The vision of Ketchum’s Housing Action Plan, adopted May 9, 2022, is to increase access and create and preserve homes for residents at a range of income levels and life stages to maintain a thriving local community. This community-designed and driven plan takes a holistic approach to address Ketchum and Blaine County’s housing crisis. In May 2023, voters passed a ballot measure to use a proportion of Local Option Tax funds towards affordable housing solutions, which will bring in an anticipated $1.4 million in the 2024 fiscal year. Below, you’ll find analysis and progress on the Housing Action Plan, along with programs and resources it helps fund.
Housing Action Plan | 2022-2024
The City of Ketchum developed the Housing Action Plan based on relevant housing needs data, community input, and guidance from a task force comprised of a cross-section of community members. To develop the plan, three in-depth periods of public engagement, task force meetings, and a needs assessment, primarily using census data and relevant local analyses, were conducted. The resulting plan was built on the understanding that no single organization or jurisdiction can solve the housing challenge and that solutions require a multifaceted approach—there is simply no way to build, re-zone, or buy our way out of the problem. Also foundational to the plan is the belief that, through innovation, coordination, and tenacity, we can strengthen our community together by securing homes for our families and workforce.
Three key trends from the assessment that guided Ketchum’s Housing Action Plan
Year 1
Research was conducted—observing best practices, comparable community efforts, and collecting community input—resulting in five comprehensive goals and 280 ideas that were filtered for immediate feasibility and impact. The resulting goals and strategies to address this complex housing crisis are comprehensive.
Accomplishments:
- 21 community homes in Ketchum were constructed, preserved, or converted.
- Development of 148 community homes is in progress in Ketchum (70 are under construction and 78 are under review).
- 85 households were assisted and increased support was provided for an additional 260 households facing displacement.
- The housing team raised $1.7 million in funding for housing efforts, countywide.
Are you in need of housing assistance? Reach out to these programs in the Blaine County Housing & Support Services Guide.
Related Resources
- Property Tax Reduction Program 2022
- Blaine County Comprehensive Plan
- Short-Term Rentals in Ketchum
- Homeowner’s Exemption Application
- Regional Workforce Housing Report
- Mountain Migration Report
- 2017 Needs Assessment
- Idaho’s Landlord and Tenant Manual
- National League of Cities – Local Tools to Address Housing Affordability
- May 29, 2024 – Homelessness is a Housing Problem by Gregg Colburn and Clayton Page Aldern
Ketchum’s Ownership and Preservation program helps make home ownership possible for those who work and live in the community. Through the program, the city will pay cash incentives (up to 15-30% of a home’s value) to current qualified Ketchum homeowners, or those purchasing a home in Ketchum, in exchange for recording a deed restriction on their home. The restriction ensures that only qualified local owners—those living and working in Blaine County or who meet qualifying exceptions—can occupy the residence. Learn more about the program below or click on the link to apply.
Please contact the Housing Department at housing@ketchumidaho.org or 208.727.5080 with program questions.
The monthly Housing Matters newsletter provides updates organized via the five defined goals of the Housing Action Plan. Sign up for the newsletter or view past editions below.
Related Videos
Are you in need of housing assistance?
Reach out to these programs to get help.
¿Necesita asistencia para la vivienda?
Comuníquese con estos programas para obtener ayuda.
Donate to the Housing Trust
Your tax deductible donations will go directly to the Housing Trust and used for future developments and programs.
Upcoming Events
Stay tuned for upcoming events.
Recurring events:
- The Hunger Coalition Food Distribution Mondays & Thursdays at Hemingway
- St. Thomas Church’s Ketchum Community Dinners Curbside – Wednesdays
Recent Events
Learning from Peer Communities: Housing Lessons and Opportunities in collaboration with The Community Library and the Spur Community Foundation
- Summit County, Colorado’s Housing Director, Jason Dietz. View the recording here.
- Park City, Utah’s Housing Development Manager, Jason Glidden. Presentation online here.
- Jackson, Wyoming’s Housing Director, April Norton. Access the recording here.
Housing 101: Guest Speaker, Shellan Rodriguez speaks to the Housing Implementation Partners on August 31, recording here.
Comparative information is available from these events for Summit County and for Park City.
Press
- Blaine County mediation program seeks to prevent evictions before they reach court – Boise State Public Radio
- Blaine County and City of Ketchum tap NeuroMediation Group to launch landlord-tenant mediation program – Press release
- Three Blaine County cities are partnering on a new pilot program to address housing crisis – KMVT
- City of Ketchum creating housing for locals with ‘Lease to Locals’ – KTVB
- Ketchum’s Housing Matters – Letter to the Mt. Express
- The Hunger Coalition Joins Forces with Ketchum Housing Action Plan
- Housing Matters Task Force Quotes
Related Resources
- Property Tax Reduction Program 2022
- Blaine County Comprehensive Plan
- Short-Term Rentals in Ketchum
- Homeowner’s Exemption Application
- Regional Workforce Housing Report
- Mountain Migration Report
- 2017 Needs Assessment
- Idaho’s Landlord and Tenant Manual
- National League of Cities – Local Tools to Address Housing Affordability