“By joining hands in this pilot program with ICCU, we hope we are creating a scalable homeownership model that can help Idaho’s real estate ecosystem adapt to and overcome market conditions in a repeatable way.” LEAP Housing CEO Bart Cochran said. 

Cochran went on to say that the creation of deed-restricted housing using a community land trust model legally, permanently ensures housing payments for limited-income households match local incomes while at the same time building generational wealth. 

“We believe in doing dream loans for dream homes by assisting with financial empowerment to create opportunities,”ICCU Chief Lending Officer, Ed Tierney said. 

Mike and Wanda Thwait believe the holidays are a great time to kick off a program like this and are so happy that they are the first beneficiaries to qualify for a loan under this new partnership. 

"We are very appreciative of this opportunity. We are both on Social Security, because we became sick at the same time and had to stop working,” Wanda said.

“Mike is a retired trucker and veteran of the US ARMY. I am a retired corrections officer, parole officer, and trucker. Between the two of us we have approximately 65 years in the workforce, " Wanda continued.