From Ideas to Action: Building Idaho’s Pro-Housing Movement

Idaho has always been a place for builders, innovators, and doers. From the farmers who shaped our land to the small business owners who make our communities thrive, Idaho’s success has always depended on people who take action. Today, that same spirit is needed to address one of our biggest challenges: housing.

Across the state, there is growing awareness that our housing shortage is holding Idaho back. Families are moving farther from jobs, teachers and healthcare workers are struggling to find homes near schools and hospitals, and small businesses are losing employees because they cannot afford to live nearby. The problem is not a lack of ideas. It is a lack of coordination and capacity to turn those ideas into local action.

That is why we founded the Gem State Housing Alliance. We are building Idaho’s first statewide pro-housing movement dedicated to making it easier to build more homes of all types across every community in our state. Our work brings together city leaders, developers, planners, and everyday Idahoans who want to see their hometowns thrive again.

Our mission is to help communities modernize outdated zoning codes, improve permitting processes, and expand housing choices for working families. But we do more than advocate. We help cities and builders collaborate directly through our Housing Innovation Fund, which provides technical assistance for things like zoning code reviews, process improvement models, and city-owned land inventories. This fund supports the kind of practical, on-the-ground work that helps new homes get built.

The Alliance also serves as a convener. We host roundtables, training sessions, and networking events where city officials and developers can share challenges and learn from one another. We believe the best ideas come from within Idaho—from people who understand our landscapes, our economies, and our values. By connecting those voices, we are helping to build a unified movement focused on solutions that make sense here.

Momentum is growing. Idahoans from all walks of life are speaking up for more housing choice, less red tape, and smarter growth. Our partners include builders, credit unions, city planners, and advocates who see housing not as a political issue but as an economic and moral one. When we make it easier to build homes, we strengthen every part of our communities—from schools and small businesses to healthcare and public safety.

Now is the time to act. We invite everyone who believes in Idaho’s future to be part of this movement. Become a member, join a workgroup, or contribute to the Housing Innovation Fund. Together, we can make sure Idaho remains a place where everyone has the opportunity to live, work, and build a life.

Because in Idaho, when we see a problem, we do not wait for someone else to solve it. We roll up our sleeves and get to work.