A second housing study through the University of Idaho to estimate the number of houses needed annually over the next decade for incomes ranging from 60-130% of area median income.

It provides a 10-year roadmap to help communities respond to the current shortage and 10-year projected growth for households in these different income brackets.

A housing study to help Kootenai County understand and responsibly respond to the shortage and escalating housing costs across all income groups.

Conducted by Coeur d’Alene Area Economic Development Corporation (CDA EDC or Jobs Plus), PAHA, Avista Foundation, and University of Idaho’s College of Business and Economics, Vandal Impact Center. The Regional Housing and Growth Issues Partnership used this study to develop a “tool kit” of possible solutions (private and public) to provide “worker housing,” which was defined as a purchase price ranging from $200k-$350k at current mortgage rates.  

A proven model of community land trusts and development-driven worker housing supplied by Grounded Solutions Network, a national nonprofit membership organization of community land trusts, municipal housing programs and nonprofits that support housing with lasting affordability.

ALICE is an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, an initiative to study the growing number of individuals and families who face financial challenges despite being employed and earning above the federal poverty level (FPL). Our ALICE grew from 28% in 2019 to 31% in 2021 and this number is understated because the cost of housing in Kootenai County is considerably higher now than the numbers used in the 2021 ALICE update report. For these working households (approximately 56,000 men, women and children)  the cost of basics, particularly housing, has substantially outpaced wages.

Out of Reach documents the gap between renters’ wages and the cost of rental housing. It estimates the hourly wage a full-time worker living in different areas (Kootenai County) must earn to afford a modest rental home at HUD’s fair market rent without spending more than 30% of their income on housing costs, the accepted standard of affordability.