POST FALLS — Puffy white clouds rolled across the deep blue sky as that new-home smell wafted on the breeze.

The sun shined on the celebration unfolding on Britton Road in Post Falls. And just as happens on a lucky wedding day, the skies opened long enough to sprinkle rain and blessings on the first-time homeowners who received the keys to their brand-new homes.

"We are standing in the middle of a first-in-the-nation solution to restore the American Dream of homeownership for our hard-working families whose wages have not and will not catch up to our escalating market rate prices for real estate," Panhandle Affordable Housing Alliance Executive Director Maggie Lyons said Thursday.

The Miracle on Britton was initiated three years ago. PAHA purchased all 28 lots in August 2023 through a promissory note carried by the seller that is being repaid as lots sell with the homes. A total of $1,050,000 was needed to build all 28 Miracle on Britton homes and a neighborhood park. So far, $800,000 has been raised with $250,000 to go, and 15 of the 28 planned homes have been sold while five are welcoming their first residents. All 28 Miracle on Britton homeowners will be moved in by next summer, Lyons said. 

"The ripple effect has already begun," she said, adding that two builders in Kootenai County will use this model in their next development.

Presented by PAHA and Simplicity Homes, the Miracle on Britton grand opening and community block party served as a "welcome home" celebration for the first families to move into the innovative deed-restricted, shared-equity homes. Britton’s deed restrictions mean the homes are designated for a certain income, they must be occupied by the owners and a resale formula allows wealth creation while protecting the home from pricing to the market. Without a resale formula, homes initially sold below market will be resold at market value, pricing out future middle-class workers. Visit pahaid.org for program details.

The block party was also a way to say thank you to the many community members, businesses and organizations that provided their support for a unique project that has made homeownership a reality for locals who otherwise may not have the opportunity to call a home their own.

"I'm flabbergasted," Casey Doyle said as she stood with her husband and her sister, Camy Thomas, at the end of the driveway of their new home.

"That's the word," Casey said. "I never thought we would be able to have a home, let alone one so nice. We were looking a trailer parks, that's where our price was because houses are so expensive. It's just amazing how many people are involved in this too, people backing it monetarily, people building the houses, people doing the publicity ... and you have to find the right title company and lender just willing to work with something that has never been done in Idaho before."

Hayden resident Joy Richards toured the Doyle home as the festivities began.

"It's a miracle," she said. "It's wonderful to see that people are going to have the opportunity to have their first home, and for people we need to support — nurses, firemen, electricians."

"We're thrilled," said Leilani Ellingsen, who attended the block party with Richards and other friends who also support PAHA.

"We're giving people a chance at a new home, and their first home," she said. "I just think it's wonderful."

Speaking to a crowd of roughly 100, PAHA Board President John Bruning said when the project was in the initial discussion phase, he would go home and think, "You know, we're crazy. I just don't see how this is going to work."

As time went on, Lyons continued to encourage her colleagues and eventually things fell in line, Bruning said.

"You got to trust your gut sometimes, and my gut was telling me, 'Let's do this. This is worthwhile for sure, and I think we can pull it off,'" he said. "So, we did it, and here we are today."

He credited Lyons for all the work she did to help the project come to fruition. Lyons gave much of the glory to God.

"This work has been providentially guided from the very beginning," she said.

She said in Kootenai County, 70% of residents want to own a home, but only 20% can afford to buy one. 

"We said as a board, 'Not on our watch,'" Lyons said. 

Members of this first group of homeowners have already been building their community as they've attended civic meetings and advocated for themselves, each other and their Miracle neighborhood.

"From the bottom of our hearts, to all who donated and made this possible, just thank you," said Caitie Kreitz, who is moving into a Britton home with husband Garrett and their son, Gauge, 4.

"Look at our community. You guys are so great, you all came together and did this for us," Taytem Wolfe said. "Who knows how many more people this will help in the future. Thank you all of you, and I'm so excited to be neighbors with everyone here."

"Extra special thanks to the Simplicity team, you guys kept it from being overwhelming and stressful," Nathan Armon said. "Thank you everyone for coming out today and being with us here and for contributing to it and making sure that we have places to live and places to dream our dreams."

    Panhandle Affordable Housing Alliance advisory committee member Christine Mathini presents Executive Director Maggie Lyons with a gift Thursday during the Miracle on Britton block party to thank Lyons for her determination to get things done, which has earned her a fond nickname, "The Golden Sledgehammer."
  

    From left, Panhandle Affordable Housing Alliance Supporters Joy Richards, Nancy Siegel and Leilani Ellingsen enjoy a tour of a new Britton home Thursday during the Miracle on Britton grand opening and block party.
  

    New Britton homeowners Casey and Daniel Doyle and Casey's sister, Camy Thomas, share a laugh with their loan officer Jimmy McAndrew as they stand in the driveway of their new home Thursday. "It's like we got to get in a time machine and go back like 10 years when we got to help first-time homebuyers all the time," McAndrew said. "It's like a time machine."
  

    Welcome home: Colin McIver and Melissa Kimp take a photo in front of their new house with their family Thursday. From left: Grandma Susan Freund, McIver, Kimp, mom Marisue Anderson and stepdad Tom Anderson.