FAQ's

Please contact Jennie Buley: jbuley@idahorefugees.org 

House Your Neighbor is an initiative created by Neighbors United to bring Boiseans together around housing solutions. While the primary focus of Neighbors United is strengthening resources and best practices in refugee resettlement, we work closely with other housing organizations with the common goal of making housing more attainable for any Boisean in a vulnerable situation.

• Resettlement Agencies: International Rescue Committee, Agency for New Americans, U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants
• Refugee Welcome Housing: Leap Housing
• Refugee Friendship Connections: Glocal
• ADU Expertise and Partnerships: Leap Housing
• Cash Assistance: Idaho Office of Refugees (Jannus)
• Non-Profit Development: Leap Housing
• Market Rate Development: SCDM Development

Housing is foundational for all of us. That’s why House Your Neighbor is working closely with a network of housing partners to not only expand access to affordable housing for new refugee neighbors but also for any community member struggling to keep up with our changing housing market. We are working to create the kind of society that all of us want to live in: one of hospitality that lends a hand when someone is in need.  As we welcome our newest neighbors, we know that those solutions will work for others too and we will be part of improving housing for the whole community.

House Your Neighbor was built on a hope that we believe all Idahoans share: to live in a community where all our neighbors have safe homes. 

We encourage everyone with the means to help to use the tools available, including ours, for any Idahoan in need of a home. 

Refugees are ordinary people who have fled violence and persecution in their home countries. 

Refugees come from countries from all over the world. Some recent refugees in Idaho are from Afghanistan, Congo and Ukraine. Idaho is home to refugees from more than 45 countries.

Idaho officially entered the refugee resettlement arena in 1975, when Governor John Evans established the Indochinese Refugee Assistance Program in response to the need for all states to participate in the resettlement of refugees fleeing the overthrow of U.S. supported governments in Southeast Asia. The Refugee Act of 1980 was passed to set up systems to deal with the increasing number of refugees from Vietnam, and other countries of the world. In Idaho, the process of resettlement became more formalized under this Act.

The Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security share responsibility for screening refugee applicants. Biographic and biometric data are vetted against multiple intelligence databases. The entire process from referral to the United States to completion of security checks can take 2-3 years, on average.

Refugees do not choose their resettlement city. Unless there is a family member they are reunifying with, refugees are subject to the process of resettlement on the national level and have no choice where they are initially settled. They are, however, able to move from their initial resettlement city to another one should they choose to.

About two-thirds of those resettled in Idaho end up in the Treasure Valley. Approximately one-third are resettled in the Twin Falls area. A smaller number of refugees have recently been resettled in the Pocatello area as well. 

Since August of 2021, Idaho has been part of the nation’s response to resettle people impacted by war and violence in Afghanistan and Ukraine. Granted humanitarian parole to speed up the resettlement process, these new community members are also eligible for refugee program services and benefits. 

Refugees have access to English language and social integration classes. They are also often supported by volunteer Friendship Partners (see above) who meet with them and help them get to know their new community.

Newly arrived refugees have funds from their resettlement agencies to cover rent for up to 12 months as well as a security deposit. In addition, refugee tenants come with volunteer and case management support.

Boise’s refugee community has high rates of placement and retention in good-paying jobs. Refugee clients also have access to career support through the resettlement agencies and the Idaho Office for Refugees.  

At this time, the resettlement agencies are trying to house people in homes, apartments or accessory dwelling units.  They are not looking for single rooms for people to rent. 

If you would like to personally sponsor a family or individual, please explore opportunities to become a sponsor through the national programs Uniting for Ukraine, Welcome.US and Sponsor Circles. These programs help fill in the gaps and give citizens the opportunity to welcome and support refugees.

However, in addition to housing refugees, our goal at HYN is to increase the housing stock in our city. In other words, we are working to create more available housing. A great way to aid in this effort is to rent your spare rooms out to those in your community, whether that be single friends, family members, or other people you know who are in need. This will open up more available housing for those who need it. 

Click here for more information on creating a rental room lease.

Yes. Although it is helpful to have rent subsidized for a refugee family, it is not necessary. 

Of course. We believe in full transparency. Any individual is at risk of life-altering circumstances at any time. Newly arrived refugees could be more vulnerable to this which is why they need our support. IF there is a case of rent default, the Idaho Office for Refugees will step in to pay 

Yes. There will be multiple groups of people helping the family in their transition including professionals providing cultural orientation and new rental orientation. 

When you cosign on a lease, you're making a promise to uphold the terms of the lease and to pay rent if the lessee does not.  This is very helpful for refugees, because they do not have rental or credit history in the United States.

1. You fill out the cosigner commitment form

2. We match you to one of our clients from a refugee background in need of help securing housing

• Once an available property has been secured, we will contact you and put you in touch with the property manager
• The property management company will request a background check for you. 

3. Once approved You sign the lease as the
    cosigner 

4. Our client signs the lease as the tenant 

5. IOR and Cosigner sign MOI 

6. IOR will handle the rest!

Click here for more information.  

• Take a small parcel of your property and develop an ADU, 2nd house, duplex or pocket neighborhood
• Donate or give a discount to a larger piece of land (.7 acre+). We will help you design a project that maximizes the number of units, builds great community and fits in the neighborhood. 
• Allow short term RV parking for families in need.

Grab a consultation with our development partners and we can help you make an impact with your land.

That depends on the size of the land. Fill out our form and we’ll get you in touch with the right people at Leap or SCDM Development. 

That will depend on the project. 6-18 months is typical but in some cases can move much faster.

For more information on how get started building an ADU, contact Diana at diana@agnewbeck.com. 

For more information on using a pre-existing ADU to participate in housing solutions, contact Jennie at jbuley@idahorefugees.org.  

Resettlement case managers in Boise are staff members from either the Agency for New Americans or International Rescue Committee. The position is responsible for coordinating and/or providing services to help refugee clients to identify, obtain, and retain housing, as well as employment.

Friendship Partners are volunteers who may come alongside refugees as they navigate their new home. This is a relationship of choice that volunteers and refugees enter into.

The Friendship Partner program is operated by Glocal Community Partners in Boise. Friendship partners are connected with a family and commit to meeting with them once a week for at least three months. You can find more information at glocalboise.org/get-involved/partner.

Donations to House Your Neighbor will support housing gaps for refugee arrivals as they get settled in their new lives in Boise. 

Your donations will be used in a number of ways including: rental payments, groceries, household supplies, medical needs, etc.

All donations are processed through the Idaho Office of Refugees. Click here to donate!