The State of Idaho became the nation's 43rd state on July 3, 1890, and is situated between the Pacific Coast states, Canada and the Rocky Mountains. Idaho is a mostly a rural state, whose base industries have historically been agriculture, mining and forestry. The state is known for its quality of life, scenic beauty and "small town" feeling. Ten national forests offer world-class recreation on land and water. The state's capitol is Boise, the economic hub of commerce and banking, high technology, construction, and agricultural industries.
Idaho's economy, one of the strongest in the country, is growing at a significant rate, and is becoming more diverse, with agriculture and natural resource industries showing declines in employment, and other industries such as retail trade, services, and tourism growing substantially. This growth has resulted in an increased need for housing and public infrastructure, especially in the state's rural communities. Idaho's Consolidated Plan presents a strategic vision for housing, community development, and homeless needs. It includes a One-Year Action Plan for spending approximately $12.6 million of Community Development Block Grant, HOME, and Emergency Shelter Grant funds in 1995.
Citizen participation in the Idaho Consolidated Plan process was encouraged through several regional public hearings, held in fully accessible locations, at accessible hours of the day. Six regional hearings were held prior to the adoption of the Plan. In addition to the regional hearings, the 1995 Consolidated Plan submission included a 1900 household telephone survey, informal personal interviews with political, business and non-profit leaders, and a mail survey to political, business and non-profit leaders.
A draft of the Consolidated Plan was made available to the public and advertised through news releases and direct mailings to interested parties. The citizen participation process included the provision of information to groups representative of low and very low income persons on technical assistance that is available to these groups to develop proposals under any of the programs covered by the Consolidated Plan.
All comments received during the process were included in the Plan as an
appendix, and as applicable, comments appeared in, and amended Plan text.
Written comments were reproduced in their entirety. Oral comments were recorded
and transcribed for inclusion.
Idaho is growing. The population changes the state is seeing are dramatic - especially in areas such as the north Idaho panhandle, where the population has increased 19.2% since 1990, and Ada County (Boise), where the population has increased over 20%. Overall the state population is 1,159,892, and has increased 15.2% from the 1990 census figure of 1,006,749. Of Idaho's 44 counties, 31 are considered to be 50% or greater rural, and of these 14 are considered to be 100% rural. The majority of the state's population is white (94 percent), 4 percent are Hispanic, 1 percent Native American, and the remainder African American and Asian (1 percent). The median income for a family of four in Idaho is $33,330.
Over 44,000 new households are expected in Idaho by the Year 2000. Most of
these households will have annual incomes of $50,000 or less. In 1995, out of a
total number of 421,120 households, 68,649 (16 percent), have incomes less than
$10,000. The number of households earning $20,000 or less is 94,042 (22
percent). These figures are expected to increase to 74,607 (+9 percent), and
102,300 (+9 percent), respectively by the Year 2000.
This kind of substantial growth carries with it an assumption that there are plenty of jobs available. With a statewide unemployment rate of 6.1%, this is generally true; however, a significant number of new or available jobs are in the retail and service industries, and are not necessarily high paying or even full-time. Many do not include benefits.
These employment trends have a significant impact on housing, especially on affordable housing. The changing economic base of the state has not created a lower cost of living, in fact, the cost of living in Idaho has increased. The most critical need is to expand housing opportunities for the "working poor", through the creation and/or rehabilitation of affordable housing.
The state needs to increase the capabilities for non-profit housing groups to access available funds to build or rehabilitate agricultural worker housing. Preserving and expanding the affordability of homeownership and home maintenance for first-time homebuyers and existing low and moderate income homeowners is also a critical need.
Information gathered in 1993 shows the state's inventory at 435,646 housing units, 83 percent of which were occupied. Of the occupied units, 252,734 (70 percent) are owner occupied and 107,989 (30 percent) are renter occupied. Over 22 percent of the state's housing stock has been built since 1980. A household survey showed 26.8 percent of these homes needed minor repairs, and approximately 17 percent needed major repairs.
According to information obtained through October, 1994, roughly 10,800 new residential units were built statewide. This figure includes single-family homes, multifamily units and manufactured housing. Given these figures, the states housing stock grew by approximately 13,000 units per year from 1994 to 1995. These figures are unprecedented and are not expected to continue at this rate.
However, it is projected that at least 44,500 new units will be built between 1995 and 2000. Unfortunately, while the number of units is expected to match or exceed population growth, most of them are targeted toward the upper income market.
Despite the increase in housing production, rents and sale prices of homes have skyrocketed across Idaho. In August, 1993, the Idaho Housing Agency surveyed vacancy rates in several Idaho counties, and found that 99 to 100% of two bedroom rental units were occupied. Although 70% of Idaho households own their homes, rising housing prices have made first time homeownership difficult to achieve.
When the impact of low wages is coupled with the influx of population and the shrinking availability of modestly priced housing, the issue of affordability becomes central. The greatest needs are in rental housing and homeownership.
Based upon a state median income of $33,330 for a four person family, the maximum housing cost at 30% of income for a family at 80 percent of median is $666 per month. A family at 50 percent of median could only afford a maximum housing cost of $416 per month. It is becoming very difficult for a family to afford rental housing, let alone homeownership. Given the sharp rise in rental and single family housing prices, housing affordability will continue to be a serious problem for the state.
The Idaho Housing Agency's homeless tracking system counted over 3,000 persons during calendar year 1993. From January to September, 1994, 2,789 individuals and 1302 families were counted. The highest majority were Caucasian and Hispanic. Idaho has a high ratio of veterans among the general homeless population. Of the homeless men and women identified by the 1990 census, 52 percent were veterans and 33 percent of these were Vietnam War veterans.
The state has an extremely limited supply of 245 emergency shelter beds and 201 transitional housing beds. Additional bedspace is available throughout the state for victims of domestic violence, youth, persons experiencing substance abuse, and veterans, though in extremely limited quantities. Persons with severe mental illness compose 16 percent of the total homeless population, and persons with alcohol and/or substance abuse problems comprise 29 percent.
The state has a large number of unsheltered homeless, especially in rural areas. A lack of resources is cited as the main problem for lack of shelter.
Idaho has a very small Public Housing Program. The state has a total of 793 housing units of various sizes, with most units being utilized by elderly persons. The majority of the units are in excellent or very good condition. The state has an extensive waiting list for its rental assistance program. As of February, 1995, the Section 8 waiting list by bedroom size was:
| 1 BD | 807 | |
| 2 BD | 1,758 | |
| 3 BD | 802 | |
| 4 BD | 153 |
The barriers and policies of greatest concern to Idahoans are the development of high end housing over low income and affordable housing; increasing development costs, including local government development fees; lack of financing for low income families; lack of incentives to avoid conversion of affordable units to market rate units; and resident opposition to affordable housing development (NIMBY syndrome).
Barriers also exist at the Federal level, and include paperwork requirements; restricting the definition of homeless persons; targeting of programs for families with children; and inconsistent programs requirements for jointly funded projects.
Communication remains key to developing new partnerships, such as those required between newer nonprofit developers and established developers, as well as between nonprofit developers and service providers and organizations such as the Idaho Community Reinvestment Corporation.
The Idaho Legal Aid Society was recently awarded a HUD grant to investigate options to expand fair housing opportunities throughout the state. The Idaho Fair Housing Council (IFHC) will be the nonprofit entity working statewide to implement the fair housing tasks identified in the grant work plan. The grant provides for both education and "testing" regarding fair housing issues. Legal Aid and IFHC will work with a variety of housing and community development organizations to examine current laws, regulations and policies and to determine the need to create new laws, regulations or policies within Idaho.
While there are no definitive numbers, it is estimated that approximately 78 percent of homes in Idaho were built prior to 1980 and could contain surfaces with lead based paint. Seventy six percent of these homes are occupied by low income families. All rehabilitation projects undertaken in Idaho are required to test for and abate lead based paint.
Many communities in Idaho are being impacted by escalating costs of building
materials, labor, and increased federal regulations. Not all communities in the
state are served by public water and wastewater systems. Many communities also
do not have adequate medical facilities or emergency buildings for fire and
emergency medical services. Improved senior centers and handicapped
accessibility projects are needed throughout the state. Many of these
communities also do not have paved streets, sidewalks, or storm drainage.
Recently, Idaho has enjoyed several years of unprecedented growth. Growth is the most frequently mentioned concern among social service providers and government officials. Idaho is a large, diverse state, in which some areas are growing almost exponentially, and other areas are seeing population and employment decreases.
Maintaining and managing that growth is one of the key issues across the state. The vision for Idaho over the next five years is one of expansion. But this expansion will not occur without careful consideration of the traditional western lifestyle enjoyed there.
The state will encourage planning efforts on the part of local governments, assist them with the housing and community development components of their comprehensive plans, and encourage local government assistance in housing and community development priorities via waivers on fees, zoning and density, and tax abatements. The state will also increase the interaction between funding resources to encourage maximum utilization and benefit to target populations.
Activities such as the Housing and Community Development Forum, the Governor's Housing Conference, and the Idaho Housing Coalition annual meeting/conference will be expanded.
Priorities for affordable housing include preserving and increasing the supply of affordable rental housing; expanding the affordability of homeownership and home maintenance for first-time homebuyers and existing low and moderate income homeowners; and enhancing the ability of for-profit and nonprofit developers.
Priorities for homeless alleviation include expanding the effectiveness of services and housing options designed to prevent homelessness; and expanding the supply and effectiveness of emergency shelter and transitional housing.
Idaho's special needs population require independent housing options in all regions of the state.
Priorities for community development include serving the basic and immediate needs of Idahoans when public infrastructure fails catastrophically, exploring ways to address the transportation issues of rural communities, and enhancing the capacity of governments and nonprofits to take maximum advantage of grant programs and develop innovative ways to meet infrastructure and community development needs.
Priorities for economic development include increasing economic opportunities for low and moderate income Idaho residents by assisting business expansions and job creation, and improving community planning and infrastructure to accommodate economic growth.
The state strategy hopes to bring together housing, social services, health services, employment and education services, and community and economic development resources in an effort to alleviate these conditions. The key is the coordination of programs and the reduction and elimination of duplicative services.
Resources for both housing and community development are limited within Idaho. Because the sources of funds is limited, an examination of the linkages between funding sources and work must be made to ensure maximum utilization and efficiency of the sources the state has access to. Most of the housing resources available to the state come from federal sources, and include Section 8 Rental Assistance, HOME, Low Income Housing Tax Credits, and Emergency Shelter Grant funds. The state plan has identified 17 federal housing resources, and 12 state and local housing resources which are currently available or anticipated to be available.
Community Development resources include the Community Development BlockGrant Program, Title IX Economic Development Administration funds, Farmers Home Administration loans and grants for rural development, and Federal Highway funds. The state's plan identifies 38 federal and 31 state and local resources available for community development.
In order to create a plan which coordinates the funding cycles of
Consolidated Plan covered programs, the following issues need to be addressed:
streamline and coordinate the public comment process; encourage joint
application referrals; recognize the factors affecting all Consolidated Plan
programs and develop a continuum of funding possibilities among the programs.
The State of Idaho One-Year Action Plan outlines the proposed use of approximately $12.6 million in Emergency Shelter Grant, Community Development Block Grant, and HOME funds, in addition to program income. Each program is assessed through an annual statewide competitive funding cycle.
Emergency Shelter grants are accessed through a competitive application process according to the following categories:
| Essential Services | 30% | ||
| Homeless Prevention | 30% | ||
| Other Eligible Activities | 40% |
The CDBG program operates on an annual cycle consisting of program design, grant application selection, project start-up, and monitoring progress and close-out. Projects are considered for CDBG funding based upon the following approximate fund allocation by grant category:
| State Administration | 3% | ||
| Imminent Threat | 3% | ||
| Senior Citizen Centers | 6% | ||
| Public Facilities/Housing | 44% | ||
| Economic Development | 45% | ||
| Imminent Threat | 1% |
Funding for the HOME program is provided as flexible term loans through a competitive application process, using a regional allocation formula. The state recognizes the need to allocate HOME funds on a geographically equitable basis. Total population and the percent of the population below the poverty level in each region are key factors in determining the regional allocation guidelines. Loans will be approved to HOME applicants in amounts appropriate to the scope of the proposed project and given the additional resources brought by the applicants. In addition, the state has established an allocation plan by the following activities as a guideline to distribute HOME funding as effectively and efficiently as possible:
| Community Housing Development Organization's | 15% |
| Rental Rehabilitation/New Construction/ Homeowner Rehabilitation | 70% |
| CHDO Operating Expenses | 5% |
| Administration | 10% |
Idaho is a large rural state with limited resources, both financial and human. Despite this, every effort is made to distribute funds in an equitable manner across the state - allowing projects to be placed as needed in both urban and rural areas. This commitment to sharing in the benefits of federal housing and community development programs is expected to continue.
Fred Free
Idaho Housing Agency
(208) 331-4712