Affordable housing policy available in Idaho as legislative session starts

Idaho lawmakers who want to tackle the housing affordability issue in the 2026 session could look at an innovative way to get more people in their own homes.

The Panhandle Affordable Housing Alliance is developing a solution in north Idaho that’s designed to keep middle-class workers in communities where they’re being pushed out due to high prices.

PAHA’s Miracle on Britton project in Post Falls includes 28 homes that are deed-restricted to keep them affordable. Maggie Lyons, executive director for PAHA, said this model is replicable and state lawmakers could help by passing a new tax credit.

“It would be a state tax credit for any taxpayer – not just builders and developers, but for any taxpayer – who chooses to sell a home substantially below market,” said Lyons. “That is, a deed-restricted resell formula that always keeps that home in a price range affordable over time by middle-income wage earners.”

Lyons said housing is like a slow-swinging wrecking ball that is ruining local communities and economies by pushing out workers.

The Idaho legislative session begins next Monday.

Miracle on Britton is one of the first projects of its kind in the country. Lyons said a diverse group of buyers have bought homes in the neighborhood, including nurses, teachers, welders and electricians.

She noted that these are professions with good wages, but not enough to buy a home, with costs continuing to rise in Kootenai County. Her organization partnered with the University of Idaho to collect data.

“Seventy percent want homeownership – and right now in Kootenai County, less than 20% can afford to buy a home,” said Lyons. “So, PAHA’s battle cry basically became we refuse to accept that only the wealthy can afford to buy a home in Kootenai County.”

Lyons said state policymakers need to take the long view on housing.

“The state is called to lead, and you do not lead by looking only a year ahead, or two years,” said Lyons. “You lead by understanding what are the trends, what does the data tell us, and how do we best formulate policy to respond to what we know are the longer term needs of the citizenry.”

This story was provided by Northern Rockies News Service, a bureau of the Public News Service.