The Boise Regional REALTORS® Community Foundation announced a $250,000 donation to the LEAP Housing Trust, to be gifted over the next few years, supporting the development of affordable homes in Elmore, Gem, and Ada counties.
The REALTORS® donation will help with the development of Falcon’s Landing in Mountain Home, a multi-family project offering affordable rental and purchase options, along with the completion of Taft Street Homes in Boise, as part of the city’s Campaign to End Family Homelessness. Looking ahead to 2023, the gift will go towards a forthcoming project in Emmett.
“In our work with prospective homebuyers, REALTORS® are keenly aware of the lack of affordable housing available throughout our region,” said Gary Salisbury, 2021 President of the REALTORS® Community Foundation. “While we have provided nearly $1.7 million in grants to various nonprofits since 1995, this will be our largest gift to one organization.”
The REALTORS® Community Foundation is the charitable arm of Boise Regional REALTORS® (BRR), the trade association for real estate professionals, which is providing the funding for this gift with support from Intermountain MLS (IMLS), another BRR subsidiary.
Jeff Wills, 2021 President of Boise Regional REALTORS®, said “LEAP’s Housing Trust was chosen for this gift not only because of what they build, but by doing so, they provide more options to help people achieve the dream of homeownership.”
In addition to the housing trust, LEAP offers other services to renters, prospective homebuyers, and residents of their communities, providing the tools and financial assistance needed to secure and enjoy affordable, stable housing.
“We have navigated the housing crisis by partnering with groups across multiple sectors; municipalities, health providers, religious organizations, and now real estate,” said Founder and CEO of LEAP Housing, Bart Cochran. “The support of our real estate community is essential if we are going to identify available land and provide innovative solutions to combat the affordable housing crisis we see today in the Boise Metro Area.”
Shirley Koch, 2021 President of Intermountain MLS shared this: “For many sellers, higher home prices have meant greater equity, which can be used for another home purchase, to fund a business, send a child to college, or a variety of other opportunities. By supporting this initiative, it will provide more housing supply, especially in the lower price points, which is desperately needed to help more people purchase a home, with a long-term benefit of building wealth through real estate while also having a wonderful place to call home.”
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LEAP Housing is a Boise-based nonprofit working to develop and preserve affordable housing while providing supportive services that lead to greater housing stability in Idaho. To learn more about LEAP Housing, visit leaphousing.org, or contact info@leapcharities.org or 208-391-2823.
Boise Regional REALTORS® (BRR) is the largest local REALTOR® association in Idaho, serving thousands of real estate professionals. BRR helps members succeed in real estate by providing resources in business ethics and professionalism, while also fostering industry and community connections. The REALTORS® Community Foundation seeks to improve the quality of life in the throughout Ada, Elmore, and Gem counties, through housing-related projects and grants. The association incorporated the Foundation in 1995 as a 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more about BRR and the Foundation at boirealtors.com, or contact Pete Clark, Director of Communications for Boise Regional REALTORS®.
Intermountain Multiple Listing Service (IMLS) promotes and enhances a cooperative real estate marketplace by focusing on data, training, and tools for real estate professionals throughout Idaho. Learn more at intermountainmls.com, or contact Nichol Lapierre, Marketing and Communications Manager for IMLS.
