BOISE – Our Path Home, the public-private partnership dedicated to addressing homelessness in Ada County, released the New Path Community Housing 2024 Annual Evaluation analyzing the six years of the program.
The evaluation, conducted by the Idaho Policy Institute at Boise State University, highlights the outcomes and community-wide benefits of New Path, a permanent supportive housing project which combines housing and intensive support services and serves individuals exiting long-term homelessness.
A total of 100 people experiencing long-term homelessness have entered New Path since it opened in 2018; the report underlines the main achievements in New Path’s efforts since then, including:
- A reduction in emergency services by 7,986 fewer days.
- Total community savings/cost avoidance of $11,144,242.
- An increase in overall resident well-being.
“When we remove barriers, like lack of housing or access to support services, people are more able to engage in care to resolve other issues like substance use disorders or employability,” said Maureen Brewer, senior manager of Housing and Community Development. “This is a win for residents that participate in this program because of the impact on their well-being and, importantly, this is also a win for the community as a whole from a cost-savings perspective.”
Residents of New Path are referred to the program by Our Path Home through a process that prioritizes individuals with the longest history of homelessness and highest level of service need for placement. Program participants must have at least one disabling condition to be eligible and are often individuals that frequently utilize high-cost, reactive community services like emergency hospital beds and medical services.
The evidence-based supportive housing model used at this 40-unit apartment building addresses homelessness by providing immediate access to housing to participants- who pay 30% of their income towards rent with the rest supported by the Boise City Ada County Housing Authorities rental assistance program - combined with on-site support services. In 2024, 100% of residents accessed the on-site services provided by Terry Reilly Health Services.
As a result of decreased reactive service utilization by its residents, including fewer visits to the emergency room and transports by EMS, annual community costs decreased significantly. Over New Path’s first six years, data show a community savings/cost avoidance of over $11 million for Ada County residents.
According to the report, people experiencing chronic homelessness make up a small percentage of all individuals experiencing homelessness but account for most of the resources directed towards people experiencing homelessness through utilization of high-cost, reactive services. The evaluation shows program effectives by analyzing data that measures how providing housing and services reduces participant utilization of emergency medical and substance dependence services, lowers frequency of contact with the criminal justice system, and increases participants’ overall personal well-being.
Scaling Services and Reinvesting Federal Dollars
The outcomes at New Path and Valor Pointe, a second permanent housing development in Boise that rehouses veterans experiencing homelessness through a similar model in partnership with the VA, have inspired community leaders to scale the cost-saving solution to homelessness. In 2024, the Idaho Community Foundation launched the Supportive Housing Investment Fund (SHIF), to sustain services as the community expands upon and sustains the benefits of this supportive housing model.
The City of Boise provided a seed contribution of $7.5 million to further the city’s supportive housing initiatives, aimed at building and sustaining new homes for individuals transitioning out of homelessness. Mayor McLean has expanded the impact of SHIF by calling on private philanthropy and local businesses to join hands with the city to fund this innovative solution.
“It has been incredible to see the efforts of the community come to life in meaningful ways for some of our most vulnerable residents,” said Mayor Lauren McLean. “The work of our partners at New Path, Boise State and so many SHIF donors continues to be a source of care for our people and cost savings for our community.”
SHIF is also expected to receive up to $6.6 million from the U.S. Treasury’s Social Impact Partnerships to Pay for Results Act (SIPPRA) program. In a similar fashion to New Path, the award requires BSU to independently evaluate the impact of two new supportive housing programs on reducing local, state and federal government outlays. BSU will study the outcomes associated with the 143 new units of supportive housing at the two projects through 2032. The results will determine the total in outcome payments SIPPRA will issue.
Our Path Home is the public/private partnership comprising more than 40 agencies committed to ensuring homelessness is rare, brief, and one-time in Ada County. For more information on Our Path Home, please visit ourpathhome.org.