
8 minute read
Homelessness in Idaho: The Other Covid Pandemic
Homelessness in Idaho — The Other COVID Pandemic
BY AMBER DALEY
Scroll through social media and you’ll find the hashtag #Idahome, a portmanteau associated with the quintessential Idaho experience and our magazine, often offers images of backyard barbecues, sunsets from the patio of a charmed home in Boise’s Northend. But not everyone living in the Gem State is fortunate enough to have a cell phone to access social media, let alone a patio or home of their own.
As of this printing, Stephanie Day, Executive Director of CATCH, Inc., estimates there are currently over 200 families in Ada County living in a homeless shelter or in their vehicles. CATCH, a Boise-based organization that supports people experiencing homelessness, works with regional government, congregations of faith, local businesses, and other charitable resources to house homeless families.
The temperatures are dropping and the suffering will inevitably increase after December 31, when the CDC’s ban on evictions for renters affected by COVID-19 is lifted. Accurate numbers could even be higher given that some people have found temporary solutions by staying with family or friends.
And then, there are those like Todd Maxey of Nampa. After pursuing an out-of-state job that failed to materialize as planned, he returned to Idaho in 2017. “I didn't tell anyone I was homeless because I was ashamed,” Maxey explains. “This society makes people feel terrible if they don't own a house by 25 and aren't a millionaire, so being homeless is the mark of complete failure in the eyes of America.”
During this time, Maxey became one of the invisible statistics that comprise America’s plague of “hidden homelessness.” Social workers say Todd’s story is a common occurrence during periods of economic uncertaintylike right now.
GLOBAL PANDEMIC, LOCAL CHALLENGES
According to researchers, there are roughly eight million households in the U.S. who pay half or more of their income on rent, meaning they’re already on the verge of losing their homes.
A recent Reuters article reports that COVID-19’s economic impacts could push an additional 1.5 million U.S. families to the brink of homelessness. Idaho offers no exceptions.
The homeless shelters serving the Treasure Valley are already at capacity, and the waiting list for assisted housing is two to four years long in some categories. Day believes the situation will get worse before it gets better. “I’m extremely worried about the future financial implications from the pandemic,” she says.
-Matthew Desmond, Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City
Director, Jodie Peterson-Stigers doing temperature check as part of our safety protocol to manage COVID 19. Photo by Interfaith Sanctuary “We’re already seeing an increase and people are more panicked.”
Jodi Peterson-Stigers, Executive Director of Interfaith Sanctuary Housing Services, agrees. “I’m uneasy about
Photo by CATCH January," she says. This is when she expects to see more newly evicted families. ”These will be people coming into a system they've never been in before, and that’s going to be a hard transition. We’re trying to create soft-landing programs so the experience isn’t so traumatic.”
In the meantime, Interfaith Sanctuary and other organizations (many of whom consist of essential workers) have implemented safety protocols to ensure social distancing and adequate hygiene amongst the homeless community — admittedly difficult to accomplish even without a pandemic.

CITY OF BOISE, LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND HOMELESS COMMUNITY STEP UP
When a person suffers mental health issues combined with an increased cost of living and employment insecurity, homelessness can quickly become the next challenge. And there is rarely a one-size-fits-all solution, especially when individuals leave a correctional facility or state hospital with mental health conditions.
“Many times, they simply walk out the door and onto the streets without taking their medications or getting into a shelter,” explains Chelsea Cox, Owner of Roots Support Services. ROOTS provides residential habilitation for individuals who have mental health issues or developmental disabilities. Some clients are elderly, and many times, homeless. “It’s like a revolving door- they end up incarcerated or back in the state hospital and it’s costing taxpayers a lot of money.”
Homelessness is as complex and evolving as fast as pandemic, but many local organizations have responded quickly. When the initial dire warnings of COVID were heralded, Interfaith Sanctuary immediately implemented changes — like working with the City of Boise to relocate homeless families and the medically fragile to a partnering hotel. Interfaith also increased its meal service for anyone in the homeless community (not just those at the shelter). During the summer months, the Boise Public Library even agreed to lease out Hayes Auditorium as a cooling day shelter. In February, CATCH also launched a street outreach program, connecting individuals experiencing homelessness with helpful staff and services. Early on, Interfaith Sanctuary partnered with Family Medicine Residency of Idaho (FMRI) to implement safety protocols and perform onsite COVID-19 testing for symptomatic guests. To date, they’ve had only one positive case at their primary shelter and three at their hotel shelter. Peterson-Stigers believes this a testament to the efficacy of masks. “We’ve had mandatory face masks at all of our shelter locations,” she says. “And we’ve also been able to manage the virus with a group of homeless who wear masks, ask how they can help, and are considerate of others. Boise should be proud of our homeless community. They took this situation seriously.” The problem may appear hopeless, but it’s not unsolvable.
“We sometime think homelessness is something we can’t do anything about,” says Day at CATCH. “We have a problem in Ada County, but it’s manageable at this point. We know what we need to do — housing development is a huge part of that — and we have the capacity and the resources to do it. The question is, ‘Do we have the will?’
Winter is weeks away. Local shelters need winter coats, hats, gloves/mittens, sturdy shoes, warm socks and new undergarments. The Interfaith Sanctuary recently signed a lease to create a warming shelter in the former Foothills School and they need volunteers and donated furnishings ( information on Interfaith Sanctuary’s Facebook page). Additionally, all these nonprofits agree monetary $$$$ donations! make a tremendous impact. As the holiday season approaches, why not not consider sponsoring a family for Christmas or hosting a virtual donation drive?

How You Can You Help

Winter is weeks away. Local shelters need winter coats, hats, gloves/ mittens, sturdy shoes, warm socks and new undergarments. The Interfaith Sanctuary recently signed a lease to create a warming shelter in the former Foothills School and they need volunteers and donated furnishings ( information on Interfaith Sanctuary’s Facebook page).
Photo by CATCH
ADA COUNTY RESOUCES CATCH
Phone: (208) 495-4240 503 S. Americana Blvd ourpathhome@catchprogram.org
CATCH Canyon County: Homeless Connect
1412 4th St. S Nampa, ID 83686 Phone: (208) 461-3733
Interfaith Sancutary
1620 W. River Street Boise, ID 83702 (208) 343-2630 Phone: (208) 343-2630 after 6:00pm
Roots Supports System
1218 W O’Farrell St Boise, ID 83702 (208) 703-5184
Idaho Health and Welfare dept Housing Counselin
(208) 331-4700 Toll Free: 855-505-4700, ext. 8601 Email: housingcounseling@ihfa.org Emergency Rental Assistance Local Phone: 208.331.4700 Toll Free: 855.505.4700 Email: rentalassistance@ihfa.org
Women’s and Children’s Alliance
Boise, ID 83702 (208) 343-7025 The WCA provides a comprehensive and secure 120day residential shelter program and transitional housing, in confidential locations with roundthe-clock staff assistance, private rooms and common living facilities for women and children.
River of Life - Boise Rescue Mission
Boise, ID 83702 (208) 389-9840 Emergency men’s shelter. Provides 3 meals a day, clothing, job search help. Check in: 4pm daily for overnight shelter. Meal times (for men, women and children
Boise Rescue Mission - City Light Home For Women & Children
Boise, ID 83702 (208) 368-9901 Women’s and children’s shelter. Provides 3 meals a day, clothing, job search help, employment reentry program, etc.
Corpus Christi House
Boise, ID 83702 (208) 426-0039 Currently open Monday through Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Meals, showers, laundry, new clothes, rest from the heat and cold
Boise Rescue Mission - Ministry Center
Boise, ID 83702 (208) 343-2389 Meeting the needs of people who are homeless or in need who live in our community and those who pass through on a daily basis.
Salvation Army Housing and Homeless Services
Boise, ID 83703 (208) 343-5429 The “Finally Home” program was established in fall 2012 to help families with children and single individuals obtain permanent housing and become selfsupporting.
CANYON COUNTY RESOURCES Hope’s Door
Caldwell, ID 83605 (208) 459-6330 Hope’s Door is an emergency shelter for victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault. The shelter is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. Hope’s Door is the only domestic violence specific to women and children shelter in Canyon County.
Lighthouse Rescue Mission
Nampa, ID (208) 461-5030 Men’s homeless shelter. Provides 3 meals a day, clothing and job search help. Check in: 4pm daily for overnight shelter.
The Salvation Army Family Shelter
Nampa, ID 83651 (208) 461-3733 The Community Family Shelter (CFS), located in Nampa, provides emergency housing and transitional housing for intact families, women with children and single women. CFS serves families and individuals that are homeless with low or no income.
Valley Women & Children’s Shelter
Nampa, ID 83651 (208) 475-0725 Valley Shelter is the only emergency shelter for women and children in the Nampa and Western Treasure Valley area. If you need help now, we welcome you.

Walk This Way


EXPLORE
TODAY
Located North on Highway 55 a Mile Above Shadow Valley Golf Course Model Homes Open Daily 10 am - 5 pm • 208-939-5360 • www.avimor.com Marketed by Epic Realty LLC • RCE 35084