Something about the holidays inspires a magical feeling of curiosity and wonder. Our hearts are awakened, our eyes shine a little brighter, and kids smile a little longer. We find solace in the details of decorating, sipping hot chocolate after a long day, and cozying up in the comfort of a warm home on a cold winter night. We are blanketed in the spirit of hope; for a fleeting moment, everything feels right in the world.
But for over 2,000 people in Idaho, the dream of a warm home is just a dream, and those cherished moments are buried beneath the overwhelming task of trying to stay warm for the night. Over 500 children in the valley won’t experience the full excitement of decorating their own tree or the countdown to Christmas. Over two million children across the country do not have a place to call home.
Together We Give Foundation & CATCH of Idaho
At the Mike Brown Group, we realize we are blessed. We are blessed not to worry about warmth and shelter, clothing, or food. We are blessed to send our kids off to school without worrying about where their next meal will come from or where they will sleep at night.
And we knew we needed to do something. We knew we needed to do more. We knew we needed to humanize the homeless, to see their children as our children, and their basic human right to warmth, safety, and shelter as our purpose. Thus, the Together We Give Foundation and CATCH partnership was created.
Together We Give is a nonprofit charitable foundation funded by the Mike Brown Group with Silvercreek Realty Group and their clients through a combined portion of every closed transaction. The Mike Brown Group absorbs all of the admin costs of the foundation, allowing 100% of the funds raised to be granted to charity.
CATCH of Idaho is a nonprofit that aims to connect people with housing. They are a people-first organization. They are stewards of relationships and resources working towards creating a safe, healthy, connected community. By embracing Housing First practices, their goal is to develop a public understanding of homelessness, hoping to make it rare, brief, and non-recurring.
Together We Can Make a Difference
On Friday, December 2, 2022, the team of the Mike Brown Group, the Together We Give board members, and the CATCH staff came together to celebrate another year of working hard to resolve homelessness in Idaho.
This is the second year Mike Brown, owner and team leader of the Mike Brown Group and co-founder of Together We Give, had the honor of presenting a check to CATCH. Through the continued support of the clients and team of the Mike Brown Group, this year’s donation was in the amount of $60,000.
With a room filled with tearful eyes and hopeful hearts, everyone listened as Mike Brown shared his testimony of knowing someone who graduated from the CATCH program. Speaking on behalf of Together We Give, he said, “We hope to be a voice for the voiceless, to give a face to the unseen, and to humanize the homeless. Over 1400 heartbeats on a map without a place to call home.”
“Our why is clear– people are the reason we work late at night. People are the reason we show up every single day. People are our purpose. People are the reason we are here today.”
Together We Give has donated $160,000 to CATCH in the two years since both organizations have partnered. In 2021, a $7,500 donation ended homelessness for a single household. In 2022, in Ada and Canyon counties, a donation of $11,000 will end homelessness for one family. CATCH works with any safe rental that utilizes a 12-month lease and falls at or below HUD’s fair market rent rates. So far, Together We Give has ended homelessness for 19 families.
Expressing her heartfelt gratitude, Stephanie Day, Executive Director of CATCH, said, “From the moment we met, I knew this was a real genuine connection. The value on human life that we share as organizations, I think, is somewhat unique; your entire team embodies that. I just want to say thank you because this is amazing, and this donation will make a huge difference in the lives of the most vulnerable people in our community.”
Working Toward a Better Future
Ending homelessness for every Idahoan will not be easy, but our commitment to stepping toward humanity is unwavering.
With inspired hearts and encouraged spirits, Mike Brown ended his speech in earnest truth regarding the $60,000 donation; he said, “While that seems significant, I wish it was more.”
“This is why we knew we needed to work alongside CATCH. Their steadfast spirit aligns with our willingness to keep showing up. Together we will go the second mile. Little by little, we will make a difference. We will not rest our heads at night until we do what we can to ensure every Idahoan has a place to rest theirs.”
We hope the spirit of giving is contagious. As you consider your end of year giving and organizations you can serve here in the Treasure Valley, please consider joining us in the marathon to resolve homelessness by donating to CATCH.
