Nonprofit provides transitional housing, resources on the Palouse

Sojourners’ Alliance, a nonprofit organization in Moscow, Idaho, provides transitional housing, shelters and resources for people in the area. The nonprofit participated in a lived experience panel last week, which allowed individuals who have been homeless to share their insights. 

The panel was hosted by the Idaho Housing and Finance Association. The panels its hosts include local groups listening and participating in Zoom calls from around Idaho. 

“The government wants to know the perspective of people who are receiving these services so that it’s not just from the people looking at things from the top down,” said Casy Bolt, executive director of Sojourners’ Alliance. 

One of the people who has received assistance from Sojourners’ Alliance is Karlie Leras. She shared some takeaways from the most recent panel, which covered topics including tenants’ rights and resources for victims of domestic violence. She also shared her experience of trying to secure housing with a criminal record.

“I’m currently experiencing continuous discrimination against being a felon. So, the only way I was able to get … an apartment was with the help of Sojourners’. … Not because of funding, I had lots of places that were willing to help me with funding, but nobody was willing to rent to me as a felon, even the trailer parks,” Leras said.

Justin Jorgens has also received assistance from Sojourners’ Alliance.

“I was doing a lot of drugs, and I had been homeless for about 10 years in Pullman, and I got caught in Idaho with some drugs and they’re pretty strict here,” Jorgens said. “When I was in jail, I reached out to Sojourners’ … which prevented me from going to prison.” 

Jorgens said he’s been living in housing with the help of Sojourners’ Alliance for about 13 months with his cat, Panther. 

Bolt says going forward, the nonprofit is looking into funding options for emergency shelter programs. He said that would include housing people in motels on a short-term basis. 

This story is part of a continuing series highlighting nonprofits in the Northwest.