BOISE — City leaders and community partners on Saturday broke ground on The Sherwood, a new affordable and supportive housing development targeted specifically to families with children who are exiting homelessness. The project, located in the Lusk Street District across from Boise State University, is being promoted by the city as the first of its kind in Idaho.
What the project will deliver
When finished, The Sherwood will contain 90 residential units designed to serve households with incomes between 30% and 60% of the area median income. City officials say the development will be positioned within walking distance of neighborhood parks and transit options and will include on-site supportive services intended to help families stabilize and rebuild.
Mayor Lauren McLean framed the project as part of a multi-pronged strategy to address the region’s affordability challenges amid rising living costs in the Treasure Valley.
“Soon on this site we will have homes for families exiting homelessness… Every child deserves a home; we’ve made that clear… Every family deserves a home,”
The mayor said the initiative combines municipal funding, private investment and philanthropic dollars to expand housing options and provide services that help families maintain housing long term.
City’s track record and pipeline
Boise officials say The Sherwood complements a series of city-backed affordable housing projects completed or underway since McLean took office. According to city statements, six projects have been completed, delivering a total of 536 affordable homes, and another 185 units are currently under construction in projects that received city support.
| Category | Units |
|---|---|
| Completed projects | 536 |
| Under construction | 185 |
| The Sherwood (planned) | 90 |
City officials noted the project’s location — within a 10-minute walk of both Ann Morrison Park and Julia Davis Park — as consistent with municipal goals for placing affordable housing near parks, transit and services that support family life.
Target population and services
The Sherwood is explicitly aimed at families leaving homelessness, a population that housing advocates say faces steep barriers to regaining stability, particularly in high-cost housing markets. By limiting units to households earning between 30% and 60% of area median income and offering supportive services, the development intends to provide both affordability and case management or other services to address needs beyond shelter.
City leaders and partner organizations emphasized a mixed approach that pairs bricks-and-mortar housing with supportive programming, noting that shelter alone does not always prevent a return to homelessness without access to jobs, health care and child services.
Partners and timeline
Officials did not release a precise completion date at the groundbreaking, but the event took place on Aug. 8, 2026. City staff say the project is part of an ongoing pipeline that mixes public funds, private investment and philanthropic contributions to accelerate production of affordable units.
- Location: Lusk Street District, across from Boise State University
- Units: 90 family-focused apartments
- Income limits: 30%–60% of area median income
- Proximity goals: within walking distance of parks and transit
City press materials include the mayor’s remarks and statements from partner organizations, which framed The Sherwood as a demonstration of coordinated public-private action to meet a pressing community need.
Local context and impact
Affordable housing has been a central policy priority for Boise in recent years as the cost of living has outpaced wage growth for many residents. City leaders say The Sherwood will expand options for low-income families and help prevent cycles of homelessness among children and caregivers.
Advocates for housing and social services welcomed the groundbreaking as a tangible step toward addressing family homelessness in a way that pairs housing with supportive resources. The degree to which the project reduces local shelter demand or improves long-term outcomes will hinge on the availability and quality of on-site services, as well as broader market conditions.
Officials say they will continue to monitor progress on The Sherwood and on other city-supported developments as part of an ongoing effort to expand affordable housing capacity in the Boise area.
— Bethany Lund, State Correspondent
