FAQS

I HAVE A GENERAL QUESTION:

Q: What is LEAP Housing?

A: LEAP Housing was started in 2016 by Bart Cochran, a Boise realtor, who saw vulnerable populations unable to access stable, affordable homes. We are a Boise-based nonprofit that believes all people deserve a safe, affordable home and our mission is to develop and preserve affordable housing while providing empowering services that lead to greater housing stability.

Q: Who is Property People?

A: Property People is a full service real estate company that specializes in assisting clients with the purchase, management or sale of residential or commercial property. Property People was awarded “Best Property Manager in Boise” in 2020. Property People is the property manager for LEAP owned homes and will oversee leasing and management of the property.

Please visit the Property People website for more information: https://www.idahopropertypeople.com/

I WOULD LIKE TO HELP OR DONATE:

Q: I have land that I want to donate or sell to LEAP.  Who do I need to contact? 

A:  Thank you for your generosity! To learn more about land donation and affordable housing development, please contact landtrust@leaphousing.org.

Q: How can I help?

A: Thank you for your interest in furthering our mission! 

If you’d like to donate to LEAP, click here to set up a one-time or recurring gift. If you want to give to a specific project or program, let us know in the notes section.

If you’d like to serve or volunteer your time, please reach out at info@leaphousing.org.

Q: I hear you work with people who arrived through refugee resettlement. What do you do specifically?

A: Our Welcome Housing program was created in 2016, and was the first ever program implemented by LEAP Housing Solutions. Aside from providing welcoming accommodation, our guests benefit by stretching their resettlement funds. With hospitality as the foundation, we aim to meet residents in a trauma-informed way. We help serve our guests by cultivating partnerships with resettlement agencies and preparing the families for what they need to know in order to be successful as a renter in the United States. 

I’M LOOKING FOR A HOME AND HAVE QUESTIONS:

Q: I want to buy a home, but I don’t know where to start. Can you help with that? 

A: Yes! LEAP’s Yes You Can homebuyer program provides homebuyer navigation to renters pursuing homeownership. For more information, please contact us at yesyoucan@leaphousing.org. 

Q: What does AMI mean? 

A:  AMI is an abbreviation for ‘area median income,’ and is a statistic used by HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) to determine the eligibility of applicants for certain housing programs. 

Q: How do you verify my income during the homebuying process? 

A: In order to accurately verify your income, please be prepared to provide bank and income statements, including but not limited to: W2 forms, pay stubs from the last 3 months, bank statements, unemployment statements, disability benefits, and social security statements. 

Q: Is it OK if I bring a case worker, advocate or friend to help me fill out the rental application?

A: Absolutely. In fact, it is encouraged. However, you must provide permission for this person to speak on your behalf. 

Q: What should I expect if I’m put on the waitlist? 

A:  If your application is completed but the units are already at capacity, your name must go onto a waitlist. The waitlist will be ordered based off of the timestamp of the application, and you will then have to wait until your name comes to the top of the list. Property People manages our homes and oversees the wait list. During the time you are on the waiting list, you can expect notifications regarding your housing status and continued interest. If you fail to respond to these notifications Property People will assume that you no longer are interested and we will move forward with other applicants. If you contact LEAP regarding your wait list status, we will direct you to Property People.