Treasure Valley evictions are on the rise, but rent aid is working to keep Idahoans in their homes

Jesse Tree provides emergency rent assistance to individuals and families based in the Treasure Valley. (Mia Maldonado / Idaho Capital Sun)

More residents living in the Treasure Valley are struggling to pay their rent, according to a new report from Jesse Tree, a Boise-based nonprofit.

In the annual “ Treasure Valley Eviction Report ,” Jesse Tree shows eviction filings in 2023 increased by 89% in Ada and Canyon counties from 2022. R ising rent, cost of living, stagnant wages and a low vacancy rate were the main causes behind those higher eviction rates, according to the report.

2023 expected to be the highest record of evictions in the Treasure Valley

Jesse Tree’s mission is to prevent eviction and homelessness in the Treasure Valley. In 2023, it helped nearly 1,200 families with financial assistance and case management to help them stay in their homes.

Last year, there were 2,038 evictions filed in Ada County and Canyon County. In 2022, there were only 1,172.

Jesse Tree executive director Ali Rabe , a Boise Democrat who also serves in the Idaho Senate, told the Idaho Capital Sun that it serves low income people with diverse backgrounds, including many families with children, older adults, veterans, single parent households and domestic violence survivors.

While eviction cases are on the rise, Jesse Tree is succeeding at helping those clients stay in their homes. But more needs to be done, Rabe said.

“Most cities in the United States have much more serious homeless challenges than Boise,” Rabe said. “I do think our community is at a tipping point with the number of evictions and the number of people who are becoming homeless for the first time, but we have some really great services and resources that are available to people. We need to stay focused on the solutions to keep people out of homelessness.”

Highlights of the report show:

• Evictions continue to rise. There were 1,571 evictions filed in Ada County and 500 filed in Canyon County in 2023. This is an increase from 805 in Ada County and 367 in Canyon County in 2022.
• A large number of evictions are filed by a small number of property managers. Five landlords filed 25% of all evictions. One property management company filed 321 cases, or 15% of all evictions in the Treasure Valley.
• In 2023, 1,571 eviction court cases ended in a dismissal, which means families were able to avoid having a permanent and public eviction on their records.

‘We need to stay ahead of it’: director says

While the Treasure Valley saw a rise in eviction cases in 2023, Jesse Tree’s work has been able to help most of its clients stay housed.

A landlord can give a tenant a three-day notice to pay their rent. If a tenant does not comply, the landlord can f ile for eviction with the court, and the court must schedule a hearing and send a summons to the tenant to attend. Once the hearing happens, a judge must enter a judgment for eviction. Finally, the sheriff can come and remove a tenant’s property after 72 hours of court judgment.

According to the report, 95% of the nonprofits’ clients do not become homeless in the short-or long-term.

“Our idea is that, if you can catch somebody when they’re at rock bottom and provide them with the help they need, then they can get through it and succeed,” she said.

Jesse Tree estimates one person living on the streets can cost taxpayers up to $53,00 per year in public and emergency services. With Jesse Tree’s intervention, it costs $2,000 to keep a family in their home during an eviction.

Rabe said she hopes the state can create policies to build more affordable housing for families and implement more renter protections.

“We’re doing a good job, but homelessness is on the rise here, and we need to stay ahead of it,” Rabe said.

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