Location: Idaho County, ID | Metro: Idaho County, ID
| Unit Size | Monthly FMR |
|---|---|
| Studio | $750 |
| 1 Bedroom | $800 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $1,050 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $1,450 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $1,760 |
| 5 Bedrooms | $2,042 |
| 6 Bedrooms | $2,287 |
| 7 Bedrooms | $2,470 |
| 8 Bedrooms | $2,594 |
U.S. Census Bureau data (2024)
The economics of Section 8 in ZIP code 83542 are straightforward. The SAFMR (Standard Area Fair Market Rent) for a two-bedroom apartment in this specific ZIP code for fiscal year 2026 is set at $1,040. This figure represents the maximum amount that a landlord can receive from the housing authority for a Section 8 voucher tenant.
To understand the actual payment, it's important to break down the components. The tenant is responsible for paying 30% of their adjusted income towards rent. For simplicity, let's assume a tenant's adjusted monthly income is $1,000. In this case, the tenant would pay $300 toward rent ($1,000 * 0.30).
The remaining amount is covered by the housing assistance payment. So, if the SAFMR is $1,040, and the tenant pays $300, the housing authority would pay the landlord $740 ($1,040 - $300).
Additionally, there are utility allowances that can vary but are typically a fixed amount per bedroom. For a two-bedroom unit, these allowances might cover part of the tenant's electricity, gas, water, and sewer costs. However, without specific figures for ZIP 83542, we cannot provide an exact amount. Utility allowances do not increase the total reimbursement but rather ensure that the tenant has sufficient funds to cover these essential services.
The SAFMR being specific to ZIP 83542 means that this rate is set for this particular area, reflecting the local rental market conditions. It is crucial for landlords to note that while the SAFMR provides a benchmark, the actual reimbursement can be less if the market rent for similar units in the area is lower. Conversely, if the market rent is higher, the landlord will still only receive up to the SAFMR amount, which in this case is $1,040.
Given the SAFMR of $1,040 and the tenant's contribution of $300, the typical reimbursement gap for a two-bedroom unit in ZIP 83542 would be $300. This means landlords would need to adjust their expectations and potentially reduce their rent to match the SAFMR to avoid losing out on the difference between the market rent and the SAFMR reimbursement. If landlords charge more than the SAFMR, they will not receive additional funds from the housing authority, leading to a loss equivalent to the amount over the SAFMR.
In summary, landlords in ZIP 83542 should expect a total reimbursement of $1,040 for a two-bedroom unit under Section 8, with the tenant contributing $300 based on their income. The reimbursement gap is $300, indicating landlords must either accept this lower total rent or risk not filling their units due to the voucher limits.
Data Sources: FMR data from HUD (2027). Demographics from U.S. Census (2024).
About FMR: Fair Market Rent (FMR) is used to determine payment standards for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program, initial renewal rents for some expiring project-based Section 8 contracts, and rent ceilings for HOME Investment Partnerships.