Aid for Friends, the region’s only shelter that houses single men, single women, and families, operates above capacity most nights. Approximately 40 guests stay in a single family home built in the 1930’s on any given night. The shelter struggles to provide adequate space, living accommodations, and accessibility.

Idaho Housing and Finance is partnering with Aid for Friends to create a new shelter by making a $500,000 investment, and raising additional funds necessary to renovate a newly acquired space at 209 E. Lewis in Pocatello. This location will provide critical shelter space along with enhanced resources for low-income and homeless individuals and families in the seven southeast Idaho counties.

The following facts convinced Idaho Housing and many other donors of the need for this new shelter, and they should convince you too:

• Children are two times more likely to have a learning disability when their housing is inadequate
• 5% of hospital users incur 50% of total healthcare costs – many of the 5% are homeles
• Children are 20% more likely to be hospitalized when they experience a lack of housing
• 43,000 Idahoans pay more than half of their income towards housing- 32% have children, 41% are elderly or disabled
• The SE Idaho region has the second highest homeless population in the state, second only to Ada County

You have the opportunity to support what has been a longstanding positive and effective intervention, with a financial contribution to Aid for Friends’ new shelter. The new space will increase shelter capacity by approximately 150% and offer living quarters appropriate for single men, single women, and families. Other enhancements include adequate bathroom and laundry facilities, an industrial kitchen, recreational and educational opportunities for children, a donation receiving area, community clothes and food pantries, and a workforce development center.

PLEASE DONATE TO SUPPORT YOUR NEIGHBORS IN NEED.  YOU CAN ALSO SUPPORT THIS CAUSE BY CLICKING ‘START FUNDRAISING’ ABOVE, SETTING A FUNDRAISING GOAL, AND ENCOURAGE FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO HELP YOU MEET YOUR GOAL.  By doing so, your community can address homelessness before it worsens and preemptively avoid the negative impact to future generations.

Building acquisition and renovation generously supported by: 

Idaho Housing and Finance Association, Home Partnership Foundation/Avenues for Hope, City of Pocatello, City of Chubbuck, Housing Alliance and Community Partnerships, Bannock County, Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation, ON Semiconductor,  Citizens Community Bank, Wells Fargo, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Humanitarian Services of North America, Bank of Commerce, Idaho Central Credit Union, Steve Gallafent, Spaulding Foundation, Encompass Life Foundation, United Way of SE Idaho, Aid for Friends, Central Christian Church Vacation Bible School, Idaho Community Foundation, Ifft Foundation Fund at ICF, Idaho Foodbank Fund, and many individual donors.