Idaho assistance programs

Idaho concentrates its family help in one department: the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (IDHW) decides TAFI cash assistance and the Idaho Child Care Program itself and holds the federal LIHEAP grant. The rest is lean by design. TAFI tops out at $309 a month for any family size, Idaho funds no state pre-K, its homebuyer help is a repayable loan rather than a grant, and Idaho Commerce says outright that there is very little grant money for starting a business.

IDHW takes TAFI and child care applications directly, by phone at 877-456-1233, at a field office, or on a paper form sent by email, fax or mail, and families then manage both benefits through idalink. Energy help works differently: IDHW takes no LIHEAP applications, and seven Community Action Agencies cover every county, paying a once-a-year heating benefit and crisis aid of up to $1,500. Idaho funds no cooling component. The Idaho energy guide lists which agency serves your county.

Two Idaho bodies reach into several categories. The Idaho Housing and Finance Association (Idaho Housing) runs the Second Mortgage and First Loan Tax-Exempt for buyers, through approved lenders only, and also the SSBCI Collateral Support Program for small businesses. The Workforce Development Council pays employer training grants, the Idaho LAUNCH tuition grant and WIOA training. The Idaho small business guide separates the few real grants from the SSBCI loans.

For college, the State Board of Education's Idaho Opportunity Scholarship pays up to $3,500 a year and requires a FAFSA, which Idaho has no state alternative to; LAUNCH does not require one. For help finding child care, call the Idaho CareLine at 2-1-1.