A new front opens in Interfaith Sanctuary’s fight to build a Boise homeless shelter

Joni Auden Land
·2 min read

It’s been three weeks since the Boise Planning and Zoning Commission voted to deny a permit application by Interfaith Sanctuary for a new homeless shelter on State Street.

But the process is far from over, and Interfaith has already taken the first step in trying to get that decision reversed.

Geoffrey Wardle, Interfaith’s attorney, on Thursday filed an official appeal of the commission’s decision, which will ultimately come down to a vote by the Boise City Council.

Unhoused people hold a tent protest outside the Capitol. Interfaith Sanctuary has recently filed an appeal in an effort to get a new, larger shelter built on State Street.
Unhoused people hold a tent protest outside the Capitol. Interfaith Sanctuary has recently filed an appeal in an effort to get a new, larger shelter built on State Street.

The appeal comes after the commission voted 5-1 on Jan. 3 to deny Interfaith’s application, largely on the basis that it did not include a security plan in its application. Some commissioners also said they thought it would harm the area and the city’s public services.

Interfaith bought the old Salvation Army thrift store and office at 4306 W. State St. to set up a 205-bed shelter to replace its aged location on River Street. Neighbors have opposed the shelter, arguing it would increase crime, decrease property values and harm nearby businesses.

Interfaith’s leaders have denied these claims and maintain the location is needed to ensure shelter for Boise’s growing number of people experiencing homelessness. Wardle said in the appeal that the commission’s decision “was made in reliance of irrelevant assertions made outside of the record.”

The appeal was expected, as Interfaith and those opposed to the shelter, such as the Veterans Park Neighborhood Association, had said they would appeal a decision that went against them.

Wardle’s appeal makes three arguments: The committee’s decision violated state, constitutional and city law; the decision was “arbitrary, capricious or an abuse of discretion;” and the decision was not backed up by evidence. He said he would submit a memorandum to provide further evidence of these claims.

Wardle told the Idaho Statesman on Thursday that city code requires at least 28 days between the submission of the appeal and a decision by the council. He said he expects the matter to come before council members within the next two months.

A vote by the council, though, likely wouldn’t end the Interfaith shelter discussion either. Interfaith and the neighbors opposed to the shelter have said they will appeal the matter to court if the council decides against them.

After multiple outbreaks of COVID-19 in the community, some protesters set up tents last week outside the former Ada County courthouse, east of the Capitol, in an effort to remind lawmakers about Boise’s housing crisis.