Partners tackle housing problems

COEUR d’ALENE ­— After several months of meetings and strategizing, the Regional Housing and Growth Issues Partnership is sharing solutions for Kootenai County’s housing crisis.

Elected officials, public planning professionals, nonprofits, community organizations and concerned citizens teamed up last year to form the partnership as housing prices in Kootenai County skyrocketed.

“The lack of affordable housing for workers in Kootenai County and middle-income families is affecting the entire community,” said Kiki Miller, a Coeur d’Alene City Council member who helped form the partnership. “We can’t control the demand for housing, but the community can work together on solutions to change the trajectory. There’s no time to waste.”

The partnership’s biggest challenge, Miller said, is educating the community. Many frustrated by the county’s record growth and increasing housing costs have asked why local government can’t issue a moratorium on new development, she said. That and some other remedies that have been suggested are prohibited by state law.

Using social media and a website launched this month — rhgip.com — the partnership is providing answers to frequent questions and sharing resources and potential solutions. Website visitors will also find agendas for the partnership’s advisory group meetings, meeting materials and recordings of the meetings.

Miller said the partnership is bringing forward several solutions that could provide more — and more affordable — housing for local workers, existing residents, seniors and other vulnerable citizens. All are backed by data from a recently completed housing availability and affordability study that was conducted by the University of Idaho.

That study, available on the partnership website, found that median house prices have doubled in the last five years in Kootenai County to $500,000 and rent is unaffordable for more than half of the county’s residents. It also revealed that the local economy has already taken a significant hit due to housing costs and a shortage of workers.

“There’s been an estimated loss of 2,749 jobs and a reduction of $220.3 million in gross regional product,” said Gynii Gilliam, president and CEO of the Coeur d’Alene Area Economic Development Corporation. “Without affordable worker housing, new businesses and jobs will not come to Kootenai County and existing businesses could be forced to close or relocate.”

The UI study forecasts that housing affordability and availability will continue to worsen. Construction costs jumped more than 17% in one year and mortgage rates are going up. Kootenai County’s population growth — already exceeding most other areas of the state — shows no sign of slowing.

“We must work strategically to increase inventory,” Miller said. “We need to involve the entire region in finding out-of-the-box solutions, because the entire region is impacted.”

The partnership is scheduling presentations to city councils, county officials and community organizations to discuss policy changes, along with other strategies to increase and preserve the supply of housing for local workers.

To learn more or schedule a partnership presentation, visit rhgip.com or email info@rhgip.com.