“I need help paying my rent; can Jesse Tree help me?”

Jesse Tree’s Tenant Resource Center (TRC) can support interested tenants in identifying strategies and resources that can help support them during their housing instability, including taking an application for Jesse Tree’s financial assistance if a 3-day notice or a court summons has been received.

As an emergency program, Jesse Tree’s financial assistance focuses on supporting tenants with an eviction court date and tenants whose landlords have administered a 3-day notice to pay or vacate.

Jesse Tree can financially assist about 80 families at risk of eviction and homelessness each month.

Tenants can be added to Jesse Tree’s waitlist for financial assistance by calling or texting the TRC at 208-383-9486, filling out our web form, or visiting our office at 1121 W Miller St in Boise.

If Jesse Tree cannot support a tenant with financial assistance due to high demand, the TRC can provide information about the Idaho Eviction Process, discuss strategies the tenant can try to avoid getting an eviction, and refer tenants to relevant community resources.

“I have a 3-day pay or quit notice; what should I do?”

Call/text (208-383-9486) or come by Jesse Tree’s office to discuss your options with a member of our Tenant Resource Center (TRC) team!

Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

A 3-day pay or quit notice does not mean you must move out within three days. Landlords must follow a legal court process to evict anyone as long as they have a valid lease agreement.

At the end of the 3 days, the landlord may file for eviction in court. After that, a hearing is scheduled within 5-12 days.

Since it’s the landlord’s choice to take that next step to file for eviction in court, tenants should do anything they can to ensure their landlord does NOT file! This can include trying strategies like:

• Talk to your landlord and let them know…

  • What caused you to fall behind

  • All the steps you’re taking to get current on rent

  • Anything you’re waiting for, and the timeline you’re aware of (ex: “I can get you the remaining $500 with my next check this Friday”)

• Setting up a bi-weekly or monthly payment plan using one of Jesse Tree’s payment plan templates on the TRC page

• Getting a roommate that will help make rent more affordable moving forward

  • Make sure you have a conversation with your landlord about this to add the new roommate to the lease agreement!

• Doing temporary work/jobs to pay as much toward past due rent as possible, including…

  • Uber/Lyft

  • Selling household items that aren’t necessary for day-to-day quality of life

  • Maximizing personal skillsets (babysitting, knitting/crocheting, carpentry, mechanic work, etc.)

  • …and more!

“Can Jesse Tree pay my rent today?”

Jesse Tree’s timeline varies for each household depending on level of need and urgency, but usually we cannot pay rent on the same day you need it.

Usually, it takes Jesse Tree 1-2 weeks to get tenants assigned to a case manager for assistance from our waitlist.

If you have received an eviction court summons, Jesse Tree can typically assist within 1-2 business days of the scheduled court date.

Please call/text our Tenant Resource Center (208-383-9486) or come by our office to discuss your situation with us in more detail, and we can talk through your options and give you suggestions on what you can do in the next 24 hours.

“I can’t pay my rent next month; can Jesse Tree help?”

Jesse Tree cannot pay your rent early, but you can still call/text our TRC (208-383-9486) to discuss your options and talk through some strategies you can try if you aren’t past due yet.

Definitely talk to your landlord about your difficulties and ask to set up a payment plan with them.

The TRC can also provide information about the Idaho Eviction Process and refer tenants to other community resources.

“I’ve already been to eviction court, can Jesse Tree pay my rental arrears?”

If you have a mediation agreement from the court, do your best to follow the agreement to avoid getting an eviction on your record.

It’s best to contact us before your court date so Jesse Tree’s Eviction Court team has time to work with your landlord, make a plan, and potentially get the case dismissed.

Call/text our TRC (208-383-9486) or come by our office to discuss your options.

“Do you pay security deposits?”

As of January 1st, 2023, Jesse Tree can no longer pay for security deposits.

If you have children under 18 in the household, you can call Navigation Services at 2-1-1 (Idaho Care Line) and ask to speak to a Navigator about security deposit assistance.

“Can Jesse Tree pay my late fees or utility bills?”

Yes, if Jesse Tree can assist you financially, we can also help pay for legal, late, or administrative fees.

You can also communicate with your landlord and ask if they might be willing to waive the fees.

If Jesse Tree assists you, we can also help pay for utilities. Jesse Tree can also help connect you with organizations that may be able to help pay your utility bills. Check out other community resources available on this site.

“What happens after I go to court?”

If you go to court and can come up with an agreement with your landlord, you need to follow the terms of the agreement.

If you do not, you will get a default judgment.

If you go to court and the judge rules against you, you could be removed from your home within 72 hours.

Being proactive and seeking help before your court date is always good. Please get in touch with Jesse Tree as soon as you are in a bind, and we’ll try to help you resolve the situation.