Avenues for Hope provides a needed boost to housing nonprofits in North Idaho

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The 11th annual Avenues for Hope campaign is kicking off the holiday season to help 92 nonprofits provide critical housing and supportive services to Idahoans in need.

Donations made during the 23-day online fundraising campaign provide the funding needed to keep the doors open at places like LC Valley Youth Resource Center. Expenses add up quickly for the facility in Lewiston, which can care for more than 20 children, ages 12-17, on a given day. The center opened 15 months ago, providing a safe place for homeless kids to be themselves, enjoy a meal, get some help with their homework or even spend the night.

“Guests come to us through many circumstances,” said Michelle King, founder of LC Valley Youth Resource Center. “Some kids choose to stay with us because they don’t have a home. Some because one of their parents is in a relationship that is unsafe. Some because parents are struggling with either addiction or mental illness. And so they’re at home on the good days and here on the bad days.”

LC Valley Youth Resource Center is one of 18 nonprofits in North Idaho participating in this year’s campaign to help chronically and temporarily homeless, domestic violence survivors, veterans, people with disabilities, vulnerable youth, seniors and low-income Idahoans. Over the past 10 years, the campaign has helped raise more than $1.7 million in North Idaho.

“Access to affordable housing is one of our greatest challenges right now,” said Gerald M. Hunter, president of Idaho Housing and Finance. “Idaho’s network of housing support and shelter organizations struggle to address the needs of many less advantaged residents all across the state, especially during the winter months. The Avenues for Hope campaign is our opportunity to
help those in real need.”

Avenues for Hope has raised nearly $7 million since its inception in 2011. Donors can direct their tax-deductible gifts to one or more nonprofit organizations through December 31 at avenuesforhope.org.

Participating nonprofits in North Idaho include:

Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse, Bonner Community Housing Agency, Bonner County Homeless Task Force, Inc., Family Promise of Lewis Clark Valley, Family Promise North Idaho, Family Promise of the Palouse, Habitat for Humanity of North Idaho, Lake Pend Oreille School District, LC Valley Adult Resource Center, L-C Valley Habitat for Humanity, LC Valley Youth Resource Center, Moscow Affordable Housing Trust, Palouse Habitat for Humanity, Safe Passage, Sojourners’ Alliance, St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho, The Salvation Army of Lewiston, Union Gospel Mission

The campaign would not be possible without the support of these generous sponsors who provide more than $300,000 in matching gifts and challenge prizes:

Platinum: Idaho Housing and Finance, Micron Foundation, Zions Bank

Gold: Blue Cross of Idaho, KeyBank, Regence BlueShield of Idaho, Wells Fargo

Silver: Academy Mortgage, Idaho Central Credit Union, Mountain West Bank, The Pacific Companies, Stifel, Yardi

Bronze: Barclays, Boise Housing Corporation, First Interstate Bank, Hawley Troxell, Idaho Power, Magellan Healthcare, New Beginnings Housing, Saint Alphonsus, Skinner Fawcett LLP, The Housing Company, Thomas Development Company, Washington Trust Bank

Friends: Bank of Commerce, Citizens Community Bank, Eide Bailly, Essent, Evergreen Home Loans, Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation, Horizon Credit Union, Gerald M. Hunter, IMLA, IL Group, Intermountain Gas Company, Landmark Promotions, OSC Insurance Services, P1FCU, Republic Services, TAO Idaho, TitleOne, U.S. Bank, Valbridge Property Advisors, Westcor Land Title Insurance Company, Wright Brothers