BOISE - Housing affordability, increasing costs and emergency shelter are among the top priorities addressed in two plans being presented for public comment. An online form is available for Idahoans wishing to comment on the two statewide housing and community development plans which will help determine how approximately $86 million in federal funds are used. The comment period runs through Feb. 21.

The form is available under What's New on the IHFA home page. The address is www.ihfa.org/media_survey.asp. The two draft plans also are available on the IHFA Web site.

In addition to the online comment form, open houses are scheduled across the state to collect input. Dates, times and locations of upcoming open houses are:

Coeur d'Alene	Jan. 21, 2005	10:45-11:30 a.m.	Coeur d'Alene Inn 414 Appleway
Pocatello	Jan. 27, 2005	1:15-2:00 p.m.	Holiday Inn, Jasper Room 1399 Bench Rd
Idaho Falls	Jan. 28, 2005	10:15-11:00 a.m.	Red Lion on the Falls 475 River Parkway
Boise	Feb. 8, 2005	4:00-6:00 p.m.	Idaho Dept. of Commerce & Labor 700 West State St., 2nd Floor East End Conference Room

The two plans - the Five-Year Strategic Plan for Housing and Community Development and the 2005 Annual Action Plan - were developed by the Idaho Housing and Finance Association and the Idaho Department of Commerce and Labor. IHFA administers federal HOME and Emergency Shelter Grant funds that support affordable housing and emergency shelter options, while IDCL distributes Idaho Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) funds to support a range of community and economic development projects.

Eligible activities include construction and rehabilitation of affordable housing, community infrastructure, public facilities and other resources that benefit communities and their low- to moderate-income residents.

HUD requires states to submit a consolidated plan that identifies needs and prescribes strategies and actions to address those needs. The public comment being gathered now will help shape the report that Idaho sends to HUD.

"Our proposed strategies reflect significant public input from our 2004 Needs Assessment survey and open houses," said IHFA's Julie Williams, vice president of Community Housing Services. "We received over 450 completed surveys and several hundred comments during this preliminary phase."

From a survey question listing basic housing requirements, housing affordability was ranked as the top priority, as housing costs consistently outpace wages in every Idaho county. Other urgent needs included increased housing options for seniors and emergency shelter resources for victims of domestic violence. Housing stakeholders also noted that record consumer debt and poor credit represent growing barriers to securing decent rental housing.

The plans support a wide range of public facility and business expansion projects, according to Cliff Long, administrator of Idaho's Community and Rural Development Division.

"Part of our mission is to help communities construct senior and community centers, along with the infrastructure - roads, sidewalks, sewer and water systems - necessary for business development and job creation," said Long. "Recent examples include Jayco's expansion into Twin Falls and Keifer Built's new Gooding operation. Collectively, both projects will add more than 150 jobs to the Magic Valley economy."

For additional information or to comment on the plans, send an e-mail to hirc@ihfa.org or contact Project Coordinator Erik Kingston toll-free at 1-877-438-4472 /TDD 1-800-545-1833 or by mail at P.O. Box 7899 Boise, ID 83707-1899.

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The Idaho Housing and Finance Association, a financial services and housing business organization, provides funding for affordable housing in communities where it is most needed and when economically feasible.