like minded organizations: thanks to their selfless donations, LEAP’s Welcome Housing program has provided temporary housing for newly arrived refugees in Boise.  And Caritas Commons, a 14 unit homeownership opportunity in west Boise, is in the process of closing on six new homes. 

In addition to partnering with other nonprofits, Cay believes that each one deserves unmitigated support from their community. Nonprofits provide help to those who might not know where to turn: “Many, many, many people would like to do something to change their community for the better, but they just don’t know what to do. But knowing that there is an organization out there that does know what to do, well off course, the obvious solution would be to donate to that nonprofit.”

A gift to LEAP Housing isn’t like a gift to a foodbank; it isn’t consumed immediately. A gift to LEAP is a gift that has a ripple effect through future generations. A gift to LEAP creates an affordable opportunity for years to come. As Cay puts it, “The emphasis is that people have been helped, and that there will be generations of people helped.”

We can’t argue with that.

Housing Heroes Profile: St. Luke's

The Housing Heroes profile series covers LEAP’s advocates and major donors who advance the mission of affordable housing in Idaho. The gift by St. Luke’s is one of eight donations offering matching funds to all donations in the month of December during Avenues for Hope. To utilize St. Luke’s donation, visit our Avenues for Hope donation page.

Undeniably to most in the Treasure Valley, St. Luke’s is a beacon of hope. Without their expertise, care, and dedication to helping the community, Boise would be a much bleaker place. Luckily for us, St. Luke’s is committed to providing for those in their communities, not only through palliative care but also through ensuring safe, comforting, and affordable housing for all. 

We aren't alone when we don’t think that housing is something most of us would tie immediately to medical providers, but as Theresa McLeod, St. Luke’s Administrator of Community Health & Engagement says, “When people experience homelessness or unsafe and unstable housing, their health often suffers. At St. Luke’s, our mission is to improve the health of the communities we serve. That means partnering with a variety of organizations, like LEAP, to help ensure people have safe, stable housing, and in turn, have the opportunity to live their healthiest lives.”

In order to achieve success in helping their community, Theresa stresses that organizations need to work together in order to bring about this change. “While we will always be there for people in need of medical care, we also believe in working ‘upstream’ and addressing the social determinants of health, like affordable housing. We also know that no single organization can do that alone. We encourage friends and supporters to join the effort to make life healthier for our community members.” 

As Theresa noted, “LEAP’s ability to bring the City of Mountain Home and other health care organizations together for the Falcon’s Landing project is a great example of the innovative approach we value.”   

Thanks to St. Luke’s, LEAP’s Avenues for Hope journey was aided by their selfless donation of $5,000. This matching donation allows the community to come together and create opportunities for new homeowners, for renters, for all. St. Luke’s is quite literally helping us to create home, together. 

St. Luke’s sets out to maximize their “contribution by inspiring others”. Based on their generosity and support, we think it is safe to say they are doing just that, each and every day.

Housing Heroes Profile: Saint Alphonsus

The Housing Heroes profile series covers LEAP’s advocates and major donors who advance the mission of affordable housing in Idaho. The gift by Saint Alphonsus is one of eight donations offering matching funds to all donations in the month of December during Avenues for Hope. To utilize Saint Alphonsus’ donation, visit our Avenues for Hope donation page.

Caritas.

It is a word that most people haven’t seen before. It is a word that some mispronounce as “carnitas”. But this word holds so much meaning. ‘Caritas’ is Latin for charity. The love of humankind. A brotherly love. The kind of love that inspires you to do something for someone you might not even know.

It’s also the name of the first Land Trust in Idaho, which came into existence due to the brotherly love that Saint Alphonsus bestowed upon LEAP Housing. Saint Alphonsus stepped up to the plate and became not only the first donor, but also the lead donor for the LEAP Housing Trust.

The first Land Trust and the first Land Trust donor; it’s only fitting that the name would be Caritas Commons. This isn’t an intangible love either, this love is constant, and perceptible. This love allows 14 families to be housed comfortably, safely, and affordably.

It is thanks to LEAP’s Board President, Jerry Brady, that we even received a seat at the table with Saint Alphonsus. Jerry was instrumental in introducing LEAP Housing’s CEO Bart Cochran to Odette Bolano, President and CEO of Saint Alphonsus. According to Rebecca Lemmons, the Regional Director of Community Health & Well-Being at Saint Alphonsus, “We had a distinct feeling even before we identified a specific project, that LEAP’s mission and focus was on meeting the needs of the community in creative and innovative ways. We really appreciated the partnership in that our missions aligned in doing what was right for the community.

Saint Alphonsus knows that in order to cater to the variety of needs across the state, we need to be innovative. As of right now, they are working on providing employee housing, housing for families experiencing homelessness, and fair market housing. “There are a variety of needs across the state, and we are currently working with the Idaho Housing & Finance Company and the Housing Company to construct 80 units in Nampa that are adjacent to the hospital. Fifteen of these units are specifically for students in the Nampa school district experiencing homelessness.” 

Housing is healthcare; this belief is now being stressed by health organizations across the U.S. But it wasn’t the easiest integration for health systems: “I’ve been heartened and touched by the number of organizations who are helping us to understand the complexities of the housing arena. They’ve been willing to sit and help us learn how housing works here.” 

Jesse Tree, CATCH, the Pacific Companies, IHFA, The Housing Company. These are just a few of the selfless organizations that partnered with Saint Alphonsus to help them understand the nuances of the affordable housing world, and have allowed them to become leaders in the community. 

Thanks to their help, Saint Alphonsus is now truly an organization that not only talks the talk, but also walks the walk. As Rebecca says, “We have to help where we can. Sometimes that is through funding, sometimes through advocacy, sometimes through sharing data we’ve found. “ 

Through this true charity, Saint Alphonsus is truly loving their peers, the community, and inspiring others to step up when the going gets tough. This love will allow innumerable families to be housed comfortably, safely, and affordably for years to come.

Housing Heroes Profile: In Memoriam of Nancy Rose Findlay

The Housing Heroes profile series covers LEAP’s advocates and major donors who advance the mission of affordable housing in Idaho. The gift in memoriam of Nancy Findlay is one of eight major donors to step forward and offer matching funds to all donations in the month of December during Avenues for Hope. To give, visit our Avenues for Hope donation page.

“She never wanted anyone to feel bad,” her husband Chris said. “She could light up a room. She was the kindest, softest person you’ll ever meet in your life.”

She hated wrong in the world.

To make the wrong things a little more right, Nancy and Chris made giving and tithing a huge part of their lives. Original donors in 2018, they put up the first $1500 to secure housing for folks arriving through refugee resettlement. They helped launch LEAP’s Welcome Housing program.

If we can be kind and help people out and give them their first step into America, which was LEAP’s first mission, it can change people’s lives,” Chris explained.

“I think giving is a huge part of the American way of life.”

Housing was and is a tool for the Findlay household to correct wrongs.

Perhaps it's Nancy’s history with housing instability or Chris’ experiences as a realtor that make housing a mainstay in their giving portfolio. It may also be their friendship with LEAP’s founder. Whatever the reasons, Nancy and Chris are dear to LEAP, and we’re inspired by them, their story and their love for goodness. Goodness is how we remember Nancy.

Nancy recently died from cancer. Chris says if she could tell people one thing, it would be this:

“She’d want people to take LEAP’s message to heart and give freely. We all have so much, and what LEAP is trying to do is help people who don’t have so much. We have so much wealth. Give it away. You can’t take it with you.”

Housing Heroes Profile: Roundhouse

The Housing Heroes profile series covers LEAP’s advocates and major donors who advance the mission of affordable housing in Idaho. Roundhouse is one of eight major donors to step forward and offer matching funds to all donations in the month of December during Avenues for Hope. To utilize Roundhouse’s match, visit our Avenues for Hope donation page.

As the COO of a market rate housing developer, you might assume she doesn’t care about affordable housing at all. 

You’d be happily wrong..

Katie Vila, 36 and part of this year’s Leadership Boise, is exactly who you want to be your company’s frontman. She’s smart, compassionate, ambitious. And she’s working with her leadership team to make an impact on affordable housing.

For the record, the phrase “market rate” is the industry jargon for apartments and houses whose rents aren’t adjusted based on income. Affordable housing rents are. Katie and Roundhouse know homelessness and gentrification will happen at scale if they don’t do something to help affordable housing builders like LEAP. 

“We want to combat homelessness and housing instability in the valley. Housing costs, construction costs and rents have skyrocketed during the last two years. A gift to LEAP is very meaningful,” Katie said.

She continued, “Increased costs have been disruptive to many people’s financial stability and lack of wage growth means that some people can no longer afford their home. It is heartbreaking that many people who have called the Treasure Valley home for decades are now forced to reconsider where they will live.”

“One of the things I have always loved about Boise is this notion of Boise Kind -- caring for one another. At a deep level, everyone has a home and a place here. That is what Boise Kind really means. That’s what Roundhouse wants. That’s how we can combat the housing crisis.”

Katie knows making a place for everyone won’t be easy. And maybe not even possible. Katie explained  that there is an ever-widening gap in income inequality. Wage growth in Idaho has been far out-paced by median rents. 

“People that are making $30,000 a year have nowhere to go,” Katie pointed out. “It doesn’t matter how much more supply you bring to the market if it is all market rate supply, they still don’t have a place to go. We need to support organizations who are building affordable housing.”

The daughter of two calculus teachers, the mathematics and economics of the housing crisis are not lost on her. But it’s refreshing to hear a corporation give a compassionate voice to the stories of the people impacted by the “calculus” of the situation. 

Maybe, just maybe, it’s not entirely a numbers game. Maybe kindness and compassion and understanding are part of the solution as well.

Housing Heroes Profile: In Memoriam of Dama Overstreet

The Housing Heroes profile series covers LEAP’s advocates and major donors who advance the mission of affordable housing in Idaho. The gift in memoriam of Dama is one of eight donations offering matching funds to all donations in the month of December during Avenues for Hope. To utilize the match in memoriam of Dama, visit our Avenues for Hope donation page.

Dama is the ultimate Idaho Housing Hero. Let’s put it this way. If there were a Walk of Fame for housing, she’d have the first star. And the second one.

She was simply prolific. 

For starters, Dama was the longest-standing (1980 - 2003) Executive Director of what eventually became the Ada County Association of Realtors (ACAR) and now is the Boise Regional Realtors (BRR). The Boise Regional Realtors is a big deal. It is the pre-eminent education and training association for realtors in Idaho. 

There’s not actually a university-level institution for Idaho realtors, but Dama would’ve been the Dean if there were. 

Through her leadership, real estate agents gained the Intermountain Multiple Listing Service (iMLS). If you’ve bought or sold a home in recent memory, you can almost guarantee that the iMLS was involved. With the iMLS, realtors are able to create and share precisely accurate real estate data. 

It’s not just homeowners that rely on iMLS data, though. It’s also public officials making decisions about economic policies. The iMLS is so big now that it is a wholly owned subsidiary of BRR.

Dama’s influence went beyond training and into the community. Dama’s early work in lobbying with the then-known Boise Board of Realtors tremendously influenced the state legislature. By overseeing the creation of the REALTORS® Community Foundation in 1995, she provided a way for the industry to give back to the community. To date, $1.8M has been awarded through the foundation. 

She also served as a board member of NeighborWorks Boise, Capital City Development Corporation, Better Business Bureau, National Association of Realtors. On the ground she invested time into the Boise Junior League and the BJL Sustainers. She loved giving back by serving at women and children’s organizations.

“Dama was passionate about raising women up,” her daughter Mary Overstreet said. “She was a proponent of education for women, adult education, women’s rights and affordable housing.” 

What would Dama say if she could say anything to us today? Mary knows. 

“Stand up for everyone’s rights. Because the next rights they come for just might be yours.”

Dama would be so appreciative if any donations made in her honor be made to LEAP Housing where her daughter is hoping to continue her work in providing dignified, affordable housing throughout Idaho. 

Note: The above article was taken from a full obituary written by Mary Overstreet. To view the full obituary, click here.

Housing Heroes Profile: Jerry Brady

The Housing Heroes profile series covers LEAP’s advocates and major donors who advance the mission of affordable housing in Idaho. Jerry is one of eight major donors to step forward and offer matching funds to all donations in the month of December during Avenues for Hope. To utilize Jerry’s match, visit our Avenues for Hope donation page.

Jerry Brady had a scare this summer. Brady, 85, was admitted to the hospital for three days. After a battery of tests, which he calls “wonderful,” it turned out to be nothing more than a case of dehydration. But it got Jerry thinking ...

“How much longer do you think I have?” he asked a doctor friend.

“I think you’ve got 10 more years,” came the reply. 

Jerry will tell you he is a numbers kind of guy. He likes quantitative goals and measures. He likes that his doctor friend gave him 10 more years. 

“I thought, ‘I’m 85, now what?’ Maybe I’d like to take the idea of a 10-year plan seriously. I like that idea.” 

A 10-year plan sounds like business jargon, right? Like something a corporation would do to advance the number of widgets it would sell in Seattle. But that’s not Jerry at all. Jerry is concerned with how much good he can do in his next 10 years. 

Decades ago Jerry graduated from Notre Dame. He says he bought into the institution “hook, line and sinker.” 

“I wanted my life to reflect the gospel. I am profoundly influenced by Christ’s preference for the poor.”

Notre Dame’s influence and Jerry’s awareness of disparities in the United States and around the globe brought him to the doorsteps of some organizations that were happy to receive his help.

Peace Corps, Accion International, Idaho Conservation League, Semilla Nueva. These are just a few of the organizations that Jerry has given his time, talent or treasure to over the years. And, oh yeah, he was once Idaho’s Democratic candidate for governor. 

With a lifetime of public service, we’re eager to see the fruit of Jerry’s 10-year plan. 

Part of getting his 10-year plan in motion involves LEAP, of course, and someone you may not have heard of - Lisa Cooper. Lisa Cooper founded Figure 8 Investing Strategies, a Boise B-corp. She’s kind of a local pioneer for helping people make socially responsible investments. 

“I turned all my assets over to Lisa. She’s got us connected to some really fantastic places like the Idaho Montana CDFI, an organic farming co-op in Illinois and housing for poor folks in Mississippi.”

Assets in order, Jerry is helping LEAP make an impact that you can really see. “You don’t really get to see the salmon returning to Redfish Lake,” he says. “The thing about LEAP is you actually get to see the result.” 

Jerry is president of the board at LEAP and has nurtured its growth and impact since 2018. But the best is yet to come. 

“Creating 1000 homes in 10 years is something I take personally.”

Jerry is referencing LEAP’s working draft of a strategic plan. You might have guessed that the plan, which Jerry is helping shape, attempts to answer a question that involves funding, land and construction. Namely, how do you build 1000 affordable homes in Idaho in 10 years? 

We’ve got some time.

Sidenote. If you’ve been around the inner workings of LEAP, you’ll hear Lisa’s name a lot. She was instrumental in helping LEAP create the LEAP Loan fund, a special investment pool that helps LEAP create affordable housing. 

IMLS Joins REALTORS® Donation to LEAP, Totaling $350,000

BOISE – Intermountain MLS (IMLS) recently announced a $100,000 donation to the LEAP Housing Trust, as part of a combined effort with the REALTORS® Community Foundation, and Boise Regional REALTORS®, which previously announced a $250,000 gift. In total, the three organizations will donate $350,000 to LEAP over the next few years.

LEAP’s Housing Trust helps more people achieve the dream of home, by creating affordably priced homeownership and rental opportunities.

“We are excited to provide a multi-year donation from the REALTORS® and IMLS to support the construction of homes in Ada, Elmore, and Gem counties,” said Shirley Koch, 2021 President of IMLS. “In Boise, for example, the Taft Street Homes project is in the pre-construction phase with plans to break ground in early 2022.”

Site of Taft Street Homes, a LEAP Housing Development

Pictured in photo (from left to right): Becky Enrico-Crum (BRR President-Elect), Glenn Christoph (IMLS CEO), Shirley Koch (IMLS President), Breanna Vanstrom (BRR CEO), Jeff Wills (BRR President), Shannan Berry (RCF President-Elect), Bart Cochran (LEAP CEO), and Gary Salisbury (RCF President)

Falcon’s Landing – a multi-family project in Mountain Home – recently submitted applications for grants and is in the funding phase, and a project in Emmett is in the feasibility phase.

Jeff Wills, 2021 President of Boise Regional REALTORS®, said, “LEAP’s Housing Trust is a powerful tool when it comes to creating affordable housing solutions, which gives more options for potential homeowners to choose from.”

More information on each project will be made available in the coming months.

“There are still opportunities to help LEAP and further their work in Ada, Elmore, and Gem counties,” said Gary Salisbury, 2021 President of the REALTORS® Community Foundation. “Financial and land gifts are both welcome, and they can be made by visiting leaphousing.org.”

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LEAP Housing is a Boise-based nonprofit working to develop and preserve affordable housing while providing supportive services that lead to greater housing stability in Idaho. To learn more about LEAP Housing, visit leaphousing.org, or contact info@leapcharities.org or 208-391-2823.

Boise Regional REALTORS® (BRR) is the largest local REALTOR® association in Idaho, serving thousands of real estate professionals. BRR helps members succeed in real estate by providing resources in business ethics and professionalism, while also fostering industry and community connections. The REALTORS® Community Foundation seeks to improve the quality of life in the throughout Ada, Elmore, and Gem counties, through housing-related projects and grants. The association incorporated the Foundation in 1995 as a 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more about BRR and the Foundation at boirealtors.com, or contact Pete Clark, Director of Communications for Boise Regional REALTORS®.

Intermountain Multiple Listing Service (IMLS) promotes and enhances a cooperative real estate marketplace by focusing on data, training, and tools for real estate professionals throughout Idaho. Learn more at intermountainmls.com, or contact Nichol Lapierre, Marketing and Communications Manager for IMLS.

Words from Jerry: A Statewide Housing Initiative is Underway

This fall, LEAP Housing is extending to the entire state of Idaho its campaign to provide housing that is affordable for vulnerable Idahoans.  Want to understand one wee aspect of the problem?  Try finding a cup of coffee in McCall on a Monday afternoon.

Five stops and every caffeine source is closed because the shops have no workers.  They have no workers because there is no housing for them.

In this trivial example, the caffeine seekers are LEAP CEO Bart Cochran and myself.  At the invitation of seven small towns desperate to find shelter for workers needed to grow—or even maintain—their economy, we hit the road October 18 heading north.  It was not long before serious examples began to emerge.   

In Orofino, housing is missing for the staff of the state’s psychiatric hospital, a state prison and a regional hospital.  Clearwater County Commissioner Vince Frazier tells us over 100 workers seeking to rent or buy homes have stacked up ever-expanding manufactured home communities west of town.

It is not that there are inadequate or low quality dwellings.  There are none.

It’s a dirty shame there is not enough affordable housing to go around. Photo taken at Dirty Shame Saloon in Crouch.

Tony Mastroiannni, who with his wife Heather owns a coffee shop in Orofino (Yes, we found one!), tells us the region’s emergency medical technicians live in RV’s outside the ambulance door, there being no other place for them.  Where the 25 new hires at the state hospital will live is a mystery to one and all.

The failure of workers throughout the country to return to work is well known.  “Help Wanted” signs are everywhere.  McDonald’s is paying $13 an hour, $15 in some places.

Jobs at the Orofino prison pay $19 an hour to start yet no one is starting, we are told.  

Half way through the tour—after Crouch, McCall and Orofino—we have yet to hear a discouraging word.  Seldom have emissaries been more welcome.  Asked about “Not In My Back Yard” sentiments, so familiar in Idaho’s cities, and Vince Frazier, Benewah County Commissioner and mayors and administrators in  three cities assure us that--fear not--everyone knows affordable housing is needed and will be in eager support.

In each community, Cochran offers to help think through the options.  Locals know what property is available, limited as it may be.  They can imagine who might partner in a new push for housing for those most likely in need of housing—those making 80 percent of the area’s median income.  But this is a complicated, expensive business.

Cochran offers LEAP’s full cooperation to begin the exploration.  He defines LEAP’s purpose and goals.  He sets out a broad menu of possible first steps and eventual funding solutions.  The conversation eventually turns to new infrastructure funding—more than $1 billion for Idaho, with portions broken down to lower levels of government.

So dire is the need that Bart and I, Orofino officials, an historic restoration architect and others spend a morning inside a revered but long-shuttered Odd Fellows Hall, at 100 years the oldest structure in town.  It might be rehabilitated to yield just six apartments after an inevitably long process yet there is an eagerness to proceed.

Odd Fellows Hall in Orofino, at over 100 years old it is one of the oldest buildings in town.

Our tour began in the tiny community of Crouch where developers of a new resort recognize they and the Garden Valley community cannot be successful without workforce housing.  It’s likely two years off but Cochran promises to scope out the nature and extent of the need.

In McCall, the housing prospect revolves around a thrift shop affiliated with St. Luke’s Hospital, which has supported LEAP’s work in the Treasure Valley.  Might housing be built above and adjacent to stores near downtown?  

One morning Cochran is on a Zoom call with economic development officers throughout the state.  Over 40 are on the call.  Sun Valley/Wood River Valley and Driggs are seeing land prices triple.  Benewah County is offering to tear down decrepit buildings for free if landowners will consider selling or building themselves.  Every community, without exception, is deeply concerned.

Yet I return to that phrase, “Not a discouraging word.”  Benewah County’s economic development officer speaks of the empathy he has seen generated when seemingly differing citizens sit down to talk about meeting this universal human need, now growing more crucial each day.  

We began our trip in two days of brilliant autumnal sunshine, the best of times.  Wednesday saw rain.  The skies have to be cloudy some days but they cannot be cloudy all day.  So we shall see.   But one thing is clear:  this is the most urgent of work.  A state-wide initiative has begun.

We stopped at a speakeasy to cap off the trip, cheers to all the collaborators along the way.

About the author: Jerry Brady has been on the LEAP Housing Board of Directors since 2018. Jerry is a former publisher and president of the Idaho Falls Post Register and was twice Idaho's Democratic candidate for governor. Previously, he was an assistant to Idaho Senator Frank Church, assistant director of the Peace Corps, practiced international trade law and co-founded Accion International, a pioneer in micro-financing for the poor.

Welcome Housing Relaunch Update - $25K Left!

The renovations of our first condo on the Boise Bench are underway thanks to the generosity of over thirty-five donors! 

This summer we began reaching out to the community with an opportunity to support refugee resettlement in Boise. LEAP’s three Welcome Housing condos needed renovations along with durable furniture and appliances to prepare for the anticipated arrival of our newest neighbors arriving from Afghanistan. (Read: ‘Boise begins welcoming dozens of Afghan refugees’ on KTVB, 10/19/21)

A variety of individuals, churches and businesses from across the community answered the call and supported our efforts. 

We are so encouraged by the response from everyone in the community, we are pleased to share that we have raised over $25,000 so far! We are still looking for another $25,000 to help us reach our goal of $50,000 and open the remaining two Welcome Houses.

To those who have given, THANK YOU! Your desire to provide a safe, affordable and welcoming home to individuals and families arriving through refugee resettlement is inspiring. 

We wanted to update the LEAP family on some of our progress so far, here are some photos of the work being done on our first condo:

Next Up:

• Painting

• Plumbing

• Tearing out the old cabinets

• Installing new cabinets, appliances, fixtures, etc.

• Installing new flooring

We are still looking for volunteers to help with the more technical work that needs done from the list above. Please let us know if you or anyone you know is interested. Also, we still need more funding to finish all three condos! Spread the word and let us know if you have anyone interested in supporting this project. You can contact us at info@leaphousing.org.

Thank you for your continued support of Welcome Housing! We are so excited to be one step closer to welcoming individuals and families arriving through refugee resettlement. 

LEAP Charities Releases New Logo

Boise, Idaho -- LEAP Housing, a not-for-profit affordable housing developer in Boise, launched a new logo and website Tuesday.

“The new logo gives us a fresh opportunity to communicate our approach to solving the housing crisis,” said LEAP’s Founder and Executive Director Bart Cochran. “At our core, we build and preserve housing inventory, and we do it with creativity.”

During the last year LEAP procured $2.1M in creating the region’s first land trust for affordable homeownership and applied for funding to build more than 100 units of affordable housing. 

“Creativity is really at the core of everything we do,” said Cochran. “The heartbeat of the brand is wrapped up in challenging the status quo. Think about our first housing development project. We used upcycled shipping containers, clad housing units in solar panels, xeriscaped, and still were able to serve a critical segment of income limited households needing access to affordable housing.

Brand Director Tracy Cochran added, “The new logo exudes creativity. It’s beautiful, colorful and fun. These aren’t the normal adjectives you associate with affordable housing. By changing our logo, we hope to not simply tell our story better, but we also hope to change perceptions about the industry.

We want to create an inclusive, warm and welcoming brand for those who benefit from our services and for those who join LEAP to build solutions.”

In 2020, 415 individuals used LEAP’s services, and 50 volunteers helped build housing solutions.

Another example of creative thinking, LEAP launched a virtual roadshow to mobilize faith communities to participate in putting an end to the housing crisis by repurposing underutilized land.  

The housing crisis in Idaho has been described as a puzzle that needs to be collectively solved by individuals, businesses, organizations and other groups who have their own, unique, puzzle piece to add to the solution.

LEAP’s logo illustrates this philosophy. Individual components of the logo are like a kit of parts - collectively forming a house. Likewise, LEAP thinks of itself as a rallying point for those who want to collectively build housing solutions in a creative way.   

To learn more about LEAP Housing, visit the new website at leaphousing.org, or contact LEAP at info@leaphousing.org or 208-391-2823.