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June 2026

In June, we kicked off exciting new projects, completed reports, and attended local events connected to our work! Read below to catch up on everything.

Projects

Projects

To learn more about the projects IPI has worked on this month please click through the project tabs.

Project Spotlight: Idaho Youth Homelessness Assessment Completed

Vanessa Fry, Lantz McGinnis-Brown, Maria Onaindia, Natalee Alsuhili

Idaho Policy Institute (IPI) at Boise State University, in partnership with Agnew::Beck, successfully completed the Idaho Statewide Youth Homelessness Assessment for Idaho Housing and Finance Association, Our Path Home, and the Youth Action Board. The project included statewide data analysis, stakeholder engagement, and youth listening sessions to better understand the prevalence, characteristics, and drivers of youth and young adult homelessness across Idaho. The final report provides an assessment of service gaps, demographic and geographic trends, and actionable recommendations to strengthen Idaho’s youth homelessness response system and inform updates to the state’s Coordinated Community Plan. The project findings, visualizations, and recommendations will help support future policy and program development.

Month in Review

Idaho Military Division Project Kickoff

Vanessa Fry, Maria Onaindia, Hannah Lang, John Gisler, Ronan Wulfekuhle

Idaho Policy Institute is excited to partner with the Idaho Military Division on a new project to update the agency’s statewide economic impact analysis. Building on a previous assessment, the project will use current data and economic modeling to quantify the Military Division’s contributions to Idaho’s economy, workforce, and communities. The updated analysis will provide state leaders and stakeholders with valuable insights into the Division’s economic footprint and its role in supporting communities across Idaho.

Health & Wellness Expo

Maria Onaindia, Abigail Jenkins

Last month, IPI team members attended the Health & Wellness Expo hosted by the Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs (ICHA) and the Idaho Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. As part of our ongoing partnership with ICHA, IPI helped to administer a survey of constituents around programming, improving healthcare access, and cultural responsiveness. Thank you to ICHA for having us!

A crowd of people sitting at tables watch panelists speaking on stage.
A panel of community leaders discuss preventative healthcare and legislation and answer questions from the audience.
People gathered at a table smile at the camera.
The IPI Team attend the Health and Wellness Expo.
Woman tabling at event smiles at a luncheon participant.
The Idaho Hispanic Chamber of Commerce tabled at the Health and Wellness Expo.

IPI in the News

In deep-red Idaho, even Republicans break with Trump on farm labor, The Conversation, June 22, 2026

People

 

 

  • Director

    Stephanie Witt, Ph.D.

    Stephanie Witt, Ph.D.

  • Research Faculty

    Vanessa Fry, Ph.D.

    Vanessa Fry, Ph.D.

  • Research Scholars

    Matthew May, Ph.D.
    Lantz McGinnis-Brown, Ph.D.

    Matthew May, Ph.D.
    Lantz McGinnis-Brown, Ph.D.

  • Research Associates

    McAllister Hall, MA
    Maria Onaindia, MAT
    Hannah Lang, MPS

    McAllister Hall, MA
    Maria Onaindia, MAT
    Hannah Lang, MPS

  • Research Administrator

    Britney Whiting-Looze

    Britney Whiting-Looze

  • Graduate Research Assistants

    Matthew Wordell
    John Gisler

    Matthew Wordell
    John Gisler

  • Student Researchers

    Abigail Jenkins
    Ronan Wulfekuhle
    Trevor Yarnell

    Abigail Jenkins
    Ronan Wulfekuhle
    Trevor Yarnell