Information from The Rent Eats First – April 2019
Powerpoint on Housing Affordability in Idaho – Josh Scholer
Housing Market Overview – Erik Kingston
Additional Resources – If You Want to Learn More
What You Can Do to Make a Difference/Bibliography
See more photos from the gathering
Presenter Biographies
Deanna Watson was hired as the Executive Director for the Boise City/Ada County Housing Authority in February 1997. She began her housing career at the Idaho Housing and Finance Association where she gained experience administering federal homeless assistance contracts and managing the branch operations of Section 8 and Public Housing programs in 34 of Idaho’s 44 counties.
At BCACHA, Ms. Watson is in charge of the day-to-day operations of the agency that administers housing assistance programs for over 2,500 families in Boise, Meridian, Garden City, Kuna, Eagle, and Star. In addition, she has served on boards and committees at the local, state, and national levels. Past service includes the Boards of Boise Neighborhood Housing Services, Community House, and the State Mental Health Planning Council. She served as President of the Idaho Chapter of National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) and in 2004 was appointed by HUD Headquarters to serve as one of fifteen housing authority Executive Director’s from across the nation to serve on a Federal Negotiated Rule-making Committee charged with rewriting key provisions of the Federal Regulations pertaining to public housing. Ms. Watson currently serves as President of the Board of the Idaho Community Reinvestment Corporation, has a Governor’s Appointment to the State Independent Living Council as a National Member of the Housing Committee of NAHRO, and has been a member of the Board of Corpus Christi House in Boise.
Josh Scholer is a third-generation Idahoan, born and raised in Boise. At Boise State, Josh spent two years interning at the Idaho Legislature while also working with at-risk youth through the City of Boise for nearly four years. His senior year, Josh was selected to be the Government Relations Officer for the student body, working often with university officials to advance sound investments for Idaho higher education and also to change the state’s funding formula. Halfway through the year, Josh was selected to represent Idaho students on Governor Otter’s Higher Education Task Force, where he sat on the funding formula subcommittee. Josh works as a Policy Specialist at Jannus where he focuses on policy issues related to housing affordability as well as behavioral/mental health. He will be attending law school at the University of Idaho in the upcoming fall.
