A Coeur d’Alene woman told Gov. Brad Little this week the mobile home park she lives in recently raised rents substantially and many seniors could be forced to move.

“I don’t know where they’ve going to go,” said Pam, speaking via phone to Little during an hourlong legislative update AARP telephone town hall on Tuesday. “I’m one of them.”

The woman said an investment group bought the park and increased lot rents by more than $100 a month — a big hit for many on fixed incomes who live there.

Pam said some in the mobile home park get by on Social Security, food stamps and other resources for those with limited funds.

The rent increase left some in tears, not sure what to do, she said. Some are cutting back on their grocery budget or even selling property, she said.

The state received $175 million in emergency rental assistance through federal coronavirus relief funding last year. In December, Idaho Housing and Finance had distributed $19.1 million of that amount.

Idaho is providing $30 million in additional rental assistance, Little said.

When asked about the state stepping in with rent control, he said that’s not something he supports as it has many “untended consequences.”

Pam asked Little if they could get rental assistance, adding that $200 a month would be a boost.

“I was born and raised in this state and I am just appalled at what’s happening to the senior population,” Pam said.

Several others called with concerns.

John in Coeur d’Alene questioned why people can bet on sports in some states, but not in Idaho.

“Legislators espouse freedom. Their words do not match their actions,” he said.

If people in Idaho want to bet on sports, they should be able to, he said.

Little disagreed.

He said he was not a proponent of the state getting into the business of gambling and said there are many opportunities for that at tribal casinos.

He said he did not know anyone who elected to live in Idaho for sports wagering.

Another man said he received the vaccine for COVID-19 and days later was left paralyzed, spent many days in the hospital and is still struggling to retain full movement. He also lost his job.

“I’ve never been out of work since I was 15 years old,” he said.

The man said he has written to legislators but received little help.

Still, he loves Idaho and is trying to return to health and find work.

“I’m proud of being an Idahoan — damn proud to be an Idahoan,” he said.

Little said he was sorry to hear of the adverse reaction to the vaccine.

While he said the science behind the vaccines show they are safe, there have been cases of people falling ill after getting one.

“If someone does get injured by the vaccine the Federal Drug Administration needs to know,” Little said.

Mark from Boise said he has been trying to use Medicaid to get a relative with mild dementia into long-term assisted living.

While they initially say yes, they decline once they realize the patient will require extensive care.

Mark asked what it could take to increase Medicaid reimbursements

“The worst consequences of COVID was the stress it put on long-term care,” Little said.

He said long-term care facilities are facing staffing shortages.

They key is to get more health care workers in the pipeline and give more students the skills and desire to work in that field, Little said.

“Their biggest problem is manpower,” he said.