Partnership will help address critical housing need for hospital employees

St. Luke’s Wood River, St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation, and ARCH Community Housing Trust, a non-profit committed to developing permanently affordable housing solutions, have come together to help build new homes for SLWR employees.

St. Luke’s Wood River and St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation will provide funding for the construction of 12 new homes while ARCH is contributing the land and will oversee construction.

The limited availability of housing to rent or own is a challenge felt by our entire community and significantly impacts the ability to recruit and retain employees at SLWR. St. Luke’s Wood River currently has 69 vacant positions with a vacancy rate much higher than the three hospitals in our region. Nursing positions account for 28% of the vacancies.

Construction on four 3-bedroom single-family homes in Quigley Farms will begin this fall. The remaining eight units, located in Hailey and Bellevue, will begin construction next spring. All units are slated for completion within 12 months of start of construction.

The homes will be long-term rentals for SLWR employees, clinical and non-clinical. The leases will stipulate that continued employment is a condition of housing.

To help support housing for healthcare workers DONATE TODAY or contact Megan Tanous (208) 727-8444.