The COVID-19 Virtual Townhall is an ongoing series to take place on Thursdays through the end of 2021, featuring key stakeholders in our community, who together are working toward housing justice for all. These conversations are framed through Fair Housing and we invite the public and anyone in our community to participate through attending the series, asking questions, and taking some time to look at the resources and materials that we share.
The materials shared here are those that have been shared throughout these events and serves as a place where the ideas, sources, and information can be viewed together and revisited beyond the short hours the event took place. In working together and providing these resources, we know there are fair housing solutions to build beloved communities and to address barriers to Fair Housing Justice.
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October 14th – Innovative Housing Solutions
Resources Mentioned:
- What is the LEAP Housing Trust?
- Ada County Rental Assistance
- Rental Assistance: All other counties
- U.S. Department of the Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance FAQs
September 30th – Navigating Evictions
Resources Mentioned:
- 3-Day Eviction Self Help Form
- Idaho Legal Aid video resources
- Evictions in Idaho – Idaho Policy Institute
- Ada County Rental Assistance
- Rental Assistance: All other counties
- U.S. Department of the Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance FAQs
September 23rd – Housing is Healthcare
Resources Mentioned:
- 2020 Community Needs Assessment United Way of Treasure Valley and St. Alphonsus
- Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed Report (ALICE)
- Out of Reach Report – National Low Income Housing Coalition
- Housing Affordability from Idaho Asset Building Network
- Evictions in Idaho – Idaho Policy Institute
- Ada County Rental Assistance
- Rental Assistance: All other counties
- U.S. Department of the Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance FAQs
September 9th – Residential Care and Disability Justice

For this week’s Townhall Event we visit the intersection of Covid-19 and Fair Housing for a discussion on Residential Care and Disability Justice.
We will hear from three incredible speakers: Amanda Scott of Aging Idaho, Courtney Holthus of Disability Rights Idaho and Jenna Furman of Idaho Legal Aid. Our speakers will focus on the question, “What can we do to safely house our elderly community members and people with disabilities, many of whom are living at the intersection of both a housing crisis and a pandemic?” followed with a community Q&A segment.
Resources Mentioned:
- Town Hall Ombudsman Program 2021 Presentation (PDF download)
- Ada County Rental Assistance
- Rental Assistance: All other counties
- U.S. Department of the Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance FAQs
August 26th – Housing Affordability and the State of Fair Housing in Idaho

Ali Rabe from Jesse Tree and Kendra Knighton and Angelica Moran from Idaho Voices for Children discussing the state of Fair Housing and Housing affordability in Idaho and the housing trust fund.
The conversation is part 3 in our series and highlights what housing affordability looks like, and what we can do to make Idaho a more livable option for Idahoans by answering the question, “What does the future hold for affordable housing in Idaho?” Hosted by Zoe Ann Olson, Executive Director for Intermountain Fair Housing Council
Resources Mentioned:
- An Affordable Home for Every Idahoan: A State and Federal Advocacy Toolkit
- Urge Congress to Support Robust Investments in Housing Now!
- Subscribe to Idaho Asset Building Network mailing list
- Ada County Rental Assistance
- Rental Assistance: All other counties
- U.S. Department of the Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance FAQs
August 12th – Emergency Rental Assistance for Ada County

Building off our question from July 29ths townhall, “How do I apply for rental assistance and what do I do if I’m not eligible?” Deanna Watson (BCACHA) will cover program eligibility, type and amount of assistance available, and how to access the program for Ada County residents. Jody Erickson with IFHC joins Deanna in conversation with Fair Housing Solutions to Rental Assistance Barriers and what renters should know if they face eviction.
With the CDC Eviction Moratorium extended through October 3rd, Emergency Rental Assistance Programs are working to distribute the millions of dollars in aid that Idaho received. This program is funded through the U.S. Department of the Treasury for low-income local tenants who are struggling with rent and/or utilities and the reason for this is due, in some way, to the COVID pandemic. BCACHA is administering the Emergency Rental Assistance Program in Boise and Ada County.
Resources Mentioned:
- Ada County Rental Assistance
- Rental Assistance: All other counties
- U.S. Department of the Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance FAQs
July 29th – Fair Housing Solutions to Housing Barriers

With the CDC Eviction Moratorium about to expire on July 31st, Jody Erikson and Monica Fabbi from Intermountain Fair Housing Council discuss Fair Housing Solutions to Rental Assistance Barriers and what renters should know if they face eviction.
The conversation will kick off our series and highlight the Emergency Rental Assistance programs available and the barriers we are seeing to receiving the aid, specifically by answering the question, “How do I apply for rental assistance and what do I do if I’m not eligible?” Hosted by Brittany O’Meara, Education Project Director for Intermountain Fair Housing Council
Resources mentioned:
- Ada County Rental Assistance
- Rental Assistance: All other counties
- U.S. Department of the Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance FAQs
- Administration of the Federal ERAP: Considerations for State Agencies
- Eviction Lab
- Language Access Guide
- HOUSING PERSPECTIVES Research, trends, and perspective (interactive map)