Keep Boise Housed Q&A

Thank you for your interest in Jesse Tree and for joining us at the Keep Boise Housed event on June 16. We were grateful for the thoughtful questions and meaningful conversations about housing stability, eviction prevention, and homelessness in our community.

Below, you'll find responses to the questions submitted by attendees. Click on each question to learn more about Jesse Tree's programs, our impact, and the work being done to help Treasure Valley families remain safely housed.

Program Process and Procedure

  • Jesse Tree works to serve qualifying applicants as quickly as possible, and in some cases, eviction cases can be resolved within a matter of days. However, the timeline varies depending on several factors, including current demand, the amount of past-due rent owed, the completion of required documentation, and the ability of both tenants and landlords to engage in the process.

    While households are waiting to be assigned to a case manager, Jesse Tree’s Tenant Resource Center helps clients problem-solve, identify next steps, and connect with additional community resources that may help stabilize their situation. Open communication between tenants, landlords, and Jesse Tree staff can often help move cases forward more quickly.

    It's also important to recognize that many landlords are actively working with their tenants and are willing to allow additional time for solutions to be explored. Jesse Tree continues to improve processes and expand capacity, serving more families each year despite steadily increasing demand. The reality is that the need for eviction prevention services continues to outpace available resources, which contributes to the existence of a waitlist.

  • Yes. Jesse Tree provides tenant rights and responsibilities education through several channels. The organization offers free tenant rights workshops that are available to the public, as well as educational resources on our website. In addition, Jesse Tree’s Tenant Resource Center regularly helps tenants better understand the eviction process, lease obligations, communication strategies, and available housing resources.

    Jesse Tree’s case managers also play an important role in educating and advocating for tenants throughout the case management process, helping clients understand their options and navigate housing challenges. However, Jesse Tree does not provide legal advice or legal representation. When a tenant’s situation involves potential legal issues, such as an unlawful eviction or other matters beyond Jesse Tree’s scope, staff make referrals to appropriate legal partners, including Idaho Legal Aid Services.

  • Yes. Jesse Tree regularly provides education about eviction prevention and the eviction process through community presentations, partner trainings, landlord focus groups, and conversations with individuals seeking assistance. Our Tenant Resource Center also helps callers understand the steps they can take to avoid eviction and access available resources.

    Education is a key component of Jesse Tree’s Eviction Court Assistance Program. Whenever possible, our Eviction Court Assistance Case Managers attempt to contact tenants before their court date to explain the process, answer questions, and help them understand what to expect on the day of court. We are also developing additional educational resources focused specifically on preparing tenants for eviction court.

    Beyond formal trainings, Jesse Tree works to educate the public every day through interactions with tenants, landlords, service providers, and community partners. By increasing awareness and understanding of the eviction process, we help tenants make informed decisions and improve their chances of achieving a positive housing outcome.

  • Yes. Jesse Tree inspects units to help ensure that housing is safe, decent, and sanitary. Inspections are conducted using established housing quality and habitability standards and include an assessment of health and safety concerns, the condition of the unit, and whether essential systems and appliances are functioning properly. These inspections help ensure that clients are living in housing that supports long-term stability and well-being.

  • Yes. Jesse Tree follows up with tenants after eviction court mediation, with the type and length of follow-up depending on the agreement reached. For pay-to-stay agreements, staff work closely with both the tenant and landlord to ensure all requirements are completed and the agreement is successfully fulfilled.

    When mediation results in a move-out agreement, tenants may be connected to Jesse Tree’s Housing Navigation Program, where staff help identify affordable housing options and support a successful transition. Additional referrals and long-term support services are provided as needed to help households maintain housing stability.

Scenario-Based

  • Jesse Tree regularly works with tenants who have taken out payday loans, title loans, or other high-interest forms of debt in an effort to remain housed. While these options may provide short-term relief, they often create additional financial strain and can make it more difficult for households to regain stability over time.

    Jesse Tree does not advise tenants to rely on payday loans. Instead, our case managers work with households to identify safer alternatives, including budgeting support, debt reduction strategies, referrals to financial resources, and opportunities to increase income. By addressing both the immediate housing crisis and the underlying financial challenges, Jesse Tree helps households build a more sustainable path to housing stability.

  • According to Jesse Tree’s 2025 Eviction Report, 87.7% of plaintiffs in Ada County and 81.3% of plaintiffs in Canyon County were classified as corporations. However, these figures should be interpreted with caution. Many small or independent landlords own properties through LLCs or work with property management companies and are therefore categorized as corporate entities in court data.

    Jesse Tree works with both large property management companies and individual landlords. Smaller landlords are often able to participate directly in mediation without an attorney, which can sometimes make it easier to reach a mutually agreeable resolution. For additional context and analysis, we encourage community members to review Jesse Tree’s latest Eviction Report.

  • Without Jesse Tree, many more families would likely experience eviction, homelessness, and housing instability. Research shows that households who have been evicted within the past year face more than a 300% increased risk of entering the shelter system compared to households that have not experienced eviction.

    At the systems level, Jesse Tree’s Eviction Court Assistance Program has contributed to significant shifts in eviction outcomes. Prior to Jesse Tree’s court partnership, approximately 48% of eviction filings in Ada and Canyon Counties resulted in formal eviction judgments. By 2025, that rate had decreased to approximately 23%, even as eviction filings nearly tripled over the same period.

    Without eviction prevention services and court-based intervention, our community would likely see more eviction judgments, increased demand on shelters and other crisis services, and higher rates of homelessness. By helping more than 1,200 households remain housed each year, Jesse Tree helps families stay connected to their schools, jobs, healthcare providers, and support networks while reducing pressure on community systems.

Budget

  • Jesse Tree’s 2026 budget is approximately 3.8 million dollars. Please reference Jesse Tree’s annual reports for budget history.

  • Jesse Tree is fortunate to receive support from both one-time and recurring donors. Approximately one-eight of our total individual donation amount for the year is from monthly givers.

  • Jesse Tree has a strong base of loyal supporters. More than half of our one-time donors make a contribution year after year, demonstrating an ongoing commitment to preventing eviction and homelessness in our community.

    This consistent support allows Jesse Tree to plan for the future, respond to growing community need, and help more families remain safely housed each year.

  • Jesse Tree maintains a diverse funding portfolio to ensure long-term sustainability and reduce reliance on any single funding source. In 2025, 31% of funding came from individual donations, 30% from government grants, 26% from foundation grants, 10% from corporate contributions, and 3% from other private funding sources.

    This balanced approach allows Jesse Tree to remain responsive to community needs while continuing to provide eviction prevention and housing stability services. Additional information about our funding sources and community impact can be found in Jesse Tree’s annual report.

  • Yes. Jesse Tree receives support from a wide range of community members and organizations, including landlords and property management professionals who recognize the value of eviction prevention and housing stability services.

    Landlords regularly participate in Jesse Tree events, trainings, and focus groups, and many support our mission through donations and sponsorships. We often see strong engagement from members of the rental housing community at our annual Housed for the Holidays fundraiser, where they join other community partners in helping keep families safely housed.

Resources & Impact

  • Jesse Tree has served the community for more than 26 years and has had several Executive Directors throughout its history. Most recently, the organization was led by the same Executive Director from 2019 to 2025, and our current Executive Director served on Jesse Tree’s leadership team for more than five years before stepping into the role.

    Jesse Tree does not experience unusually high staff turnover and is fortunate to have many long-tenured team members. In addition to full-time staff, we engage interns, AmeriCorps VISTA members, volunteers, and community partners who help expand our impact while creating opportunities for more people to become involved in housing stability and homelessness prevention efforts.

  • Jesse Tree had approximately 25 active volunteers last year who supported a variety of programs and services. Volunteers play a critical role in helping us connect households with resources and navigate housing crises.

    We are always looking for additional volunteers, particularly for our Tenant Resource Center. Summer can be an especially challenging time to recruit and retain volunteers, making this an area of ongoing need. Jesse Tree is especially interested in recruiting bilingual and multilingual volunteers, with Spanish-speaking volunteers currently among our greatest needs.

  • One of the most impactful gaps to address is the need for additional, consistent sources of financial assistance for households experiencing a temporary crisis. Many families face eviction due to a short-term setback, such as a medical emergency, reduction in work hours, or unexpected expense, but there are limited resources available to help them bridge that gap.

  • There are many ways to make a meaningful impact. Community members can support Jesse Tree through financial contributions, volunteer service, and by helping raise awareness about eviction prevention and housing stability resources.

Program Qualifications & Access

  • Jesse Tree’s Tenant Resource Center (TRC) can be reached by phone at 208-383-9486, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

    Community members may also visit the TRC in person at 1121 W. Miller Street in Boise on Mondays, Tuesdays, or Thursdays between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

  • Yes. Jesse Tree provides language assistance to ensure that non-English-speaking households have equal access to services. When a client needs interpretation services and a bilingual staff member or volunteer is not available, Jesse Tree provides a professional interpreter at no cost to the household.

    Our goal is to ensure that households with limited English proficiency can access assistance, communicate with staff, and receive services in a timely manner, just as English-speaking households do.

  • Jesse Tree utilizes a variety of outreach strategies to ensure tenants, landlords, and community partners are aware of available services. We maintain relationships with more than 100 community partners, participate in community events and resource fairs, provide educational presentations, and collaborate with schools, healthcare providers, courts, and social service agencies throughout Ada and Canyon Counties.

    Jesse Tree also engages directly with the rental community through landlord outreach, annual landlord focus groups, and eviction prevention trainings. Information about available services and housing resources is maintained on our website, social media platforms, and through our Tenant Resource Center, which serves as a primary access point for households seeking assistance.

  • Yes. To qualify for Jesse Tree’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program, tenants must provide a valid eviction notice from their current landlord or property manager.

    For households experiencing a financial crisis but who have not yet received an eviction notice, Jesse Tree’s Tenant Resource Center can still provide guidance and problem-solving support. Staff encourage tenants to communicate proactively with their landlord, explore payment arrangements, and take steps to address the underlying hardship before the situation escalates to an eviction notice.

  • Tenant households must earn at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) to qualify for Jesse Tree’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program. Due to high demand and limited resources, priority is given to households with the greatest housing barriers and those most at risk of homelessness. Jesse Tree prioritizes households at or below 50% AMI, and the majority of households served have incomes below 30% AMI.

Partnerships

  • Yes. Jesse Tree collaborates with many housing and homelessness service providers throughout our community, including CATCH, to ensure households receive the services that best meet their needs and to avoid duplication of efforts.

    While Jesse Tree primarily focuses on preventing eviction and helping households remain housed, CATCH specializes in serving families experiencing literal or unsheltered homelessness. Our organizations work together through referrals, community partnerships, and coordinated efforts to ensure families can access the appropriate resources.

  • Jesse Tree regularly serves households participating in Section 8 and other housing voucher programs. Because voucher holders are typically low-income, they may still experience financial hardships that place them at risk of eviction.

    Eviction can have especially serious consequences for voucher holders, as it may jeopardize both their current housing and their rental assistance. By providing eviction prevention services, mediation, and financial assistance when appropriate, Jesse Tree helps protect housing stability and preserve access to these valuable housing resources whenever possible.

  • Jesse Tree's primary focus is preventing eviction and helping households remain housed. Because of this, our programs are generally designed for tenants who are currently housed and at risk of losing that housing.

    For individuals and families already experiencing homelessness or staying in a shelter, Jesse Tree’s Tenant Resource Center provides resource navigation, problem-solving support, and referrals to community partners that specialize in emergency shelter, rapid rehousing, and other homelessness services. Our goal is to help connect households to the resources that best fit their current situation and housing needs.

  • Jesse Tree is grateful for the strong partnerships we have with healthcare providers, healthcare systems, and healthcare foundations throughout our community. These partnerships help us address the connection between housing stability and health outcomes for the households we serve.

    Through our Community Health Program, Jesse Tree collaborates with healthcare partners to connect tenants with medical care, behavioral health services, and other supportive resources. Looking ahead, we would welcome continued collaboration and opportunities to further integrate housing stability into healthcare conversations, as stable housing is often a critical factor in overall health and well-being.

  • Yes. Jesse Tree works closely with property management companies, rental housing providers, and individual landlords throughout Ada and Canyon Counties. Many tenants learn about our services through referrals from landlords and property managers who are seeking solutions to help prevent eviction.

    Jesse Tree also hosts landlord focus groups and maintains ongoing relationships with members of the rental housing community to better understand challenges and identify opportunities for collaboration. In addition, our Housing Navigation Program works directly with landlords and property managers to identify housing opportunities for tenants who need to relocate following a mediated move-out agreement, helping families secure stable housing and avoid homelessness.

  • Jesse Tree’s programs rely on participation from both the tenant and the landlord. When the landlord is a private owner, staff make every effort to establish communication and discuss potential solutions, including mediation and financial assistance when appropriate.

    If a landlord chooses not to participate or cannot be reached, Jesse Tree’s ability to intervene may be limited. In those situations, staff continue working with the tenant to explore available options, provide guidance, and connect them with other resources that may help support housing stability.

  • Yes. The vast majority of eviction cases Jesse Tree encounters are for nonpayment of rent, and most landlords simply want to recover the rent they are owed and avoid the time and expense of the eviction process.

    Working with Jesse Tree can help landlords receive past-due rent, avoid court costs and turnover expenses, and reduce the time and resources required to market and lease a unit to a new tenant. When a tenancy cannot be preserved, Jesse Tree also works with landlords and tenants to negotiate move-out agreements that can help avoid a formal eviction judgment while creating a clearer path forward for both parties.

  • Yes. Many landlords and property managers throughout Ada and Canyon Counties are familiar with Jesse Tree and the services we provide. In fact, a significant number of tenants learn about Jesse Tree through referrals from landlords and property managers who are seeking solutions to help prevent eviction.

    Over the years, Jesse Tree has built strong relationships within the rental housing community through landlord outreach, focus groups, trainings, mediation efforts, and direct collaboration on eviction cases. These partnerships help create positive outcomes for tenants, landlords, and the broader community by promoting housing stability and preventing homelessness whenever possible.

  • No.

External Factors

  • Idaho's minimum wage was last increased in July 2009, when it rose to $7.25 per hour to align with the federal minimum wage. The state minimum wage has remained unchanged since that time.

  • There is not a single income threshold that defines whether someone is considered "working poor," as the term can vary depending on the program or organization. For housing assistance programs, Jesse Tree generally relies on income limits established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

  • Additional housing options, including accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and higher-density development, can play a role in addressing housing affordability. However, the impact depends largely on who those units are designed and priced to serve. New housing is not automatically affordable housing, and some ADUs may be developed for higher-income renters or other purposes.

    Jesse Tree's primary focus is helping households remain stably housed in the homes they already have. While increasing housing supply may help improve affordability over time, eviction prevention remains one of the most immediate and cost-effective ways to reduce housing instability and homelessness in our community.

  • Affordable housing is generally defined as housing for which a household spends no more than 30% of its gross income on housing costs, including rent or mortgage payments and utilities. Households that spend more than 30% of their income on housing are considered cost-burdened and may have difficulty affording other necessities such as food, healthcare, transportation, and childcare.

    In Boise, whether a housing unit is considered affordable depends on a household's income. A rent amount that is affordable for one household may be unaffordable for another. For this reason, housing affordability is typically evaluated in relation to a household's income rather than a specific rent amount.

  • When lease agreements allow for reasonable negotiation and open communication, solutions such as flexible payment schedules, payment plans, reasonable accommodations, or phased security deposit payments can help households remain stably housed while still protecting the interests of property owners. Jesse Tree often helps facilitate these conversations and advocate for practical solutions that work for both parties.