We Must Treat Housing Like the Crisis it Is

We all know there’s a housing crisis in Boise and throughout the valley. It’s hit a lot of us pretty hard and fast. From talking with other Boiseans, I know many of us worry about being able to find affordable housing or keeping our homes as property values and taxes skyrocket. Boise needs affordable and accessible housing for everyone. Period.

To make that happen, we must develop more housing for low-income folks. Efforts like Valor Pointe and New Path are an excellent step in the right direction, but they are a drop in the bucket compared to Boiseans’ immediate and growing housing needs. It’s clear that Boise’s population of people experiencing homelessness is growing as the Valley does and that — in our general housing squeeze — the most vulnerable people are the most affected: single mothers, people living with disabilities, formerly incarcerated people, people of color, and refugees. We need to invest more in these low-income housing programs to make sure no one in our community is without a home. Prioritizing affordable housing is a social justice issue, it’s a community issue, and it’s a moral issue. I will prioritize smart investments in affordable housing as a City Council member, and I will work to eliminate needless zoning law, champion creative approaches, and create incentives for developers who offer affordable options.

We also need a plan for Boise’s middle class residents. Total earnings in the Treasure Valley have dropped 6.3% since 2007, even while home prices have skyrocketed. Our property taxes have gone up with property values irrespective of our ability to pay. On top of this, the legislature has capped commercial property taxes and the homeowners’ exemption, putting more and more of the tax burden on homeowners each year. That is why I support insisting that the legislature reform property tax rates to balance the scale, an effort that every city in our Valley should join. Homeowners should not be expected to carry an increasing percentage of the tax bill. Our tax system needs to change, and I will work hard to make it happen as a member of Boise City Council.