The median home price in Kootenai County climbed sharply through 2021 as demand from relocating workers and retirees far outpaced available inventory. Real estate professionals reported that the percentage of county households able to afford a home purchase had begun a steep decline.
The housing crunch was particularly acute for local workers. Teachers, healthcare workers, and service industry employees found themselves increasingly priced out of the communities where they worked. Rental prices also rose significantly, with many low-income families paying more than half their income toward housing.
In response, local jurisdictions formed the Housing Solutions Partnership, a regional collaboration focused on developing data-driven strategies to increase housing availability for local workers.