Ali Rabe

Idaho is one of the fastest growing states in the nation. People are moving here for the same reasons many of us stay: strong communities, good schools, access to the outdoors, and a quality of life that is hard to find anywhere else. But that growth has brought challenges. Housing costs have outpaced wages, young families are struggling to buy their first home, and local workers are being priced out of the communities they serve. The good news is that Idaho’s cities already have the tools to...

Across Idaho, people are searching for homes that fit their lives and budgets, but too often, the only options available are large single-family houses or big apartment complexes. What is missing are the homes in between—the small, neighborhood-scale options that used to define Idaho communities. These “Missing Middle” housing types include duplexes, fourplexes, cottage courts, courtyard apartments, and townhomes. They offer attainable, family-friendly living options that blend seamlessly...

Across Idaho, families, teachers, nurses, and first responders are struggling to find a place to call home. The simple truth is that we haven’t been building enough housing to keep up with demand. While construction costs and interest rates play a role, one of the biggest barriers is much closer to home—our outdated local zoning codes.` For decades, most Idaho cities have reserved the majority of their residential land exclusively for single-family homes. These rules often make it illegal to...