The Fiscal Cliff

You may have heard Jesse Tree get a shout-out during the Mayor of Boise's State of the City address. Over the last few years we have helped to spend down millions in federal funding. We reached thousands of tenants at risk of eviction. We're proud of this work we've accomplished alongside the Boise City Ada County Housing Authority, Idaho Housing and Finance Association, and many other agencies.

Our staff continue to work tirelessly to provide financial assistance and support to people in the eviction process. Our data shows that recently - with government and private support - we have prevented 22% of eviction cases from ending in judgements. This has had a profound impact on our community, and we thank the Mayor for acknowledging our work.

We are excited to see local governments increasing their dedication to address housing challenges. You may have also seen that recently, the City of Meridian set aside $250K for housing assistance. So far we have prevented eviction for 54 Meridian families with that funding. It’s heartening to see our local leaders recognizing the need for affordable housing and taking tangible steps in the right direction by collaborating with nonprofits like Jesse Tree and implementing innovative housing policies.

We will face new challenges ahead as our communities and state face a serious fiscal cliff in federal funding for housing support. Jesse Tree recently finished expending a $3.4 million federal grant, and tens of millions in other funding being provided through BCACHA and IHFA will also soon expire. As federal support decreases, we anticipate a wave of evictions.

We’ll need to continue to work together to sustain the progress we’ve made - government, nonprofits, businesses, and you. In the coming months, we will be providing updates on the federal fiscal cliff to foster dialogue, gather ideas, and strategize how to keep more people housed. We invite you to participate actively and share your insights, experiences, and suggestions.

Together, we can build a community that ensures everyone has a chance to remain housed. This is Jesse Tree’s vision for the future, and we thank you for supporting it.