Affordable Housing

The Wood River Valley is a working community as well as a popular resort destination, so housing costs are higher in this area. That fact has made it difficult for the Blaine County School District, like many employers, and all governmental agencies, to hire and retain valued employees. We as a School District have implemented several programs to address this problem.

Rent Subsidy Program

Under our rent subsidy program, newly hired teachers are offered a monthly subsidy of $300.00 for the first year they are employed by the School District. In the second year the teacher is eligible for $200.00 per month, and the third year the subsidy payment is $100.00 per month. It is hoped that this housing assistance will enable the teacher to save enough money during those three years to purchase one of the affordable housing units the School District is developing.

Building Our Own Affordable Housing

The School District is working on several housing projects that are intended for all Blaine County School District staff, whether they are hired as a classroom paraprofessional or a teacher considering moving into the area. Our goal is to offer affordable housing regardless of income level and to offer housing in communities where employees work.

Hailey

The Woodside Elementary project will be the first project to be developed. We currently have four lots, which will house eight duplex-style units. Two of these units will be utilized by City of Hailey employees, and the remaining six will be for School District employees. This development will include 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom units and 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom units. We are hoping this project will be completed and occupied during the fall of 2007.

We are also planning an affordable housing development just south of Wood River Middle School. We have approximately one and one-half acres of land between Third and Fourth Avenues North. We are designing anywhere from eighteen to twenty-four units on this parcel, with community picnic areas and playgrounds for the occupants. These units will range from a studio-style unit to 2-bedroom units, with a community style design in mind. If all goes well, these units could begin construction in the spring of 2008. We plan to have our Wood River High School residential construction academy program build anywhere from six to twelve of these units.

Carey

In Carey the School District is planning a six-lot subdivision adjacent to the new Carey High School. We are considering single family or duplex-style units (or some combination of both), depending on the need we have in Carey. The Carey School residential construction academy will build these units over the next several years as part of their curriculum. The Carey construction academy has already completed and sold two houses, and they will finish and sell their third house by the end of the 2006-2007 school year. We are planning to begin construction of these units in the fall of 2007.

Ketchum

In Ketchum the School District is working with the City of Ketchum to develop a workforce housing complex just south of Hemingway Elementary. Although this project is in its infancy, this project could be one of our most exciting designs. This project is probably two years away from beginning the planning and construction of the units.