Ali Rabe

Ali Rabe grew up in rural Idaho in a family where public service was simply part of everyday life. Her father, who worked for the state, and her mother, who served as a public-school teacher, demonstrated commitment to their communities and it was something that was instilled early on in Rabe’s life.
She said, “Volunteerism, civic engagement and helping neighbors were normal parts of our lives, and those values shaped how I think about my career. Those early influences instilled in me a belief that the strongest communities are built when people look beyond their immediate self-interest and invest in the wellbeing of others.”
During law school, Rabe worked with indigenous communities in Cambodia and Sierra Leone whose agricultural land was being seized. She graduated magna cum laude from William and Mary School of Law then went to work processing refugee cases for the Department of Homeland Security. For the past six years, she has served in the Idaho State Senate as a senator for District 16, where she’s secured $50 million for Idaho’s Housing Trust Fund, helping finance more than 1,200 affordable homes statewide. Rabe has also advocated for positive consumer protection laws, tenant protections and other laws that benefit Idaho working families.
Rabe is the founding executive director for Gem State Housing Alliance, a statewide pro-housing coalition focused on expanding missing middle housing, modernizing zoning codes, and advancing practice supply solutions across Idaho. Under her direction in its first year of operations, the organization convened mayors, developers, planners and business leaders to build a shared Housing Playbook to help cities unlock housing production, educating dozens of elected officials and engaging hundreds of Idahoans. Along with a community group of volunteers, Rabe received funding for that group last year, a multi-year grant from a national foundation which is prioritizing investments in a pro-housing movement in Idaho for the first time.
Prior to this work, Rabe worked for six years as the executive director of Jesse Tree, where she helped grow the organization from a $250,000 volunteer-driven nonprofit to a $3 million organization with 19 staff and a 95% long-term housing stability rate for clients.
“Much of my work today is driven by a desire to ensure that Idaho remains a place where the next generation can build a life,” Rabe explained. “My long-term goal is to help shape policies, institutions and community partnerships that allow Idaho to grow in a way that strengthens community and ensures that the people who power our economy can continue to call this state home. Ultimately, I hope the work I do helps create communities where people feel connected, supported and able to build stable lives for themselves and their families.”
Rabe is deeply connected in the community with multiple foundations and corporations including The Pacific Companies, Hayden Homes, Roundhouse, Petra Construction and others that have founded Gem State Housing Alliance alongside her. She also currently serves as a trustee for The College of Idaho and is a member of the Idaho Women’s Charitable Foundation.
Kelli Badesheim spoke of Rabe’s far-reaching impact and how it extends beyond any single role or organization.
“She is a trusted voice on housing, infrastructure and community well-being, a mentor to emerging leaders, and a tireless advocate for solutions that allow working families, seniors and young people to thrive in Idaho,” she said.
Rabe is committed to making Idaho a stronger, more vibrant place to live and work.
“I am operating at the helm of systems and policy change and leading one of Idaho’s most exciting nonprofit organizations and coalitions on an issue of top concern, housing affordability, while serving in the State Senate,” she said. “What sets me apart is my ability to turn big ideas into lasting institutions and measurable results quickly by building broad coalitions and aligning community leaders, policymakers and the private sector around practical solutions.”