A local woman named Cassidy was given much-needed help by CATCH (Charitable Assistance to the Community’s Homeless). In the photo above, she holds up a sign of graditude for now having a place for her and her children to live. (Courtesy photo)
By Gaye Bunderson
Some philanthropies may call their organizations such estimable names as Charitable Assistance to the Community’s Homeless, or they can change to something shorter (and ‘catchier’). In fact, a local group that once went by the above longer name now simply calls itself CATCH. The name fits, as the group serves as a safety net for people who find themselves free-falling into the despairing hole of homelessness.
The group launched locally in 2006, and, at the time, the driving force behind it was the City of Boise. In 2010, it was made a non-profit. Stephanie Day joined CATCH in approximately 2007 and now serves as its executive director. Though CATCH is not a specifically Christian organization, nor does it require its clients to make a declaration of faith, Day joined the organization in part to put feet to her faith.
She attended Northwest Nazarene University, receiving a master’s degree in social work. She then served with the Salvation Army for eight years and ran shelters in Nampa and Boise, honing her skills for working with the unhoused, and she holds first-hand perceptions on the topic of homelessness and the people who experience it.
“Less than 1% of the population experiences homelessness; but people lay blame, saying the homeless make bad choices or they’re lazy. They don’t understand, and they make assumptions,” Day said. But having seen the lives of the homeless close up, she brings a much more generous measure of empathy to their situation.
She continued: “There are way more homeless now. The figures were consistent until COVID hit; now the homeless numbers have been growing by leaps and bounds. More people have been moving to Idaho; the vacancy rate lowered and rents tripled. With growth, mortgages also went up. There is a broad gap between wages and mortgage costs.
“After hearing their stories, you realize it’s more complicated than bad choices or laziness. … It’s not even all about money. People start to internalize what others tell them. The homeless take a gut punch from society. A big part of our work is helping people see their own worth and potential.”
Day centers her work around Maslow’s Hierarchy of Need. Abraham Maslow held to the notion that a sense of safety and stability are top priorities in human lives. But the hierarchy also includes emphases on:
• Physiological needs for food, water and shelter.
• A safe environment that includes stability and freedom from fear.
• Love and belonging, including feeling accepted and cared for and being part of a community.
• Esteem, including respect from others that entails recognition, status and confidence.
• Self-actualization, or the need to achieve one’s potential and feel creative and self-expressive.
(Adapted from https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-maslows-hierarchy-of-needs-4136760)
Imagine, then, the turmoil people struggle with when they don’t even have the four walls of a safe structure to call home. That’s when CATCH steps in. The group also offers what it calls “wrap-around services.” Explained Day: “People can receive up to two years of help with rent and utilities and are assigned a case manager.”
A lack of housing – and housing may include a home, apartment, or other secure arrangement – is far from unique to any one state in the U.S., and Idaho isn’t immune from the rest of the country’s struggles.
“There is a housing shortage nationally,” Day said.
CATCH has team members who offer a “peer support staff.” These are people who’ve been homeless themselves and can provide an “I’ve walked in your shoes” wisdom – something the now-homeless can put their hope in and take as an example of what can be.
As mentioned, CATCH is not a strictly faith-based group. But while Christian staff members don’t ‘push their beliefs’ on the homeless population, they nonetheless utilize what they’ve learned through their relationship with Christ, from the Bible, and from the community of disciples.
“We encourage the homeless, and we pray for them,” Day said. “We steer them to pursue their path.” Raised in the faith, Day said she chose her career because, “I knew I liked helping people. I feel I ended up where I am because I think if I have a passion in my heart that this is what I’m supposed to do.”
Another individual who feels his faith was pivotal to his connection with CATCH is Andrew Kukla, lead pastor at First Presbyterian Church Boise and board chair at CATCH. “I moved here in 2012 from Florida, and the church was already a supporter of CATCH. Greg Morris, founder of CATCH, told me there were no more faith representatives in the organization, but that that had been its original intention.”
Kukla started on the board in December of 2014. Asked if he feels God led him to the board and to CATCH, he said: “I think there’s some deep sense of commitment to what it means to house others.”
He then mentioned Jeremiah 29:7: “Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you … and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”
He also feels he contributes a unique service to the board.
“One of the things that is true about non-profit boards is they are full of corporate people, and corporate people are very busy. One of the things I can offer is time, and I can give that commitment of time.”
He now also brings the wisdom of experience thanks to his many years on the board.
“I have served through three executive directors. When there are questions about board issues, I can lean into experience about staffing, leadership discernment, and what is the best course.”
His church is involved with the homeless – in many ways due to its location.
“We are located on State Street, and we sometimes have the homeless in our building, needing help, and we’re able to connect with these people. They’ll come in to charge their devices, get a cup of coffee, or get out the elements. It’s a public space and we engage with them. Recently, one woman needed us to help her extend her hotel stay. We like to have the conversations and the prayers.”
CATCH also has a street team that goes straight to individuals living completely without shelter on city sidewalks, alleyways or other uninviting places.
“Some of the people living on the street have social anxiety,” Day said. “They are cold in the winter. They are people disconnected from the system. We help with basic needs. At the end of the day, nobody wants to live outdoors. People on the street are often people who don’t trust others, perhaps because of past betrayals or disappointments. Over time, we help rebuild that trust. You get to know them and care about them.”
At age 41, Day said that, like most others, she has a safety net or “social capital” that includes a network of family and friends she can turn to for support when other systems fail. But, she said, not all persons are as fortunate. Those in the homeless population need a non-judgmental community as well as organizations like CATCH to be their safety nets and their social capital.
They also need the welcome of a caring, compassionate church such as First Presbyterian.
There is, according to Day, a wait list of 5-10 years for affordable housing. CATCH received 8,000 calls last year from people wanting to know what to do. She explained many of them were in houses but were about to lose them; in that instance, CATCH acts as a referral service, leading people to shelters, to Terry Reilly for health services, or to the VA for help for veterans.
Stated Day: “We partner with everybody, including Head Start, the Department of Labor. the City of Boise.
“It would be nice for other communities to get involved. Currently, help comes from the faith community, educational institutions, businesses, or housing developers. Housing developers are turning into really great partners. They want to give back; I think they see that giving back is an investment because it leads to more people buying their houses and it leads to healthy communities.”
“When people are new to homelessness,” Day explained, “it’s terrifying.”
A warm cup of coffee on a cold winter day, and other kindnesses, help.
“The people need long-term help, whereas CATCH is temporary, generally for only two years,” Day said. “Currently, on average, the help generally runs for 14 months; before COVID it was five months.”
More individuals, churches, and organizations like CATCH need consciences of commitment to help communities’ homeless.
For more information go to catchidaho.org. Donations are always accepted from businesses, organizations, churches and members of the community. Send them to 503 S. Americana Blvd.,
Boise, ID 83702.
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