Almost Home: North Idaho families face barriers to permanent housing
Heather Bischof plants a kiss on the forehead of her 5-year-old daughter Ellie as son Austin, 7, plays in the water on a summerlike May 9 evening.
DEVIN WEEKS/Press
Ellie, 5, Austin, 7, and Heather Bischof share a family moment in their new rental home May 9. "There's a lot of times I’m standing here physically looking around in shock that I’m still actually here," Bischof said, "this is actually mine and I did this and got this far."
Heather Bischof is still in disbelief that through trauma, homelessness, her daughter's medical condition and more, she and her family have a happy home in Coeur d'Alene. She is seen on her back porch May 9.
Heather Bischof places a flower behind her daughter Ellie's ear May 9 as they enjoy the sunshine on the front porch.
In the 2023 point in time survey of homelessness coordinated by Idaho Housing and Finance Association (except Ada County), 58 percent of homeless individuals are 18-54 years old, 25 percent are under the age of 18 and 17 percent are 55 or older. The same survey found that 15 percent were homeless due to issues related to substance abuse, 13 percent were fleeing domestic violence, 12 percent had become homeless due to issues related to serious mental illness and six percent are veterans.
In a point in time survey coordinated by the Idaho Housing and Finance Association across the state (excluding Ada County), 1,611 homeless individuals were counted January 25, 2023. This number is approaching the numbers noted in 2020. (The survey did include a note that the pandemic limited the scope of the survey in 2021 and 2022.)
Shelli Niemi and Denise Bausch work on kits for seniors and homelessness hygiene kits at Kellogg Public Library through a program offered through the AmeriCorps 9/11 grant.
COEUR d’ALENE — Like many people, Heather Bischof moved here and got a job. But she soon found she wasn't making enough money.
“I was very unaware of the wages, $3 and something cents an hour,” Bischof said. “I’m like, ‘How, especially in dead season, am I supposed to make enough tips plus paycheck to afford my rent?’”
Bischof and her roommate fell behind on rent and soon found an eviction notice on their door. For Bischof, homelessness was about to become a reality.
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