Kevin Harper Media Relations Officer

208.331.4858 kevinh@ihfa.org

December 29, 2015 Over $130,000 donated so far to help nonprofits serve Idaho homeless in Avenues for Hope Housing Challenge Up to $200,000 in matching grants and prizes to be awarded in the online fundraiser ending December 31 BOISE, Idaho – Idaho Housing and Finance Association through its Home Partnership Foundation announced that more than $130,000 has been donated in its fifth annual Avenues for Hope Housing Challenge so far, with three days left for Idahoans to give. The online fundraiser allows businesses and individuals to support their favorite participating housing nonprofits through tax-deductible year-end donations. In addition to donations, over $59,000 in grant prizes have been awarded, with up to $200,000 up for grabs by the 34 participating nonprofits. Donations must be made by midnight, December 31 to help nonprofits qualify for the grant prizes and matching funds that were donated by Idaho Housing and 14 sponsors. “We call it a Housing Challenge because we are challenging Idahoans to give what they can to help nonprofits on the front line of serving the homeless and those in need of housing assistance in Idaho communities,” said Gerald M. Hunter, president of Idaho Housing. “Donations right now are really important because the grant prizes and matching funds in the Housing Challenge help donor dollars stretch even further.” Businesses and individuals wanting to make tax-deductible donations before the year’s end can find a participating nonprofit to support at www.avenuesforhope.org/#leaderboard or general gifts can be made to the Enhance the Match fund which will be divvied up to all participating nonprofits. Idaho Housing is encouraging donations of $25 or more at www.avenuesforhope.org. Every donation is critical to help combat homelessness and ensure essential housing resources are available to those in need across the state. The Avenues for Hope campaign will end December 31st at midnight, and final results, including donations and grant awards, will be announced on Monday, January 4th. “We are asking for community support over the next few days to assist these 34 nonprofits in Idaho to reach their fundraising goals to help ensure essential housing services are available to those in need,” Hunter said. Donation link: http://www.avenuesforhope.org Video: https://youtu.be/dcJV5amI1js Hashtag: #IdahoHomeless

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About Avenues for Hope The 2015 Avenues for Hope Housing Challenge is helping over 34 nonprofits across the state. The campaign has seen a 31% percent increase in community involvement, with over 950 donations received to date. Now in its fifth year, the annual fundraiser has raised over $650,000 since its inception in 2011. With continued support from the community, Home Partnership Foundation believes that Avenues for Hope could raise another $350,000 during this year’s campaign, bringing the total to over $1 million. Both the chronic homeless and temporarily homeless are helped by Avenues for Hope, including domestic violence victims, veterans, people with disabilities, vulnerable youth, and low income Idaho residents. Avenues for Hope is presented by Home Partnership Foundation and sponsored by Idaho Housing and Finance Association in conjunction with Academy Mortgage Corp., Bank of the Cascades, Bank of Commerce, Bank of Idaho, Barclays Capital, Citizens Community Bank, Evergreen Home Loans, Fairway Independent Mortgage, First Mortgage Company, Guild Mortgage Company, Idaho Independent Bank, KeyBank Foundation, Mountain West Bank, Prospect Mortgage and Wells Fargo. About Home Partnership Foundation The Home Partnership Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) organization created by Idaho Housing and Finance Association 10 years ago to help people build a strong foundation for their lives through stable, safe, and affordable housing. HPF is the organizer of the Avenues for Hope Housing Challenge, which has raised over $650,000 for housing nonprofits in Idaho since its inception in 2011. The mission of HPF is to strengthen communities across Idaho by encouraging tax-deductible charitable gifts to support shelters and shelter services for the homeless and disadvantaged, help avoid eviction actions to stabilize households and prevent homelessness, encourage asset-building and education to achieve economic independence, build equity-sharing funds to make workforce housing attainable, and facilitate tax-advantaged land donations for affordable housing purposes.

Website: www.homepartnershipfoundation.org On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HomePartnershipFoundation On Twitter: https://twitter.com/avenuesforhope Download logos: https://avenuesforhope.org/#npo-resources About Idaho Housing and Finance Association Idaho Housing and Finance Association is a financial services and housing business organization. IHFA's mission is to improve lives and strengthen Idaho communities by expanding housing opportunities, building self-sufficiency, and fostering economic development. Website: www.idahohousing.com On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/idahohousing On Twitter: https://twitter.com/idahohousing

Participating Nonprofits City Region Served

Enhance the Match Fund Boise Statewide

Home Partnership Foundation Boise Statewide

Family Promise of North Idaho Coeur d'Alene 1

St Vincent de Paul North Idaho Coeur d'Alene 1

Bonner County Homeless Task Force Sandpoint 1

Lewiston-Clarkston Partners Habitat for Humanity Clarkston 2

Affordable Housing Foundation Inc. Grangeville 2

Family Promise of Lewis Clark Valley Lewiston 2

Family Promise of the Palouse Moscow 2

Moscow Affordable Housing Trust, Inc Moscow 2

Sojourners' Alliance Moscow 2

CATCH, Inc. (Charitable Assistance to Community's Homeless) Boise 3

Corpus Christi House, Inc Boise 3

Good Samaritan Home Boise 3

Idaho Youth Ranch, Inc. Boise 3

Interfaith Sanctuary Housing Services Boise 3

International Rescue Committee Boise 3

NeighborWorks Boise Boise 3

The Jesse Tree of Idaho Boise 3

Women's & Children's Alliance Boise 3

Advocates Against Family Violence Caldwell 3

Hope House, Inc. Marsing 3

Canyon County Habitat for Humanity Nampa 3

The Salvation Army Nampa/Boise 3

Blaine County Housing Authority Hailey 4

South Central Community Action Partnership Twin Falls 4

Bingham Crisis Center for Women, Inc. Blackfoot 5

Aid For Friends, Inc. Pocatello 5

Bannock Youth Foundation Pocatello 5

Family Services Alliance Pocatello 5

NeighborWorks Pocatello Pocatello 5

Southeastern Idaho Community Action Agency Pocatello 5

CLUB, Inc. Idaho Falls 6

Idaho Falls Rescue Mission Idaho Falls 6

Lemhi County Crisis Intervention/The Mahoney House Salmon 6