Following the Idaho Supreme Court’s decision regarding our State Street Shelter’s Conditional Use Permit, we want to share where we stand. While this setback has challenged us, we remain committed to providing our vulnerable neighbors with safe shelter and vital services as they work to rebuild their lives. We believe our community deserves full transparency about our next steps, and we’re ready to share our path forward.
A REFLECTION:
As we reflect on this journey, we’ve come to realize that the greatest challenges arise when doing something for the first time. Without a predefined path, we must bravely learn as we go. In the history of the City of Boise, no organization has ever taken on the challenge of building a new shelter or applying for a conditional use permit for a homeless shelter. This is uncharted territory for all of us—the City, our shelter, our community, and our system—as we navigate this process together.
NOW WHAT?
Since the setback with the Idaho Supreme Court, the City of Boise has been determined to reclaim its power by rewriting the ordinance that once allowed our application to be overturned. As Mayor McLean remarked, “This revised ordinance represents a bold step forward in ensuring fairness and inclusivity for all members of our community. It reflects our commitment to building a future where every voice is heard.” With this change underway, our journey is poised to enter a promising new phase.
Once the updated ordinance is in place, Interfaith Sanctuary will submit a new CUP that incorporates all the conditions that were added on to our CUP. This submission will reflect the adoption of Boise’s modern zoning code, ensuring that our vision aligns with the city’s updated framework.
Our hope is that, through these concerted efforts, we will secure an approved CUP—one that keeps our plans on track. With this approval, we look forward to celebrating our ribbon-cutting ceremony as we move into our Reimagined Shelter, a new home built on resilience, community, and a shared vision for the future.
In the coming weeks, we will be sharing updates on this process and ways you can get involved. For now, please know that your notes of kindness matter, your outreach matters, your concerns matter, your support matters, and—most of all—your belief in us matters more than words can say!