Housing Information - Idaho Housing and Finance Association

Idaho Housing is most recognized for our programs that create a wide range of affordable housing opportunities for low- to moderate-income Idahoans. We also connect Idahoans in need with necessary services, foster strong partnerships, and inform stakeholders on key housing information, indicators, and trends.

Housing Information and Referral

Idaho Housing activated our referral service in 1998 at the request of housing consumers, providers, and advocates who needed help navigating the sometimes-complicated world of housing programs and resources. We work to provide current, accurate and practical information about housing and service options, including homeless service providers, rental assistance, first-time homebuyer options, low-cost apartments, and other resources.

Although referral staff doesn’t have funds to offer, we make every effort to locate the most appropriate service or resource for each situation. Referral services include:

Housing Referrals

Idaho Housing supports a free, bilingual call center as a courtesy to anyone offering or seeking rental housing or shelter options. Common information and referrals range from emergency shelter and transitional housing to income-based, subsidized housing or market-rate rentals across the state. Contact the call center at 1-877-428-8844 (7 a.m.-6 p.m. mountain time, Monday-Friday).

Find or List Rental Housing

Housingidaho.com, created by Idaho Housing, is a free online listing and locator service. This service lets providers list available housing resources and generate reports, and helps renters locate available housing options that best fit their individual and family needs.
The site is available 24/7 and supported by a toll-free, bilingual call center. Call 1-877-428-8844 (7 a.m. – 6 p.m. mountain time, Monday through Friday). Powerful and easy-to-use tools, property descriptions, mapping and mobile features make searching easy.

Housingidaho.com also features a rent calculator, resource directory, and other helpful tools to plan your next move, explore household budgeting and moving costs, and avoid scams.

Housing Assistance Guide

The Housing Assistance Guide addresses frequently asked questions and provides a quick overview of essential housing and shelter strategies for Idaho. It is available in the following languages:

Download your Housing Assistance Guide by clicking on the version you need.

Additional Resource Options

2-1-1 Careline

Idaho’s 2-1-1 Care Line is hosted by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, is a statewide information and referral service for a variety of health and human services available in your community.

Idaho Legal Aid Services

Idaho Legal Aid is a statewide nonprofit law firm dedicated to providing equal access to justice for low-income people through quality advocacy and education, including renter education and representation.

Community Action Partnerships

Each of Idaho’s regions is served by local Community Action Partnerships that provide information and resources ranging from food pantries, energy assistance, and weatherization to affordable rentals and emergency assistance.

Homelessness Assistance

As the administrator of the majority of federal homelessness dollars in Idaho, IHFA works with many housing and service providers to ensure a collaborative and intentional homelessness response. People experiencing homelessness and in search of services can access Idaho Housing’s Homelessness Assistance page to locate the nearest Homeless Connect access point.

Housing Roundtables

We all recognize that strong partnerships — in a collaborative, open environment — are essential to creating safe, secure, and affordable housing opportunities. Our programs and resources serve Idahoans best when administrators stay in contact with constituents and housing providers across the state to understand local needs. Idaho Housing created the Housing Roundtable meetings in 2003 to provide a regular discussion forum for housing-related policy, state and regional housing needs, and available resources.

The resulting dialogue enhances cooperation and collaboration among housing professionals and other stakeholders that represent each of Idaho’s key regions. Meetings take place in five Idaho regions once a year. The Housing Roundtable initiative is nationally recognized for its administrative and program innovation, which helps housing stakeholders identify challenges and opportunities, reduce duplication, celebrate success and make the best use of limited resources.

For those interested in learning more about, or participating in, the Housing Roundtable meetings, contact Heidi Sellick at heidis@ihfa.org

Upcoming Housing Roundtable Meetings

Southern Idaho
Date: Fall 2023

Treasure Valley
October 30 | 10 a.m. – Noon
Location: TBD

Past Housing Roundtable Meetings

Pocatello & Twin Falls
Date: Fall 2023
Handouts:

Fall 2023 RT Handouts
Meeting Summary – Fall 2023
Request copies of the 2022 homelessness report and other print materials here

Moscow & Coeur d’Alene
Date: Spring 2023
Handouts:

Spring 2023 RT Handouts
Meeting Summary – Spring 2023
Request copies of the 2022 homelessness report and other print materials here

Pocatello, Twin Falls, and Treasure Valley
Date: Fall 2022
Handouts:

Fall 2022 RT Handouts

Lewiston and Coeur d’Alene
Date: Spring 2022
Handouts:

Spring 2022 RT Handouts

Please send questions or suggested discussion topics for future Housing Roundtable meetings to Heidi Sellick at heidis@ihfa.org.

Conference on Housing and Economic Development

Idaho Housing hosts a biennial conference that explores housing within a larger context of community and economic development, policy, education and outreach, collaboration, and innovation. This event attracts some of the nation’s top experts in policy, housing, finance, and economics. Conference attendees enjoy robust professional network and big-picture conversation.

For the latest conference information go to 2022 conference.

Partners and Planning

Idaho Housing pursues and supports productive engagement with stakeholders from many sectors. We partner with national, regional, statewide, and local entities to better understand and address the housing needs of all Idahoans. Together, we develop a big-picture perspective of housing needs in the context of workforce, community, and economic development; planning and policy; transportation; and health care. These partnerships further the creation of affordable housing opportunities and promote effective, fiscally responsible investments in Idaho’s communities and economy. Click the links below to learn about various collaborations in which Idaho Housing is involved.

National

Regional

Statewide

NW Community Development Institute

Housing professionals know that developing quality housing to meet the diverse needs and incomes of all residents requires support from community leaders and residents. We also know effective communication and trust are essential to building healthy and positive relationships. That’s why Idaho Housing began a partnership in 2003 with the Northwest Community Development Institute, where we present an annual course entitled Housing as a Second Language that furthers three important goals:

Understanding the challenges, needs, interests, and language familiar to local government officials, community and economic developers and land-use planners.
Clarifying housing market dynamics and showing how stable, affordable housing leads to individual and community health, strong economies and less demand on public services.
Building relationships and credibility among civic leaders and local government professionals.

Better communication means more effective coordination among all parties. Putting housing on the radar of local policymakers and planners helps reduce potential conflict and contributes to housing that costs less and complements community planning efforts. Finally, when local residents and leaders understand the role of housing in local health and prosperity, they are more likely to support new residential development.

Idaho Rural Partnership

IHFA’s Housing Resources Coordinator serves on the Idaho Rural Partnership (IRP) board, a 36-member group of public, private and nonprofit representatives working to improve economic and social conditions in rural Idaho. IRP is best known for the Idaho Community Review program, which pairs volunteer experts with local leaders and residents to help them manage change on their own terms, access grant funds, and create durable economic strategies.

This collaboration allows IHFA, as a participant in community reviews, to increase awareness of housing programs, resources, and planning in rural communities. This contribution is paired with insights from professionals in areas of land-use planning, transportation, community, and economic development. Click here to learn more.

Western Community Assessment Network

Through our work with IRP, Idaho Housing participates in a Tri-State Design Team with the Western Community Assessment Network (WeCAN). This three-year, USDA-funded project supports coordinating and evaluating the rural development work of IRP and University of Idaho Extension, Montana Economic Developers Association (MEDA) and Montana State University, along with the Wyoming Business Council and University of Wyoming.

The collaboration has yielded a website Community Review assessment map and resources database for rural Western communities, DIY tools for rural community development, mini grants and a best-practices guide.

Our joint efforts garnered the attention of the Kettering Foundation, which sees value in the process of helping researchers understand citizen perspectives and how people engage “to address problems affecting their lives, their communities, and their nation.”

The Foundation invited WeCAN members to take part in its 2019 Learning Exchange to document WeCAN’s process and outcomes. To learn more, click here.

Fair Housing Forum

Idaho Housing is a member of the Fair Housing Forum, a coalition of stakeholders committed to respectful discussion on Fair Housing issues affecting housing consumers, providers and advocates. IHFA supports the Forum and our shared Fair Housing training, awareness campaigns, and activities. Visit IHFA’s Fair Housing page.

Analysis and Reporting

Idaho Housing supports research involving demonstrated housing needs throughout Idaho. We collect, analyze and report on housing costs, market trends, demographics, and household income levels, as well as related factors like transportation, local economies, and population growth.

In addition to producing housing-related reports and data, we strive to identify and advocate for the adoption of best practices and responsible and strategic housing initiatives. We also serve as a liaison among housing, community and economic development initiatives, and support strategic planning efforts. This includes sharing data and study results with public, private and nonprofit sectors to effectively allocate resources and address areas of greatest need.

The following are analyses and reports created by Idaho Housing.