BOISE - Marjorie Thomas, an 85-year-old resident of Tramore Senior Apartments in Meridian, has a safe and affordable place to call home this Christmas, thanks to Idaho Housing and Finance Association.

Thomas is one of more than 1,500 senior citizens throughout the state who have benefited from IHFA's senior housing efforts. IHFA has helped to finance 44 affordable housing developments for seniors across the state in the last two decades, adding or rehabilitating 1,543 units in a $60.2 million investment. These seniors have found safe, decent and affordable housing as a result of Housing Tax Credits and HOME funds administered by IHFA.

Thomas relocated in late August from her lifelong home of Belleville in north-central Kansas. IHFA helped finance the 72-unit Tramore development, which was completed in January, with a $2.9 million Housing Tax Credit investment and $427,500 in HOME funds.

As a benefit, all of the IHFA-financed senior developments also are tailored for the special needs of the residents. "I came out to Idaho and visited in July, and particularly liked Tramore's location and amenities," Thomas said. "It has a nice walk-in closet, a storage area on the patio, community center, exercise room, library and bus service." Thomas also mentioned bingo and game nights for residents, and a senior center nearby that she visits about once a week.

Explosive growth in Idaho's senior population-which increased by 25 percent from 1990 to 2000, and is expected to grow to 350,000 (20 percent of our state's population) by 2020-prompted IHFA to devote energy and resources to providing for their special housing needs. The number of Idahoans 85 and older is growing five times faster than Idaho's overall population, according to the Idaho Commission on Aging.

Housing Tax Credits provide a tax incentive to developers and also benefit the development by reducing debt, thereby bringing rents within the reach of more families and individuals.

HOME is a block-grant-to-states funding source made available by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and administered in Idaho by IHFA, specifically to provide housing options for lower-income residents.

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The Idaho Housing and Finance Association, a financial services and housing organization, provides funding for affordable housing in Idaho communities where they are most needed and when it is economically feasible. IHFA uses no state funds or state employees to support its operations. For more information, visit our Web site at www.ihfa.org.