Council seeking housing solutions

The Panhandle Area Council is an economic development 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization that provides small businesses with loans, project financing and community development services to advance economic development across Idaho. It has been connecting businesses to resources since 1972. 

It is required by the federal Economic Development Administration to develop a Comprehensive (Economic) Development Strategy (CEDS) document, which is a regionally owned planning process designed to build capacity and guide the economic prosperity and resiliency of an area. 

Recent community input for the CEDS, which identifies the regional strengths, opportunities, risks and assets among other items, has pointed to the lack of local workers being able to afford to live here. It is the number one rising risk to the economic health of our region. 

One solution to this risk factor is a region-wide focus on the current ToolKit solutions that have been presented through the Housing Solutions Partnership. Additionally, partnering with the recently implemented solutions like shared equity, community land trust and deed-restricted projects — like Miracle on Britton and HomeShare Kootenai County — are actions that need to occur immediately. These projects are creating a template for others to follow on how attainable local worker housing can be achieved. The intent is to replicate them as much as possible. 

Additional solutions need regional resources and focus for implementation as well. Many of them have been written about in this ongoing column and are posted at housingni.org. Upcoming discussions regarding ordinance and zoning reviews that provide housing stock without disrupting existing neighborhoods are up next in community discussions. The CEDS report is scheduled to be completed and available for use by January 2025 and can be accessed at PACNi.org. 

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Kiki Miller is a Coeur d’Alene City Council member and founding member of the Housing Solutions Partnership