TAFT HOMES: Yes In God’s Backyard

LEAP HOUSING + COLLISTER UNITED METHODIST CHURCH | Boise, ID

TAFT HOMES GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY

April 25, 2022

Left to right: Jack Hawkins (IHFA), Nicki Hellenkamp (City of Boise), Bart Cochran (LEAP), Stephanie Day (CATCH), Bob Hurtt (IMLS), Shannan Berry (Realtors Community Foundation), Joe Bankard (Collister UMC).

“Housing is one of the biggest needs in our community and we have land. My call to other churches is you should be doing the same.”
— Collister UMC Pastor, Joe Bankard

UNDERUTILIZED LAND

Faith communities in the Treasure Valley have the most underutilized land, with empty parking lots, unused baseball fields, etc. which can contribute to creating affordable housing.

SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY

Faith communities have a long history of meeting community needs and today’s housing is a top community need. Partnering with LEAP to build housing is a great opportunity to align need and mission.

PARTNERSHIP W/ FAITH-BASED ORGS

Collister United Methodist is the first faith-based organization in Boise to contribute to the affordable housing solution in this partnership with LEAP Housing, using a rarely used space behind the church parking to build two homes.

LISTENING | RESPONDING | ACTING | LEADING

Taft Homes is a two-unit, affordable housing project that will bring homes to two households in Boise who earn at or below 30% area median income (AMI). At the request of Collister United Methodist, who is leasing the land to LEAP Housing to create affordable housing at $1/year for 50 years, the project will house those most vulnerable in our community.

Nestled behind Collister UMC, in what was previously an empty parking lot, the LEAP Housing team, Collister UMC, CATCH, City of Boise, IHFA, and neighbors and friends celebrated the completion of Taft Homes at the tail end of the summer of 22’ with an open house event.

With housewarming gifts generously donated by Collister UMC and Glocal Community Partners that filled multiple tables, we welcomed the future families of Taft Homes. 

PROJECT DETAILS

  • 3 BED, 2 BATH, 1009 SF, ADA Visitable, 30% AMI

  • Application Team: LEAP Housing

  • Builder: Flynner Homes

FUNDING SOURCES

  • Idaho Housing and Finance Association HTF: $300,000

  • City of Boise HOME: $250,000

  • City of Boise Housing Incentives Program (HIP): $80,000

  • Boise Regional Realtors: $50,000

  • Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation: $30,000

  • Intermountain MLS: $25,000

“If Taft Homes has taught us anything, it’s that even just two units, no matter how big or small the project is, are really going to matter to the two households that will now have access to safe, stable, and affordable housing. ”