Coeur d'Alene councilwoman: 'A very smart investment'

COEUR d’ALENE — A small amount of money could have a big impact on finding solutions to the area’s affordable housing crisis.

The Coeur d’Alene City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved reallocating $18,750 to the Panhandle Area Council. 

“I’m thrilled,” said Councilwoman Kiki Miller, who volunteers with the partnership. “It gives us the foundation where we have an anchor resource for housing solutions.”

While PAC will provide fiscal oversight, the Housing Solutions Partnership will focus on its overall mission to create availability and affordability for local workers in Kootenai County. 

“I can’t think of a better use of these funds,” said Councilwoman Christie Wood.

She said a strong coalition is needed to address the lack of affordable housing in an area where according to a March report from the Housing Solution Partnership, 24 of 30 categories of local workers are unable to buy a home.

It listed loan officers, sales managers, chief executives, machinists and therapists among those “who can’t afford to live here.”

“It just leaps out at you,” Wood said.

According to the report, the area’s median income is $93,500, meaning an affordable home would be about $410,000. That calls for a $60,000 down payment.

There isn’t much for sale in that range or under. The report said of those that are, 42 are manufactured homes on rented lots. Of the “American dream” of a three-bedroom, single-family home under one acre, there were only eight available countywide.

Wood said the $18,750 is “a very small amount of money and if it can help with solution finding, I think it's a very smart investment.”

Councilman Dan English said when considering the city’s budget, it spends a “very small fraction on social service needs.”

“Housing is one of those things that consistently, over and over, is one of the needs,” he said.

The money was previously earmarked for now disbanded CDA 2030, Inc. That group was formed in 2013 to assist with the city’s plans for growth and community engagement. It changed its name to Connect Kootenai last year, with a goal to expand its influence. 

While the nonprofit enjoyed some success, it didn’t translate into enough funding to keep the doors open. Earlier this year, it closed "amidst changing economic landscape."

That left the city with some money. Its fiscal year 2023-24 budget allocated $25,000 to Connect Kootenai. One payment of $6,250 was made, leaving a balance of $18,750.

Miller requested the council consider reallocating the remaining budgeted funds to PAC to continue with the goal of seeking local workforce housing solutions by providing fiscal oversight for the Housing Solutions Partnership.

She believes the move will be less confusing for the public and get more done.

Miller said the HIP, previously known as the Regional Housing and Growth Issues Partnership, has enjoyed some success. 

HomeShare Kootenai County was created, resident-owned communities legislation was passed, and it has supported land trust/shared equity projects.

Solutions in progress include an additional dwelling unit plans project and a prequalified buyer and promotion connection team.

Looking ahead, the Housing Solutions Partnership plans to work on expanded community land trusts, seek state and local funding and explore establishing a housing authority.

“This is a shotgun approach,” Miller said. “There’s not one single thing that’s going to solve it.”

Miller said while Kootenai County’s median home price has increased recently and is over $500,000, local workers' wages have not risen and 75% of them are priced out of the housing market.

“That's why creating these solutions is becoming more and more important,” she said.