President Jimmy Carter’s legacy is multi-faceted. From championing human rights and global health to strengthening working families, he was a selfless public servant.

For me, Carter’s legacy conjures the enduring image of him building homes well into his 90s. He said, “To have a decent place to live is to have a chance to live in peace and to have adequate health care and adequate education so that you can take advantage of your talents.”

In Idaho, the idea of home feels out of reach for too many Idahoans. Rising housing costs and a rental market tilted against them leave many working families without options. We can honor Carter by producing more affordable homes and giving renters a fair shake.

Rapid growth, costs that outpace wages, and the lack of a legislative response has priced out too many families, preventing teachers, law enforcement officers, and others from living in the communities they serve. The National Association of Realtors reports that Idaho is now the second-least affordable housing market in the nation.

Unfortunately, Idaho’s Republican legislators have generally refused to act and even blocked measures to provide relief. They’ve voted against capping exorbitant application fees, allowing unscrupulous landlords to profit unfairly, even when no unit is available. They’ve stopped cities from requiring landlords to treat all applicants equally, enabling discrimination. They’ve also refused to invest in workforce housing to make more homes available.

In contrast, Idaho Democrats have brought solutions. When Idaho made its first-ever investment in workforce housing, Democratic legislators cast the deciding votes. This investment has already resulted in new units where homes are in short supply, like Meridian.

Idaho Democrats are also fighting to level the playing field for renters. We passed legislation requiring reasonable landlord fees to be spelled out in advance, eliminating surprise junk fees. During the pandemic, Democrats secured $15 million in renter protection relief to prevent evictions. We also passed the Fair Warning Act, requiring landlords to provide 30 days’ notice before raising rents, and a law giving renters a second chance after an eviction.

Still, more work remains. Republican legislators blocked efforts to increase the homeowner’s exemption and tie it to rising housing costs to help keep Idahoans in their homes.

The fight for affordable homes is a fight for Idaho’s future. It’s about parents who want to raise their children near family, teachers dreaming of living close to classrooms, and seniors who wish to age with dignity in the communities they’ve called home for decades.

May we honor Carter’s legacy by standing up for working families and fighting for real solutions to ensure every Idahoan can afford the stability a home provides.

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Lauren Necochea
Idaho Democratic Party Chair