An annual drive to raise money for organizations that work with Idaho’s homeless netted $2.5 million last month.
The money raised through Avenues for Hope goes to 88 Idaho nonprofits, including youth groups, housing agencies, missions and other organizations whose goals include preventing and addressing homelessness.
Deanna Ward, development director for the Home Partnership Foundation, said the money will go to help a wide variety of people with housing problems – and to those on the cusp of homelessness.
“If there are households of families that are unable to pay rent or utilities, maybe we can step in and help with some of those expenses so they don’t become homeless. Because we know securing new affordable housing is also a challenge these days for sure,” Ward said.
The $2.5 million donated in December is a slight drop from 2020, Ward said, but donations in north Idaho rose. Seventeen nonprofits in the panhandle will get nearly $513,000.
The top three north Idaho recipients are the Bonner County Homeless Task Force ($134,136), Family Promise of the Palouse ($103,286), and St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho ($52,905).
Avenues for Hope is in its eleventh year. It acts as a centralized donation point for people who want to support a variety of nonprofits that address housing issues. The donated money goes to the organization of the donor’s choice, minus processing and operational fees. The organizations have to be verified charitable nonprofits that are headquartered in Idaho or providing housing-related services in the state, according to Avenues for Hope.
