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Juniper Springs Apartments
Essential Housing for the Boise Community
A Legacy Investment in Boise’s Future
After the 2024 sale of its operating assets to WebMD Ignite, Boise-founded nonprofit Eyes on Health (formerly Healthwise) made a deliberate choice: reinvest locally.
A portion of its North End property is being donated for the development of Juniper Springs Apartments, a community developed by The Housing Company. The project is designed to serve essential workers earning below 80% of area median income (AMI).
At a time when nearly half of Boise’s housing demand is for attainable units, this is a rare example of a nonprofit reinvesting directly into the local community, turning land into long-term housing for teachers, healthcare workers, and first responders and service professionals.
Eyes on Health helped millions of people make better health decisions nationwide.
Now, that mission comes home, grounded in a simple idea: Stable housing is foundational to health.
Project Snapshot
Total Homes: 45 apartments
• 30 one-bedroom (649 sq ft)
• 11 two-bedroom (909 sq ft)
• 4 three-bedroom (1,152 sq ft)
• 5 market-rate units included
Building Size: 49,700 square feet
Height: 4 stories (max 45 feet)
Parking: 56 spaces
Amenities Designed for Everyday Living
Playground
Community room
Computer room
Bike storage
Laundry facilities
Fully equipped kitchens
(range, refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher)Secure access to common areas
Onsite management
Rent
(subject to change)
Juniper Springs
(Income-Restricted Units):
1-bedroom: $514 – $1,500 (market rate unit at top end)
2-bedroom: $980 – $1,825 (market rate unit at top end)
3-bedroom: $1,276 – $1,669
Key Comparison Points:
$1,745 — Average rent in Boise (Zillow, Jan. 2025)
$1,447 — HUD Fair Market Rent (2-bedroom, Idaho)
$1,341 — Max rent at Juniper (2-bedroom, 60% AMI)
$1,915 — Comparable market rent (Danter & Associates)
Juniper Springs delivers housing below or at market benchmarks,
with long-term affordability protections.
Who Juniper Springs Serves
Juniper Springs is designed for working households, not luxury renters and not exclusively the lowest-income tier.
Residents typically include:
Teachers
Medical assistants and healthcare staff
City and service workers
Retail and hospitality employees
Early-care providers
These are people who often earn too much to qualify for deep subsidies, but not enough to afford market rents in Boise.
The need in BoioseBoise’s housing market has shifted rapidly. The gap between wages and rents continues to widen.
Nearly half of housing demand is for attainable units
Workforce households are increasingly priced out
Long commutes and displacement are rising
This project directly addresses that gap.
Why Eyes on Health Is Involved
“We’ve spent decades helping people make better health decisions.
Housing is one of the most important factors in long-term health.
This is an extension of that mission—right here in Boise.”
This isn’t a developer-driven land acquisition.
It’s a mission-driven land donation.
That distinction matters.
About The Housing Company
The Housing Company is an Idaho-based nonprofit developer with decades of experience creating and managing affordable housing communities across the state.
What sets it apart:
Long-term ownership and stewardship
Deep compliance and affordability expertise
Community-first approach to development
Proven track record across Idaho markets
This isn’t speculative development. It’s durable housing infrastructure.
How affordable housing is funded
This development is financed using the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), the primary tool used nationwide to create affordable housing.
Rather than direct government construction, this model works by:
Partnering with private investors who help fund the project
Providing those investors with federal tax credits
Requiring the property to remain affordable for the long term (typically 30+ years)
Why this approach is used
Building housing, especially at affordable price points, is expensive.
Without programs like LIHTC:
Most developments would only be built at market-rate rents
Workforce housing options would continue to decline
Many communities would face increasing housing shortages for essential workers
LIHTC helps bridge that gap, making these developments financially possible.
What this means for the community
Long-term affordability — not short-term or temporary pricing
High-quality construction and professional management
Housing that supports local workers, including those in healthcare, education, retail, and public service
A proven model
LIHTC has supported the development of millions of affordable homes across the United States and remains a widely used, well-established approach to addressing housing needs in growing communities.
The takeaway
This development is designed to provide stable, well-managed, and affordable housing for the long term, helping ensure that people who work in the community can also live in it.
Stay Connected & Informed
Review project updates here on this webpage
Scan the on-site QR code signage (coming soon)
Stay engaged with local conversations, and separate perception from reality
F A Q
Is an apartment complex the best use of the site?
We understand the desire for open space. But Boise is facing a real housing shortage.
As a mission-driven organization, we prioritize housing people over preserving underutilized land. This site can either remain static or serve dozens of working households for decades.
What about traffic and parking?
Are these rents actually affordable?
Who qualifies to live here?
Is this housing for extremely low-income residents?
How can neighbors provide input?