The AmeriCorps VISTA Experience with LEAP (Now Hiring!)

Looking for a job after graduating with a college degree can be intimidating for some. Many are simply looking to get their foot in the door and have an employer take a chance on you. Even during my studies, I was disappointed to see many job openings that I thought I’d be qualified for requiring 3-5 years of experience.

To be completely candid, my confidence was dropping every day that I didn’t get that dream job right after college. I wanted to have meaningful work with a mission-aligned organization in my community, but I also wanted an opportunity to do things I had never done before. I wanted to grow, learn and be allowed to face adversity, although many entry level jobs don't provide that kind of opportunity.

That’s where AmeriCorps VISTA was a blessing for me and my future as a professional.

I joined the LEAP team as a VISTA back in the summer of 2019. (Boy, does time fly by!) At the time, it felt like I was drinking out of a firehose -- and I loved it. During the first few weeks of my year-long service term, I realized VISTA service was right for me.

I was talking with my supervisor about how I could utilize my passions and skills to further LEAP’s mission and build increased capacity across the organization. When I wrapped up, I was asked a question I wasn't expecting. "Well, we know your passion and philosophy matches our organization, but what do you want out of this experience?"

Boom! While my skills would benefit the organization and the community, I was allowed to grow as a professional as I helped folks in my own backyard. I, along with the community, got to grow together, and it still holds true today. It was the dream scenario to fall into an opportunity like this, one that just needed a LEAP of faith. (See what I did there?)

Why am I sharing my story? Well, because I know my story isn’t unique, and guess what, we have more VISTA openings! If you or someone you know may be a good fit to serve our country and local community, send them this link. We’re looking for a Housing Development Coordinator and Public Relations Coordinator, learn more on our job board.

VISTAs (Volunteers in Service to America) is essentially the domestic PeaceCorps, working full time (40 hours/week), providing $15,000/year paid by AmeriCorps, a $6,000 education award after one year of service, a monthly housing stipend and additional benefits. Any and all education, skill and experience backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

What we are doing today will long outlast our time in Boise, join the LEAP team as an AmeriCorps VISTA today! Not sure if AmeriCorps VISTA with LEAP is right for you? Send any of your questions to zeb@leaphousing.org

REALTORS® Announce $250,000 Gift to LEAP Housing Trust to Fund New Affordable Homes and Rentals

LEAP Housing, a Boise-based nonprofit that creates affordable housing, has agreed to receive a $250,000 donation from the Boise Regional REALTORS® Community Foundation, to be gifted over the next few years. The Foundation is the charitable arm of Boise Regional REALTORS® (BRR), the local trade association for real estate professionals. BRR is providing the funding for this gift with support from Intermountain MLS (IMLS), another BRR subsidiary.

This news was announced at BRR’s Elmore County Housing Summit on July 19th, which highlighted LEAP Housing’s proposed affordable housing development in Mountain Home, called Falcon’s Landing. This Elmore County site would be the largest affordable multi-family project in Mountain Home in over two decades and will include both affordable rental and homeownership.

“In our work with prospective homebuyers, REALTORS® are keenly aware of the lack of affordable housing available throughout our region,” said Gary Salisbury, 2021 President of the REALTORS® Community Foundation. “While we have provided nearly $1.7 million in grants to various nonprofits since 1995, this will be our first significant gift to one organization.”

Jeff Wills, 2021 President of Boise Regional REALTORS®, said “LEAP’s Housing Trust was chosen for this gift not only because of what they build, but by doing so, they provide more options to help people achieve the dream of homeownership.”

The REALTORS® gift will also support the development of the Taft Street Homes in Boise. This project is LEAP’s first community through a public-private partnership opportunity utilizing church-owned land (Collister United Methodist Church) to create essential, affordable housing. The community will feature rental units with 3-4 bedrooms, 2 baths, fenced backyards and a garage, plus on-site recreation, raised garden beds for growing fresh produce, and a landscape design focused on native and drought tolerant plants for green space.

In the following years, the REALTORS® gift is planned to go towards a project in Gem County. LEAP has identified a site and is currently in the very early stages of feasibility review. LEAP is searching for landowners and development partners in the area to undergo the creation of affordable housing for the residents of Gem Country. Any project in Gem County will begin in 2023 at the earliest.

“We have navigated the housing crisis by partnering with groups across multiple sectors; municipalities, health providers, religious organizations, and now real estate,” said Founder and CEO of LEAP Housing, Bart Cochran. “The support of our real estate community is essential if we are going to identify available land and provide innovative solutions to combat the affordable housing crisis we see today in the Boise Metro Area.”

LEAP continues to search for partnerships with land owning entities like churches and private individuals to build upon previous successful developments like Windy Court and Caritas Commons. Licensed real estate agents throughout Idaho are encouraged to contact LEAP with available land opportunities and partnerships.

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 LEAP at info@leaphousing.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 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.

The Relaunch of Welcome Housing

Why do we need a relaunch? 

It’s been a little over a year since Welcome Housing has operated as short-term housing for those arriving through refugee resettlement. Due to policies set forth by the presidential administration and the COVID-19 pandemic, the amount of people arriving to the United States has been at an all time low.

Thankfully, we are now able to start putting the pieces back together and prepare for the arrival of New Americans. This is both overwhelming and exciting. With this in mind, we realized that a program revamp was needed to continue serving Welcome Housing guests to our very best ability.

We know that we are better together, so we have taken this time of preparation to meet and plan alongside the International Rescue Committee, Agency for New Americans and Glocal to provide the best holistic housing opportunity and service to our guests.

One of the most exciting developments of the relaunch includes the renovation of all three Welcome Housing condos! This renovation will consist of general updates to the condo as well as updated appliances and furniture. Our hope is that these new developments will create a more comfortable, welcoming, and sustainable transition space for our guests.

What makes Welcome Housing different from a hotel?

1. Affordability- The costs to stay at our condos is and always will be at least 40% cheaper than a hotel.

2. Smooth transition and comfort for guests- Unlike a hotel, the Welcome Housing condos resemble what the guests long term housing will be like. This reduces stress and allows for an easier transition.

3. Efficiency for Resettlement Agencies- By working with resettlement agencies to help assist families as they transition, agencies are then given more capacity to serve each family.

4. Training & Education Support- Families who stay in Welcome Housing are equipped with educational resources related to housing and long-term stability.

How will this happen?

We hope to raise all the funds we need throughout the summer through the Welcome Housing Relaunch Campaign.

In order for us to renovate the condos and finish developing our new program, we need to raise $85,000 by October 2021.

If you would like to help us kickstart our campaign, click here!

If you would like more information on our fundraising campaign please contact us by sending an email to info@leaphousing, or by phone at (208) 391-2823.

Community Medical Resources

At LEAP, we recognize the significant connection between health and housing. As an affordable housing developer we seek to provide clean, safe, and stable homes for all of our residents. In an attempt to care for the overall health and well-being of our residents, we partnered with Genesis Community Health to learn more about medical resources in the Treasure Valley and surrounding areas.

We know that finding a reliable and inexpensive healthcare provider can often feel overwhelming and complicated. Thanks to Josh Campbell, at Genesis Community Health, we have put together a comprehensive network of medical assistance resources. Through the creation of this document we hope to make these resources available and easily accessible, ultimately reducing the barriers that keep households from accessing healthcare.

This document contains free and sliding fee medical care options, medical expense assistance, and where to find free or low-cost medical insurance. Here you will find a one page, printable resource flyer. Please check out the resources and see if you qualify today!

LEAP Housing Trust

LEAP Housing Trust featured in the Statesman

At the end of last month, we successfully raised $6,506 from over 55 donors during our Idaho Gives campaign. Idaho Gives is a fundraising campaign for all nonprofits (over 650 of them!) in the state of Idaho. We are so thankful for our local community who provides us support everyday, and that isn’t just limited to financial contributions.

Recently, we announced that we were able to raise $2.1M for the LEAP Housing Trust capital campaign, capped off by a $300K gift by Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation. 13 other organizations in the Northwest provided grants to get us close to reaching our goal.

[ICYMI: Idaho trust for affordable housing raises $2.1 million]

Today, we are working to fill the remaining $23,000 gap to provide funding for supportive services and necessary management for the Trust. That’s a mere 1% of the overall goal!

The Idaho Statesman recently profiled our Executive Director, Bart Cochran, and the Whitney Commons community, one of the first in the LEAP Housing Trust, at the site where future homes will sit.

You will find this quote in the article, from the seller of the parcel, Wendy Khlar:

“If I develop a little project and sell it to a builder ... if that builder changes his mind after the sale, there’s little that can be done,” said Klahr. “When I work with Bart [LEAP], there’s actually some certainty that my vision for affordability is actually going to come to fruition.”

Read the full story: Amid widespread housing deficit, 11 new affordable homes are coming to West Boise.

You can help, as Wendy said, help the vision for affordability come to fruition by chipping in toward our $23,000 gap to operate the Trust moving forward.

Whitney Commons is the second community planned in the LEAP Housing Trust, made possible by the support of the community. Located in West Boise, the community will have 11 homes that will be available for affordable home ownership, with one existing home being renovated and rented. All 12 homes will only be available to those who make at or below 80% Area Median Income (AMI).

What is 80% AMI in Boise? It’s $59,850 for a family of four.

For context, the average Idaho salary for a firefighter is $45,250, while for a public school teacher it’s $55,836. (Source: Salary.com)

Our neighbors bring so much to the community that we all benefit from, but the rocketing housing market has left many people behind. The LEAP Housing Trust provides the opportunity to start building generational wealth for families through home ownership that is not available in the housing market today.

Additionally, you can help LEAP continue to make a dent in the deficit of over 22,000 affordably priced units in Idaho by sharing the Idaho Statesman article on social media, and by sharing this post to your friends and family who would like to see more innovative housing opportunities become available.

Thank you for supporting the work we do by donating and sharing our story. We can’t do the work we do without the backing of community members who care for our fellow neighbors.

Let’s build home together.

LEAP Housing Solutions Completes $2.1 Million Housing Trust Capital Campaign With Final $300K Gift From Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation

Boise, Idaho -- LEAP Housing Solutions, a Boise-based nonprofit that creates affordable housing, has raised $2.1 million to complete the first capital campaign of the LEAP Housing Trust thanks in part to a $300,000 grant from the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health. The LEAP Housing Trust creates homes with sales prices that are affordable to households who are considered low income or earn 80% of the area median income. Saint Alphonsus Health System was a key donor in launching the campaign with a $240,000 lead gift.

The LEAP Housing Trust has three important benefits: creating affordable homes, building equity, and remaining affordable forever. Homes are affordable since homeowners are only purchasing the home, not the land, which is owned by the Trust. All homeowners build equity on their homes, including any improvements made.

If a homeowner is ready to sell, the Trust ensures that the home will be sold to another qualifying buyer, creating perpetual affordability. With skyrocketing home prices and many Idahoans being priced out of the market, the LEAP Housing Trust is an attractive solution for many.

The average sales price for homes in Boise is currently $454,000, the first homes in the Trust are priced below $300,000. Inventory in the market is nearly nonexistent in this price range and LEAP is working to fill the need for affordable homeownership opportunities for Idaho families/residents.

“The LEAP Housing Trust is a powerful wealth building tool to create scalable solutions for Idahoans to purchase homes in a housing market that has left many individuals and families behind,” said Founder and Executive Director of LEAP Housing Solutions, Bart Cochran. “With the support of our healthcare community and many other major donors who believe stable housing is healthcare, the LEAP Housing Trust is positioned to continue creating homes that will be affordable forever.”

Caritas Commons (14 homes at 9865 Shields Ave. in Boise), Whitney Commons (11 homes at 921 N. Shamrock Ave. in Boise) and an unnamed project in Mountain Home will be the first three communities in the LEAP Housing Trust. LEAP is looking to expand throughout Idaho to make homes in the Trust available across the state.

“The Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health is dedicated to addressing root causes to health issues,” said Kendra Witt-Doyle, Executive Director, Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health. “Housing is an important driver to health and well-being, and Idaho is at a unique moment to start addressing housing gaps. As one of the fastest growing states in the nation, we need to build housing today to help future Idahoans get and stay healthy.”

Only $30,000 of operational funding to manage the Trust is needed to launch the program and support new homeowners. LEAP is participating in Idaho Gives to finish this off and open the first community. The public can donate to the Trust during Idaho Gives at idahogives.org/organizations/leap-housing-solutions.

The LEAP Housing Trust was made possible by the 14 contributions of individuals, corporations and foundations who made the decision to invest in the communities in which they live and serve. LEAP continues to look for community partners who want to get involved in a solution to the housing market that is rapidly leaving Idahoans behind. Because of the nature of the LEAP Housing Trust, initial investments made by the community will continue to provide opportunities for generations of Idahoans.

The $2.1 million capital campaign was supported by the following major donors: Saint Alphonsus, Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health, Whitney Foundation, Federal Home Loan Bank, Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation, Harry Morrison Foundation, Boise Regional Realtors Foundation, First Interstate Bank, the Idaho Community Foundation and private individuals.

LEAP Housing Solutions 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 the LEAP Housing Trust, how to donate to the Trust, or how to sell land to the Trust, visit FinallyAffordable.org or contact LEAP at info@leapcharities.org or (208) 391-2823.

The Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health, Inc., is a nonprofit charitable foundation established in 2001 by Blue Cross of Idaho. The Foundation is dedicated to addressing the root causes to some of Idaho’s most pressing health issues. More information is available at www.bcidahofoundation.org.

Donate towards the LEAP Housing Trust during Idaho Gives 2021: April 29 – May 6

One of the exciting programs that LEAP has added to our growing list of services during the first quarter of 2021 is the LEAP Housing Trust. During this year’s Idaho Gives campaign, we ask that you support the Trust by donating from April 29 - May 6 at LEAP’s Idaho Gives webpage.

The LEAP Housing Trust exists to create homes that are affordable to purchase for Idahoans who make 80% or less of the Area Median Income (AMI). As home prices continue to rise out of control, many Idahoans are being left behind without an opportunity to purchase a home and generate wealth for their families.

With this home ownership model, homeowners own their home and the land is owned by the Trust to guarantee that the homes will continue to be affordable even when someone sells. This model enables homes to be sold below the average homes sales price because of the different ways donations, grants and investments can subsidize costs to construct the homes.

The median home sales price in Ada County is now $454,000, nearly double what it was in 2015. A family making 80% AMI can afford approximately $275,000 and not become housing burdened (30% of Gross Income going to housing costs.) That sales price was surpassed in 2017.

The first homes in the Trust are priced in the low to mid $200's. Inventory in the market is currently near nonexistent in this price range and LEAP is working to fill the need for affordable homeownership opportunities for Idaho families and residents.

BoiseDev first profiled the first homes in the Trust last August when we announced the key first gift made by Saint Alphonsus. (Check out the article here: Housing and health: St. Al’s partners with LEAP to help create more affordable housing in Boise.)

Coming up here shortly, we anticipate having some great news to share regarding the Capital Campaign for the first three communities in the LEAP Housing Trust.

Until then, mark your calendars! Idaho Gives will run from Thursday, April 29th through Thursday, May 6th. You can support LEAP and our newest program, the LEAP Housing Trust, by donating here!

Thank you for your continued support over the years as LEAP has grown from a one program nonprofit in 2016 to today, where we develop and preserve homes while providing supportive services across our six programs. Our work is made possible by your generosity and love for your community.

P.S. Of course you can donate towards the LEAP Housing Trust outside of the Idaho Gives campaign! Just click the “Donate” button on the top right of the webpage, or click here to give to the LEAP Housing Trust today!

How to Find an Affordable Housing Rental

There is a shortage of housing, and now with the impacts from the pandemic -- it is more competitive than ever to find an affordable rental. If you’re looking for a place to live, or may even have a voucher, you’ll need to be ready in the event a unit becomes available on the market.

Here are five tips from LEAP Executive Director, Bart Cochran, on how to prepare and find yourself an affordable housing rental in an increasingly competitive market.

1. Get ready. Landlords will ask you to fill out an application and provide supporting documents (such as proof of income). Gather it all up and put it in a folder. Be prepared to share it at a moment's notice when the opportunity presents itself.

2. Standout (in a good way). Create a list of accomplishments that help you stand out from the crowd. Programs you have graduated from, volunteering that you do -- anything to show you are responsible and capable of being a successful renter. If given the opportunity, gather letters of recommendation. Your employer, case worker or even faith leader are always great additions.

3. Use online resources. Housingidaho.com - This is the central hub for affordable rentals in the valley. This is the main listing site managed by IHFA. Start by searching here and look for available units. There is a phone number you can call too, called the housing hotline. It is staffed by our friend Erik Kingston who is a wealth of knowledge. The housing hotline number is 855-505-4700 - Ext. 8602.

Hotpads.com - This site aggregates all the other rental listing sites together (including craigslist into one place - except housingidaho.com). This becomes a one stop shop. The search is easy because it is map based so you can really refine your search to your needs, liking, etc. Best of all you can set up alerts that will tell you real time when something gets listed in your price range, unit size, location, etc.

4. Be persistent and check back regularly. If there continue to be no vacancies, look at the various properties listed on housingidaho.com (even if they show no vacancy) and identify sites you would like to live at. Call these properties directly and ask to get on their waiting list. As for confirmation that you are in fact on the waiting list and how far down that list you are. Check back with the property manager weekly.

5. Ask questions (kindly). Are there currently any vacancies? Have I moved up the list at all? Are there any vacancies coming up that you know of? Most importantly - be super nice! The property manager is the gatekeeper to vacant units and also someone you will have to get along with if you move in. Don't hesitate to go the extra mile to make sure the PM knows you are a great person. They have a difficult job and your kindness will go a long way.

Good luck out there!

P.S. This blog post is ideal for someone preparing for or currently searching for an affordable rental that is currently housed and has at least a 30 day window of time to locate one. If you are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless we recommend you contact our friends at Our Path Home.Check out their site for more information in their critical community resources.

Giving Opportunity!

As LEAP creates more affordable homes, we are seeking to prepare to welcome our guests and residents as best we can. One way we do this is by providing welcome baskets and essential items for all of our residents. This includes everyone in Welcome Housing, LEAP affordable rental homes, and new homeowners.

Below are some common household items and supplies we are currently in need of. 

Cleaning Supplies:

• multi-purpose cleaner

• floor cleaner

• window cleaner

• dish soap

• dishwasher detergent 

• Dish sponges

• 13 gal. trash bags

• toilet paper

• paper towels

Here are some places you can use to support our new residents!

AMAZON LIST:

LOCAL COMPANIES:

For kitchen supplies/cleaning supplies, please use the Boise Co-op (Order in-person or online).

For household goods/decor/storage containers/baskets (please contact us before buying):

• The Boise Farmers Market

• Mixed Greens

• Idaho Made

GIFTCARDS:

• Winco ($25)

• Walmart ($25)

Please contact info@leaphousing.org for more information. Thank you for supporting LEAP and everyone in our community accessing affordable housing through our services!

30+ Faith Leaders Participate in LEAP’s YIGBY Tour

Our 2021 online YIGBY Tour has officially come to an end, and we couldn’t be happier with the results. We had a great time presenting to faith communities across the Treasure Valley, and helping them discover the many ways they can get involved in helping alleviate the affordable housing crisis in Idaho. We especially enjoyed having our local panel share their firsthand experiences with how their churches have taken on this challenge to fill the need for affordable housing.

We would like to give a special thanks to Meggan Manlove of Trinity Lutheran Church in Nampa, Karen Hunter & Kat Tigerman of Grace Episcopal Church and The House Next Door in Nampa, and Joe Bankard of Collister United Methodist Church in Boise. Each of them presented unique and encouraging stories that left us feeling inspired.

We are so excited that there are already churches stepping up and saying “Yes in God’s Backyard” and we believe this tour is just the beginning of getting local faith communities involved in using their excess land for a greater good.

Check out an article that BoiseDev published about our tour here!

If you were not able to attend and would like to view the recordings, please Email us at info@leapcharities.org.

The Importance of Housing Stability

Housing stability/instability is frequently referenced in conversations surrounding housing, but remains rarely defined. According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, the complex issue of housing instability can encompass a multitude of challenges, including: high housing costs, overcrowding, moving frequently, staying with relatives, homelessness, or being severely rent burdened each month (2020.) On the other hand, a stable home is permanent, safe, and appropriate for the needs of the household.

While the creation of affordable housing is part of a larger solution, the transition to stability and self sufficiency is often jeopardized due to the many obstacles that households face. LEAP is dedicated to serving residents in a comprehensive manner that extends beyond the creation of housing. We believe that housing is a core determinant of personal health and well-being, and is essential for individuals and families to face the unique challenges they face.

Housing assistance paired with supportive services helps ensure that households are able to overcome their personal barriers to maintaining housing stability.

Here at LEAP, we have heard numerous stories of housing transformation and stability. One of the households we currently serve is a perfect example of how stable and affordable housing can be the catalyst needed for greater change.

This particular family was facing homelessness when we met them, and had fallen through the cracks of the housing system. This family searched for affordable housing that would provide stability, and during that process they came across LEAP. We worked with the family to ensure they would have a new home that suited the needs of their family and their financial situation. Since moving in, they have established themselves in the community, enrolled their children in a local public school, and are a joy to be around!

This story is not uncommon.

As we look forward to the future of affordable housing development and preservation, stories like these are our biggest motivator. By continually developing and improving our services, we hope to reach more and more individuals and families in Idaho, one home at a time.

City of Boise Announces Emergency Rental Assistance Program

As the pandemic continues to impact safe, stable and secure housing, there are new resources for folks to use to ensure they are not displaced from their homes.

The City of Boise announced last week that they received $11.5M from the Federal Government as a result of the most recently passed COVID-19 relief bill. The Mayor and City Council unanimously approved the rental assistance program, which will be available to all residents who are struggling to pay rent or utilities.

Boiseans who are currently renting can apply for grants in order to cover rent, utility bills or energy costs. If you are the owner of a home that you are renting to someone, you are able to apply for the program on behalf of those living in the home.

You can find the City of Boise’s announcement on their website. To apply or learn more about the new program you can contact BCACHA at 208-363-9710 or by visiting their website, BCACHA.org.

If you or someone you know could benefit from the new resources being provided, please apply for a grant and share this post.If you do not qualify for assistance through this program, contact us at info@leapcharities.org or (208) 391-2823. We will direct you to other local organizations who may be willing to help.

Aries Duplex Progress Report

Back in August 2020, we were excited to share with you all that we had begun the construction process on our first homes in Nampa.

Read our August blog on Aries here: “Landmark Zero Energy Ready Affordable Housing Project Underway By indieDwell and LEAP Housing Solutions in Nampa.”

We have made great progress since we shared the news with you. Today, we are happy to announce that we are working on the finishing touches before the duplex’s first residents move in.

It has been a journey for our team to deliver affordable housing in the midst of a pandemic, but we are proud of our housing development team and their continued innovation and patience to see these new homes through the process.

The change from the rendering (photo on the left) to how Aries looks today (photo on the right).

As you see in the pictures above, we needed to make adjustments in our planning and implementation in order to realize the completion of the duplex. We worked with neighbors to create a home that matched the neighboring homes and still deliver the affordable homes that are needed in Nampa.

Along with the supportive citizens of Nampa, the Aries homes were made possible through our partnerships with indieDwell (builders), Idaho Housing and Finance Association (funding) as well as the support of the City of Nampa who encouraged the development of affordable housing in their community.

Creating affordable housing can be complex, but we are lucky to have great relationships with like-minded organizations. As we like to say, solving the affordable housing crisis in the Treasure Valley is a puzzle, and it will take all of us in the community to contribute our individual puzzle pieces so we can realize solutions for the communities we hold dear to our heart.

As we near the completion of Aries, we are always looking for folks out in the community who want to use their puzzle piece, whether that is land, donations or connecting us with folks. If you or someone you know has land available and would like to partner with us to create affordable housing, send us a message at info@leapcharities.org or give us a call at (208) 391-2823.

If you’re not quite sure what puzzle piece you have to offer to make your impact on our community’s housing affordability, send us a message today and let’s chat!

We hope you all are staying safe. Let’s continue to build hope together, no matter the barrier.

Partner Highlight – CATCH

This week we want to highlight another organization that is making a huge difference for hundreds of families in the Treasure Valley. CATCH helps families with children get back on their feet. By providing housing first, then working with families to address their challenges, CATCH offers a new beginning which leads to self sufficiency in over 80% of participating families. Founded in 2006, CATCH, Inc. brings together regional government, congregations of faith, local businesses, and other charitable organizations for one purpose: housing homeless families.

We have been fortunate enough to help provide stable housing for a few CATCH families in the past couple of years. Many families that we house have completed this program and are now on their way to a better future for themselves and their children.

We are inspired to be working alongside other like-minded organizations that are meeting the needs of families in the Treasure Valley. Many of these families face a multitude of barriers, and a stable home is the foundation for a stable life. Thank you, CATCH, for your partnership and continued service. To learn more about CATCH and what they provide, visit their website at: http://www.catchprogram.org/

2020 Year-In-Review

Despite the many challenges 2020 brought, LEAP continued to grow and expand its operations while continuing to accomplish its mission. While LEAP had just one program in 2016, we were able to add two programs to our organization in 2020, the LEAP Housing Trust and a Resident Services program. Here’s a look at our highlights of the past year, none of it possible without the support of our community:

LEAP ROC: Buddy Dancer Homeowners Cooperative, a 56 unit manufactured housing community in Garden City created a cooperative business model and borrowed money from partner ROC USA Capital to buy their community with the assistance of our LEAP ROC program to become the second Resident Owned Community in Idaho. Learn more about LEAP ROC here.

Welcome Housing: All three of our Welcome Housing condos are occupied! Due to the decrease of resettlement in the past year, we transitioned to a longer term rental housing option for families that are already in Boise and needing an affordable rental home.

Resident Services: In May of 2020, we established a Resident Services program! This program is designed to address the various and unique barriers that residents may encounter when pursuing sustainable housing. Resident Services is currently in the process of creating and developing supportive resources and tools for residents to utilize. These services are intentionally designed to increase housing stability, promote self-sufficiency, and enhance the overall quality of life for the resident.

Caritas Commons: Our 14-unit homeownership community has hit the ground running and construction is taking place! We anticipate that the first phase of Caritas will be completed in early 2021. Caritas will provide the first homes for homeownership available in Boise under the LEAP Housing Trust, which will keep the homes perpetually affordable. If you or anyone you know are interested in purchasing an affordable home, visit our website!

The Aries duplex: This affordable housing duplex in Nampa is near completion! We are excited to get two more families housed by the end of January.

Windy Court phase 2 is complete! In May we completed the second phase of Windy Court and were able to house four more families. LEAP is now housing over 50 residents in our 11 rental homes.

Avenues for Hope: 2020 ended on a great note, culminating in the very successful Avenues for Hope campaign. Our tremendous donors and supporters willed us to first place in the competition with over $350,000 raised in the month of December. LEAP will enter 2021 with a healthy amount of funds, allowing us to continue building homes in Q1.

Thank you to each and everyone of you who donated or shared our campaign with your friends and family!

2020, A Year of Growth

Happy Holidays! My name is Sam Bibb and I’m the Marketing and Communication Coordinator at LEAP. In this post, I'd like to share with you all how 2020 was a year of growth for me and LEAP Housing Solutions.

Every year during the Holidays, I like to take the time to reflect and think about the many blessings in my life along with times of adversity that I had to go through to experience the triumphs that I did. In the year that was 2020, I had to adjust my everyday life to find happiness, success and motivation. Like myself, LEAP Housing Solutions had to do the same as COVID-19 threw us all a curve-ball.

Entering 2020, I had a lot on my plate … I was about to take my final 18 credits to get my Bachelors of Communications from Boise State University while attempting to plan my upcoming August wedding, while also working a full-time job at LEAP as the Marketing & Communication Director. These commitments got tougher in mid-march when COVID-19 threw my personal life a curve-ball.

When LEAP was forced to deal with the new challenges that COVID brought, we encouraged all LEAP employees to work from home along with conducting all meetings virtually. This wasn’t a problem because our amazing leadership at LEAP already encouraged tele-work even before the pandemic. Another challenge that was brought to our attention was on the financial side of things, we had to raise additional funds during Idaho Gives to be able to keep operating all of our programs at LEAP. Thanks to our amazing donors we raised $24,738 during Idaho Gives and were able to continue our work in the Treasure Valley.

When I was forced to deal with the new challenges that COVID brought, I had to find balance between wedding planning, school work and my LEAP duties. I used my love for mountain biking to get my mind off of the stresses that COVID-19 brought. On May 9th, 2020 I successfully graduated from Boise State, on August 7th I got married. My year consisted of plenty of ups and downs but I’m beyond grateful for all the lessons that I learned along the way.

If you take anything from this blog, take the idea of going through adversity to experience the most rewarding highs that life has to offer. Without my employers at LEAP, I wouldn’t be the person that I am today, they provided great leadership throughout the pandemic and kept me inspired in my everyday life.

During this Holiday season, take the time to think about the people that have helped you throughout your journey.

Landmark Zero Energy Ready Affordable Housing Project Underway By indieDwell and LEAP Housing Solutions in Nampa

Nampa, Idaho --​ LEAP Housing Solutions and local builder, indieDwell, will be placing six shipping containers via crane on August 26, 2020 at 1pm to kick off the landmark development of an affordable housing duplex using upcycled containers in Nampa. (Complete Address: 2202 Aries Dr, Nampa ID 83651)

The project on Aries Drive in Nampa will bring two homes to the community serving households at or below 50 percent area median income, or $40,400 for a family of five. These two 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom homes will be the first homes brought to Nampa and Canyon County by LEAP, with more planned to be completed in the future.
LEAP Housing Solutions is transforming a vacant, underutilized lot into an attractive modern duplex made of indieDwell shipping container homes. The homes are anticipated to be ready for occupancy in fall 2020.
“Utilizing vacant lots is one of the more efficient opportunities to provide needed affordable housing to the community that can stay affordable in the long run,” LEAP Founder and Executive Director, Bart Cochran said. “Urban infill and affordable housing are priorities of the City of Nampa as well as LEAP, which led to the culmination of the Aries project.”

This development is part of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP3), which through Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocated funding to Idaho Housing and Finance Association (IHFA). The funding is to “rehabilitate, resell, or redevelop homes in order to stabilize neighborhoods and stem the decline of house values of neighboring homes.” (HUD)

This urban infill project has been made possible through the forward-leaning partnerships LEAP Housing Solutions have with indieDwell, Idaho Housing and Finance Association (IHFA), supportive citizenry and the City of Nampa.
“It’s important to note that this project wouldn’t have been possible without citizen input,” Cochran said. “The voice of the people actually influenced the final design of the project. They requested that we make modifications to the parking structures to better fit the neighborhood. We see ourselves (LEAP) as a long term neighbor so it is important to ensure that projects are compatible with the community.”

The Aries project will be LEAP’s third completed development in the Treasure Valley, following the completion of ​Windy Court 1 and 2​ in NW Boise. LEAP is continuing to work with partner organizations and private landowners to identify and obtain land for the purposes of developing affordable housing.

LEAP Housing Solutions​ is a Boise-based nonprofit working to develop and preserve affordable housing while providing empowering services that lead to greater housing stability in the Treasure Valley.

LEAP Nearing Completion on First Affordable Housing Project in Nampa

We are well underway with our very first affordable housing project in Canyon County!

The project will bring two homes to the Nampa area serving households at or below 50 percent area median income.

If it is anything like our first project, we could see more than 14 people housed in these two 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom homes. 

Like our previous developments, this project has been made possible through the forward-leaning partnerships we have with indieDwell and the Idaho Housing and Finance Association (IHFA).

We are transforming a vacant, blighted lot into an attractive modern duplex made of indieDwell shipping container homes. We received funding from IHFA for this project, and anticipate the move-in date to be sometime this summer.

Stay tuned for the date that we begin accepting applications on a first-come, first-served basis.

With the Aries and Windy Court 2 projects being completed this summer, we will be providing 6 new units of affordable rentals to the Treasure Valley community. Want to learn more about Windy Court 2? Check out last week’s blog post!

This development is part of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP3), which provides grants to every state, certain local communities, and other organizations. The grants are to rehabilitate, resell, or redevelop these homes in order to stabilize neighborhoods and stem the decline of house values of neighboring homes. (HUD)

To learn more about how we build hope with housing, visit our LEAP homes page on the website.

One Good Story: Our Boise Community

Last week, the Yes You Can (YYC) team spent some time calling the clients on our Active Homebuying Program List. Many of our clients have income barriers to buying a home. We maintain a mentor relationship with them as they work to overcome those barriers.

Looking through notes for each household, the YYC team determined who may be at risk for unemployment right now due to COVID-19.

Terry, our YYC Program Coordinator, talked with one of those families. They are a family of five and the husband works more than full time for a cleaning company.

She asked them if there was any way that we could help them.

With that question, the floodgates opened.

They expressed their fear that he is going out to clean without the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and how afraid he is to bring the virus back to his family. They also talked about their:

Low food supply
Lack of cleaning supplies
Dwindling supply of, yes, toilet paper

The husband has been doing the grocery shopping and has come home empty handed.

Terry told them she would do what she could for them, and reached out to Cathedral of the Rockies and the IRC. Cathedral is sending them a Winco gift card to shop for groceries. IRC is bringing them toilet paper, cleaning supplies and some of the other things on their list.

No hesitation, no questions about if they qualify for assistance. Simply, "there is a need, let us fill that need."

We love this community. Thank you for partnering with us to build hope!

Yes You Can community Update

The Yes You Can team – Nate Walsh and Terry Graves – are innovating the approach used to increase housing stability among Yes You Can clients and  homeowners. We are working diligently from our homes to make a difference.

Nate is still showing homes and making connections with lenders using best social distancing practices. Terry is working from home using video chat, texting, email and phoning clients to serve in compliance with the COVID-19 guidelines stated by the CDC.

Market activity has not come to a halt in the Ada County. REALTORS®, home buyers, and sellers are turning to technology and following CDC recommendations to stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. https://t.co/h8wKFLiLbb

— boirealtors (@boirealtors) April 7, 2020

Our primary focus the past 10 days has been outreach to our YYC Homeowners and Participants. Homeowners have all received information about the CARES program. Borrowers with federally backed mortgages are eligible for mortgage forbearance under Section 4022 of the CARES Act. For homeowners, find more information at LEAP’s Mortgage Assistance Resources Blog Post.

Individuals with single-family mortgages may write to their mortgage servicer requesting forbearance for 180 days due to COVID-19-related difficulties. In such a case, no additional fees, penalties, or interest outside of normally scheduled terms may be levied on the borrower.

The services may extend the period for an additional 180 days at the borrower’s request. The borrower may also request the initial or extended period be shortened. The mortgage servicer may not require any additional documentation of distress outside of the original claim of the borrower.

Homeowners who do not have a federally backed mortgage were given information about contacting their mortgage lender to ask for forbearance if the COVID-19 crisis has caused them to lose their jobs or have had a reduction in hours.

For participants who have not yet purchased their home, information was sent regarding the Disaster Unemployment Assistance Program which extends benefits to those who are self employed or are Contract Workers.

Many of our participants are New Americans who may not be aware that Unemployment Assistance could be available to them at this time. The Yes You Can team wants to make sure that they can take care of themselves and their families during this difficult time. Visit the Yes You Can page for more information.

If you need us, please call or text Nate at 208-488-5792 or email him at nate@idahopropertypeople.com

You can reach Terry by phone or text at 208-695-8063 or email her at terry@leapcharities.org