Housing Heroes Profile: Saint Alphonsus

The Housing Heroes profile series covers LEAP’s advocates and major donors who advance the mission of affordable housing in Idaho. The gift by Saint Alphonsus is one of eight donations offering matching funds to all donations in the month of December during Avenues for Hope. To utilize Saint Alphonsus’ donation, visit our Avenues for Hope donation page.

Caritas.

It is a word that most people haven’t seen before. It is a word that some mispronounce as “carnitas”. But this word holds so much meaning. ‘Caritas’ is Latin for charity. The love of humankind. A brotherly love. The kind of love that inspires you to do something for someone you might not even know.

It’s also the name of the first Land Trust in Idaho, which came into existence due to the brotherly love that Saint Alphonsus bestowed upon LEAP Housing. Saint Alphonsus stepped up to the plate and became not only the first donor, but also the lead donor for the LEAP Housing Trust.

The first Land Trust and the first Land Trust donor; it’s only fitting that the name would be Caritas Commons. This isn’t an intangible love either, this love is constant, and perceptible. This love allows 14 families to be housed comfortably, safely, and affordably.

It is thanks to LEAP’s Board President, Jerry Brady, that we even received a seat at the table with Saint Alphonsus. Jerry was instrumental in introducing LEAP Housing’s CEO Bart Cochran to Odette Bolano, President and CEO of Saint Alphonsus. According to Rebecca Lemmons, the Regional Director of Community Health & Well-Being at Saint Alphonsus, “We had a distinct feeling even before we identified a specific project, that LEAP’s mission and focus was on meeting the needs of the community in creative and innovative ways. We really appreciated the partnership in that our missions aligned in doing what was right for the community.

Saint Alphonsus knows that in order to cater to the variety of needs across the state, we need to be innovative. As of right now, they are working on providing employee housing, housing for families experiencing homelessness, and fair market housing. “There are a variety of needs across the state, and we are currently working with the Idaho Housing & Finance Company and the Housing Company to construct 80 units in Nampa that are adjacent to the hospital. Fifteen of these units are specifically for students in the Nampa school district experiencing homelessness.” 

Housing is healthcare; this belief is now being stressed by health organizations across the U.S. But it wasn’t the easiest integration for health systems: “I’ve been heartened and touched by the number of organizations who are helping us to understand the complexities of the housing arena. They’ve been willing to sit and help us learn how housing works here.” 

Jesse Tree, CATCH, the Pacific Companies, IHFA, The Housing Company. These are just a few of the selfless organizations that partnered with Saint Alphonsus to help them understand the nuances of the affordable housing world, and have allowed them to become leaders in the community. 

Thanks to their help, Saint Alphonsus is now truly an organization that not only talks the talk, but also walks the walk. As Rebecca says, “We have to help where we can. Sometimes that is through funding, sometimes through advocacy, sometimes through sharing data we’ve found. “ 

Through this true charity, Saint Alphonsus is truly loving their peers, the community, and inspiring others to step up when the going gets tough. This love will allow innumerable families to be housed comfortably, safely, and affordably for years to come.