$33,000 awarded to 8 nonprofits serving Idaho homeless during Avenues for Hope Housing Challenge
34 nonprofits still vying for share of up to $200,000 in grants with additional support from community
BOISE, Idaho – December 22, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Idaho Housing and Finance Association through its Home Partnership Foundation announced the first $33,000 of Avenues for Hope Housing Challenge’s matching grants going to eight out of the 34 nonprofits serving Idaho’s homeless and those in need of housing assistance across the state. Six of these received one-time $5,000 matching grants, leaving 28 nonprofits still eligible if they receive a donation of $5,000 or more.
Six nonprofits also shared a $3,000 award for being the first to receive 20 donations as part of their own fundraising efforts. Other prizes will be distributed throughout the campaign, according to the rules of the Housing Challenge.
Up to $200,000 in grant prizes and matching funds is provided by Idaho Housing and 14 other sponsors of the online fundraiser. This money is in addition to donations received from the community during Avenues for Hope, which runs through December 31 atwww.avenuesforhope.org.
“Every participating nonprofit has a chance to win a $5,000 matching grant,” said Gerald M. Hunter, president of Idaho Housing. “That means 28 nonprofits are still in the running to receive this grant on top of the donations they receive from the community.”
Individuals can donate to the participating nonprofit of their choice, with the funds going to help the Idaho homeless and those in need of housing assistance in their local community. Real time donation totals can be seen online at www.avenuesforhope.org/#leaderboard until the campaign ends at midnight on December 31.
Matching grants of $5,000 have been awarded so far to six nonprofits: Bonner County Homeless Task Force in Sandpoint; Corpus Christi House, Inc. in Boise; Family Promise of North Idaho in Coeur d’Alene; NeighborWorks Pocatello in Pocatello; Idaho Falls Rescue Mission in Idaho Falls; and Sojourners’ Alliance in Moscow.
Additional awards of $500 each were given to the first six nonprofits to receive 20 donations: CATCH, Inc. (Charitable Assistance to Community’s Homeless) in Boise, Corpus Christi House, Inc. in Boise; Family Promise of North Idaho in Coeur d’Alene; NeighborWorks Pocatello in Pocatello; The Jesse Tree of Idaho in Boise; and Sojourner’s Alliance in Moscow.
“We’ve been impressed with the efforts of the nonprofits so far in getting the word out about the important work they do in their communities,” said Hunter. “With 14 days left in the campaign, it’s critical for Idahoans to step up and help these organizations out, especially this time of year.”
The nonprofits help people like Benson Howard, a homeless person currently living in a Boise shelter. “The first thing I do is wake up in the morning, get breakfast, and try to find somewhere to get out of the cold,” he said.
According to Idaho Housing, the 34 nonprofits participating in Avenues for Hope provide more than just shelter. “These organizations are helping the homeless and people at risk of becoming homeless receive important services and life skills they need to get back on their feet, such as education and job search assistance,” Hunter said.
Idaho Housing is encouraging the public to donate $25 or more at www.avenuesforhope.org. Every donation is critical to help combat homelessness and ensure essential housing resources are available to those in need across the state. The Avenues for Hope campaign will end December 31st at midnight, and final results, including donations and grant awards, will be announced on Monday, January 4th.
Donation link: http://www.avenuesforhope.org
Video: https://youtu.be/dcJV5amI1js
Hashtag: #IdahoHomeless
About Avenues for Hope
The 2015 Avenues for Hope Housing Challenge is helping over 34 nonprofits across the state. The campaign has seen a 42% percent increase in community involvement, with 630 donations received to date. A total of $105,879 has been raised so far in donations and grants for participating nonprofits.
Now in its fifth year, the annual fundraiser has raised over $650,000 since its inception in 2011. With continued support from the community, Home Partnership Foundation believes that Avenues for Hope could raise another $325,000 during this year’s campaign.
Both the chronic homeless and temporarily homeless are helped by Avenues for Hope, including domestic violence victims, veterans, people with disabilities, vulnerable youth, and low income Idaho residents.
Avenues for Hope is presented by Home Partnership Foundation and sponsored by Idaho Housing and Finance Association in conjunction with Academy Mortgage Corp., Bank of the Cascades, Bank of Commerce, Bank of Idaho, Barclays Capital, Citizens Community Bank, Evergreen Home Loans, Fairway Independent Mortgage, First Mortgage Company, Guild Mortgage Company, Idaho Independent Bank, KeyBank Foundation, Mountain West Bank, Prospect Mortgage and Wells Fargo.
About Home Partnership Foundation
The Home Partnership Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) organization created by Idaho Housing and Finance Association 10 years ago to help people build a strong foundation for their lives through stable, safe, and affordable housing. HPF is the organizer of the Avenues for Hope Housing Challenge, which has raised over $650,000 for housing nonprofits in Idaho since its inception in 2011.
The mission of HPF is to strengthen communities across Idaho by encouraging tax-deductible charitable gifts to support shelters and shelter services for the homeless and disadvantaged, help avoid eviction actions to stabilize households and prevent homelessness, encourage asset-building and education to achieve economic independence, build equity-sharing funds to make workforce housing attainable, and facilitate tax-advantaged land donations for affordable housing purposes.
Website: www.homepartnershipfoundation.org
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HomePartnershipFoundation
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/avenuesforhope
Download logos: https://avenuesforhope.org/#npo-resources
About Idaho Housing and Finance Association
Idaho Housing and Finance Association is a financial services and housing business organization. IHFA’s mission is to improve lives and strengthen Idaho communities by expanding housing opportunities, building self-sufficiency, and fostering economic development.
Website: www.idahohousing.com
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/idahohousing
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/idahohousing
| Participating nonprofits | City | Region Served |
| Enhance the Match Fund | Boise | Statewide |
| Home Partnership Foundation | Boise | Statewide |
| Bonner County Homeless Task Force | Sandpoint | 1 |
| Family Promise of North Idaho | Coeur d’Alene | 1 |
| St Vincent de Paul North Idaho | Coeur d’Alene | 1 |
| Affordable Housing Foundation Inc. | Grangeville | 2 |
| Family Promise of Lewis Clark Valley | Lewiston | 2 |
| Family Promise of the Palouse | Moscow | 2 |
| Lewiston-Clarkston Partners Habitat for Humanity | Clarkston | 2 |
| Moscow Affordable Housing Trust, Inc | Moscow | 2 |
| Sojourners’ Alliance | Moscow | 2 |
| Advocates Against Family Violence | Caldwell | 3 |
| Canyon County Habitat for Humanity | Nampa | 3 |
| CATCH, Inc. (Charitable Assistance to Community’s Homeless) | Boise | 3 |
| Corpus Christi House, Inc | Boise | 3 |
| Good Samaritan Home | Boise | 3 |
| Hope House, Inc. | Marsing | 3 |
| Idaho Youth Ranch, Inc. | Boise | 3 |
| Interfaith Sanctuary Housing Services | Boise | 3 |
| International Rescue Committee | Boise | 3 |
| NeighborWorks Boise | Boise | 3 |
| The Jesse Tree of Idaho | Boise | 3 |
| The Salvation Army | Nampa | 3 |
| Women’s & Children’s Alliance | Boise | 3 |
| Blaine County Housing Authority | Hailey | 4 |
| South Central Community Action Partnership | Twin Falls | 4 |
| Aid For Friends, Inc. | Pocatello | 5 |
| Bannock Youth Foundation | Pocatello | 5 |
| Bingham Crisis Center for Women, Inc. | Blackfoot | 5 |
| Family Services Alliance | Pocatello | 5 |
| NeighborWorks Pocatello | Pocatello | 5 |
| Southeastern Idaho Community Action Agency | Pocatello | 5 |
| CLUB, Inc. | Idaho Falls | 6 |
| Idaho Falls Rescue Mission | Idaho Falls | 6 |
| Lemhi County Crisis Intervention/The Mahoney House | Salmon | 6 |
Kevin Harper kevinh (at) ihfa (dot) org
Media Relations Officer
208-331-4838
