Recorded live: Watch the full conversation from area experts on Boise’s housing crisis

Idaho Statesman staff

Updated April 5, 2022 9:50 AM

Affording Boise: Rental housing

Soaring rents. Skyrocketing home prices. The double-digit rates of increase in the costs of Boise-area housing create increasingly urgent problems for low-income, working-class and even moderate-income Idahoans who need places to live. Affording Boise is a series of Idaho Statesman special reports on housing. This collection focuses on rental homes, including apartments. A separate collection focuses on homeownership.

Expand All

UPDATE: This event was recorded live on March 31. To watch the livestream click on the video at the top of the story.

The Idaho Statesman’s series “Affording Boise” focuses on the impacts of fast-rising housing costs and the struggles of individuals seeking affordable places to live, and the community agencies trying to help.

So far we’ve reported about local families forced into homelessness because they can’t afford rent, kids living on the edge and seniors on limited incomes. We’ve looked at factors forcing rent to rise, the growth in Idahoans seeking public assistance, and how development is changing.

Here is where we will begin the conversation about solutions and strategies that cities, businesses and individuals can take to better the situation. We’ve gathered a panel of people working on different areas of this problem to bring their perspectives.

If you have questions about housing in the Treasure Valley, you can ask them in advance when you RSVP for this free event.

Boise City Councilwoman Lisa E. Sánchez, herself a renter, is in her second term. She built her campaign on and works at the forefront of shaping city policy around renter’s rights in Boise, and spearheaded an ordinance to prevent property managers and landlords from charging exorbitant rental application fees. She focuses much of her work at the City of Boise to highlight the issues that affect marginalized community members.
Developer Clay Carley is Boise born and raised. He’s behind several downtown apartment projects including The Owyhee,which preserved the historic integrity of the 1900s Owyhee Hotel; The Gibson at Idaho & 5th streets; The Home2 Suites and Garage at Front & 6th streets; the Lucy at Grove & 5th streets; and the Thomas Logan at Grove & 6th streets, which is an affordable housing development.
Deanna Watson is the executive director of the Boise City/Ada County Housing Authorities, an organization that provides assistance to people seeking affordable housing through Section 8 vouchers, Emergency Rental Assistance, and other programs.
Rachel Spacek, Idaho Statesman local government reporter, who conceived this series, will moderate the discussion.