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December 29, 2015

Over $130,000 donated so far to help nonprofits serve Idaho homeless in Avenues for Hope Housing Challenge

Up to $200,000 in matching grants and prizes to be awarded in the online fundraiser ending December 31

BOISE, Idaho – Idaho Housing and Finance Association through its Home Partnership Foundation announced that more than $130,000 has been donated in its fifth annual Avenues for Hope Housing Challenge so far, with three days left for Idahoans to give. The online fundraiser allows businesses and individuals to support their favorite participating housing nonprofits through tax-deductible year-end donations.

In addition to donations, over $59,000 in grant prizes have been awarded, with up to $200,000 up for grabs by the 34 participating nonprofits. Donations must be made by midnight, December 31 to help nonprofits qualify for the grant prizes and matching funds that were donated by Idaho Housing and 14 sponsors.

“We call it a Housing Challenge because we are challenging Idahoans to give what they can to help nonprofits on the front line of serving the homeless and those in need of housing assistance in Idaho communities,” said Gerald M. Hunter, president of Idaho Housing. “Donations right now are really important because the grant prizes and matching funds in the Housing Challenge help donor dollars stretch even further.”

Businesses and individuals wanting to make tax-deductible donations before the year’s end can find a participating nonprofit to support at www.avenuesforhope.org/#leaderboard or general gifts can be made to the Enhance the Match fund which will be divvied up to all participating nonprofits.

Idaho Housing is encouraging donations of $25 or more at www.avenuesforhope.org. Every donation is critical to help combat homelessness and ensure essential housing resources are available to those in need across the state. The Avenues for Hope campaign will end December 31st at midnight, and final results, including donations and grant awards, will be announced on Monday, January 4th.

“We are asking for community support over the next few days to assist these 34 nonprofits in Idaho to reach their fundraising goals to help ensure essential housing services are available to those in need,” Hunter said.

Donation link: http://www.avenuesforhope.org

Video: https://youtu.be/dcJV5amI1js

Hashtag: #IdahoHomeless

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About Avenues for Hope

The 2015 Avenues for Hope Housing Challenge is helping over 34 nonprofits across the state. The campaign has seen a 31% percent increase in community involvement, with over 950 donations received to date.

Now in its fifth year, the annual fundraiser has raised over $650,000 since its inception in 2011. With continued support from the community, Home Partnership Foundation believes that Avenues for Hope could raise another $350,000 during this year’s campaign, bringing the total to over $1 million.

Both the chronic homeless and temporarily homeless are helped by Avenues for Hope, including domestic violence victims, veterans, people with disabilities, vulnerable youth, and low income Idaho residents.

Avenues for Hope is presented by Home Partnership Foundation and sponsored by Idaho Housing and Finance Association in conjunction with Academy Mortgage Corp., Bank of the Cascades, Bank of Commerce, Bank of Idaho, Barclays Capital, Citizens Community Bank, Evergreen Home Loans, Fairway Independent Mortgage, First Mortgage Company, Guild Mortgage Company, Idaho Independent Bank, KeyBank Foundation, Mountain West Bank, Prospect Mortgage and Wells Fargo.

About Idaho Housing and Finance Association

Idaho Housing and Finance Association is a financial services and housing business organization. IHFA’s mission is to improve lives and strengthen Idaho communities by expanding housing opportunities, building self-sufficiency, and fostering economic development.

Website: www.idahohousing.com

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/idahohousing

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/idahohousing

Participating Nonprofits	City	Region Served
Enhance the Match Fund	Boise	Statewide
Home Partnership Foundation	Boise	Statewide
Family Promise of North Idaho	Coeur d’Alene	1
St Vincent de Paul North Idaho	Coeur d’Alene	1
Bonner County Homeless Task Force	Sandpoint	1
Lewiston-Clarkston Partners Habitat for Humanity	Clarkston	2
Affordable Housing Foundation Inc.	Grangeville	2
Family Promise of Lewis Clark Valley	Lewiston	2
Family Promise of the Palouse	Moscow	2
Moscow Affordable Housing Trust, Inc	Moscow	2
Sojourners’ Alliance	Moscow	2
CATCH, Inc. (Charitable Assistance to Community’s Homeless)	Boise	3
Corpus Christi House, Inc	Boise	3
Good Samaritan Home	Boise	3
Idaho Youth Ranch, Inc.	Boise	3
Interfaith Sanctuary Housing Services	Boise	3
International Rescue Committee	Boise	3
NeighborWorks Boise	Boise	3
The Jesse Tree of Idaho	Boise	3
Women’s & Children’s Alliance	Boise	3
Advocates Against Family Violence	Caldwell	3
Hope House, Inc.	Marsing	3
Canyon County Habitat for Humanity	Nampa	3
The Salvation Army	Nampa/Boise	3
Blaine County Housing Authority	Hailey	4
South Central Community Action Partnership	Twin Falls	4
Bingham Crisis Center for Women, Inc.	Blackfoot	5
Aid For Friends, Inc.	Pocatello	5
Bannock Youth Foundation	Pocatello	5
Family Services Alliance	Pocatello	5
NeighborWorks Pocatello	Pocatello	5
Southeastern Idaho Community Action Agency	Pocatello	5
CLUB, Inc.	Idaho Falls	6
Idaho Falls Rescue Mission	Idaho Falls	6
Lemhi County Crisis Intervention/The Mahoney House	Salmon	6