It may seem as though new housing developments are constantly changing the landscape of North Idaho — but local workers face an ongoing struggle to find affordable housing.

Analysis from the Housing Solutions Partnership, a coalition spearheaded by Coeur d’Alene City Councilor Kiki Miller and Community Planning Director Hilary Patterson, found that workers in 24 of the region’s 30 workforce categories cannot afford to purchase a home in North Idaho. 

Among those struggling are the region’s teachers, service industry workers, loan officers, healthcare workers and even CEOs.  

“Housing inventory is low,” according to the Housing Solutions Partnership website.  

And that limited inventory is driving up prices. 

Just ten years ago, an annual income of around $41k was all that was needed to purchase a median-priced home ($220k) in Kootenai County.  

By 2023, however, that median home price had jumped to $525k, requiring an annual income of over $94k at a mortgage rate of 3.4%. At a mortgage rate of 6.96%, income needed jumps to over $130k.  

And just this month, the median price for a single-family home in Kootenai County was $562,000, according to Coeur d'Alene Regional Realtors.

As such, “approximately 80% of the Kootenai County households are currently priced out of the market,” the latest Availability and Affordability Study for Kootenai County found.

The impact of this has a ripple effect that’s felt throughout the region’s economy. 

According to the 2023 study, “the lack of affordable housing has resulted in a loss of 5,340 jobs in the local economy; a reduction of $535.6 million in gross regional product; a loss of $435.4 million in local payroll, and $28.0 million in total lost taxes.” 

The figures point to a broader trend of North Idahoans looking beyond their own communities for employment, often crossing state lines to find work. 

The latest Northern Idaho Labor Force and Economic Profile from the Idaho Department of Labor found that 28,622 North Idaho residents commute outside of the region for work.  

In fact, nearly 5% of employed North Idaho residents commute to Spokane, Wash. for work, followed closely by Spokane Valley, Wash. at nearly 4%. Both cities rank above the communities of Sandpoint, Rathdrum, Bonners Ferry, St. Maries, and even Boise. 

All told, 133,153 North Idahoans make up the civilian labor force of the five northern countries, according to IDL.

So what can be done? 

At the local level, the Housing Solutions Partnership proposes several legislative changes intended to increase the availability of affordable housing for local workers. 

Recommendations presented during the legislature’s joint Land Use and Housing Study Committee meeting in Sandpoint back in August focused on expanding housing flexibility and affordability by allowing more units per lot, increasing use of twin homes and accessory dwelling units, and loosening mixed-use zoning rules.  

The coalition also proposes deferring impact fees for affordable projects, enabling urban renewal agencies to support housing efforts, creating tax incentives for housing donations and funding homesharing programs statewide. 

Other area organizations leading the fight for a more affordable future include the Panhandle Affordable Housing Alliance, the North Idaho Building Contractors Association and the Idaho Chapter of the American Planning Association. 

“If we want to stay a healthy state and a robust state, we must address this issue,” said PAHA executive director Maggie Lyons in the August meeting. 

Info: www.housingni.org