2024 Idaho Policy Institute Annual Report

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

As we reflect on 2024, I am proud to present the Idaho Policy Institute’s (IPI) annual report, a testament to a year of meaningful progress, innovative research, and unwavering commitment to serving our communities. Now in our ninth academic year, IPI continues to exemplify Boise State University’s dedication to impactful research and public service, delivering data-driven insights that empower leaders to navigate Idaho’s most pressing challenges.

From housing and economic development to environmental stewardship and governance, our projects have touched every corner of Idaho, providing actionable recommendations that create pathways for a strong future. These efforts reflect our steadfast mission: to serve as an independent, nonpartisan resource for decision-makers across the state and region.

2024 also saw a continued emphasis on collaboration and education. Our partnerships with local and state leaders deepened, and we expanded opportunities for students to engage in real-world public service projects. These experiences not only enrich the learning environment but also cultivate the next generation of thoughtful, innovative public servants—a legacy that speaks to the heart of our mission.

I hope you’ll enjoy exploring the successes, challenges, and impactful stories captured in this report. We are grateful for what we have been able to accomplish and for the opportunity to contribute meaningful research that informs policy and strengthens communities. Your support has been instrumental in making these achievements possible, and we are excited to carry this momentum into 2025 and beyond. Thank you for your continued belief in IPI and in the power of research to create positive change.

Warm regards,
Dr. Vanessa Fry
Director, Idaho Policy Institute

Team: Lisa Growette Bostaph, Cody Jorgensen, Lucas Alward, Jacqueline G. Lee, Matthew May, Lantz McGinnis-Brown
Community Partner: Ada County Sheriff’s Office

Ada County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) partnered with Boise State Criminal Justice (CJ) faculty and Idaho Policy Institute to conduct a study of Ada County citizens’ attitudes about public safety. Four research questions guided this effort:

1. What are Ada County citizens’ perspectives on public safety?
2. What are Ada County citizens’ perspectives about the Ada County Sheriff’s Office?
3. Do citizens’ perspectives vary by geographic location within Ada County?
4. Do citizens’ perspectives vary by affiliation with stakeholder groups or high contact groups?

The research team fielded a representative mixed-mode survey of Ada County (n=500), including an oversample (n=250) of respondents from jurisdictions primarily serviced by ACSO (i.e., Eagle, Kuna, Star, and unincorporated areas of the county). This was followed by four in-person focus group sessions with respondents from ACSO-serviced jurisdictions.

Results of the study show that Ada County policing agencies enjoy broad support from residents, with residents in primarily ACSO-serviced jurisdictions holding even higher satisfaction ratings compared to other jurisdictions within the county. Even so, residents expressed a desire for increased police engagement with community members, identifying areas for growth. Full results for this study were shared with Ada County, who will be able to use it to inform public safety decision-making going forward.

Team: Vanessa Fry, Lantz McGinnis-Brown, McAllister Hall, Kristi Spalding
Community Partners: City of Boise, Terry Reilly Health Services, Our Path Home, CATCH, St. Luke’s, Saint Alphonsus

New Path Community Housing is a 40-unit, single-site, Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) program using a Housing First approach. Located in Ada County, Idaho, it is the state’s first single-site PSH project. New Path’s evidence-based program is designed to address specific issues related to chronic homelessness including high utilization of emergency medical and detox services, frequent contact with the criminal justice system, and compromised overall personal well-being. As program evaluator, IPI oversees all evaluation activities and works closely with New Path partners to design data collection strategies, monitoring, and reporting for this program. The evaluation objectives are to:

1. Measure the program’s ability to meet stated goals and objectives, and
2. Inform project partners’ programmatic decisions.

Key achievements in New Path’s first five years include:

• A reduction in emergency services by 5,569 fewer days
• Total savings/cost avoidance of $8,852,827
• An increase in overall program participant well-being