Jesse Tree spent the last of its $3.4 million Emergency Rental Assistance Program money in December, meaning there’s now fewer resources available to help Idahoans.
BOISE, Idaho — Letters pinned along the walls of Jesse Tree show just how grateful some Idahoans are for the local housing nonprofit preventing evictions.
“The people we’re serving are renters who are living month to month, paycheck to paycheck, and something happens whether it’s they lose their jobs, have a health care bill or a childcare issue, their car breaks down and suddenly they can’t pay rent,” Executive Director Ali Rabe said.
Jesse Tree offers families one-time rental assistance and case management. Just last year, she said Jesse Tree prevented 1,600 evictions for families.
But the number of people Jesse Tree can help is decreasing.
The nonprofit recently ran out of Emergency Rental Assistance Program money. Rabe said the federal government gave them $3.4 million, which was spent over two years.
Community members, grants and …