IDAHO — It's no secret--2020 has been hard for people across the country and here in Idaho. Now, the Avenues for Hope Housing Challenge is hoping to ease some of that through its annual fundraising campaign.
"We created the campaign back in 2011 to help nonprofit providers throughout the state of Idaho, really help enhance the resources they had to help people with housing challenges," says Deanna Ward, Director of Development for the Home Partnership Foundation.
Some of those resources include emergency shelter, transitional and rapid rehousing, and homeless prevention. This year, 80 nonprofits are taking part in the Housing Challenge.
"Of the 80 nonprofits, about two-thirds of those are in the Treasure Valley," explains Ward. "We have groups everywhere from the CATCH organization that has the Our Path Home for helping people identify housing resources, and Jesse Tree, they help with homeless prevention."
This year's campaign will also include school districts, like the Twin Falls School District.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to issues like rising unemployment and a spike in food insecurity. Housing and affordability have also become an issue, making this year's campaign more important than ever.
"Over the years we've seen growing needs, everything from the cost of housing, the availability of housing where you hear a lot of stories of the challenges of even finding affordable homes to buy or rent, so we think that helping people stay in their current homes and getting the homeless into safe shelter is really critical, especially during these times of COVID," Ward says.
Ward shares that many of the nonprofit housing partners are having to change the way they reach people and how they provide help. With COVID leading many organizations to cancel or postpone critical fundraising events, it's created one difficult situation after another.
The campaign is underway now and runs through December 31. This year's goal is $1.5 million with every cent going to communities throughout the state to help provide for people in need.
To donate, click here. It's a $25 minimum gift and you can choose which organizations to give to, whether it's just one or all 80.
Donations through the campaign will be multiplied with $300,000 in prizes and matching funds, thanks to the support of 45 generous sponsors.
