The Idaho Housing and Finance Administration (IHFA) recently invited Vanessa Fry as a panelist at the 2018 Conference on Housing and Economic Development. The panel, “Innovative Approaches to Address Homelessness,” discussed how communities across the country have been successful in creating permanent supportive housing and how Idaho is on its way to doing the same. Fry joined three other panelists, Annie Bacci from CSH, Kendra Lutes from Terry Reilly, and Diana Lachiondo from City of Boise.
Panelists discussed projects from across the country but their focus was on New Path Community Housing, a permanent supportive housing program utilizing a housing-first approach. New Path is currently under construction and once opened will offer 40 housing units for people experiencing chronic homelessness. In addition, residents will be provided with wrap-around supportive services, such as case management and access to primary medical care. Fry, with the help of IPI research associate Sally Sargeant-Hu, led the feasibility assessment that helped provide data necessary to launch New Path. Fry and Sargeant-Hu also will lead the evaluation design for the project.