Written by Mindy Wilson
Published
Five years ago, my son Valor and I faced a reality I wouldn’t wish on anyone: homelessness. After escaping an unsafe marriage, we found ourselves with nowhere to go. I packed a suitcase, put the rest of our belongings in storage, and boarded a bus to Boise, the city I had once called home. But when we arrived, even the modest support I had counted on fell through.
We spent our first night in Boise sleeping in a park, our only shelter a tent, and my only comfort a taser I kept in my pocket to feel somewhat safe. Every day felt like a marathon — working day labor jobs to scrape together enough for a hotel, or simply survive. All I wanted was stability, a place where my son could feel safe and where I could begin to breathe again.
That place came through CATCH, a nonprofit that works to end homelessness for families in the Treasure Valley. When my case manager, Jesse, met me in the park to explain how the program worked, I was skeptical. It sounded too good to be true. But I had no other options, so I decided to trust the process.
Jesse and I met frequently to tackle the barriers keeping us from housing. Together, we filled out rental applications, strategized solutions and met with landlords. Those months were some of the hardest of my life, but I’ll never forget the day I got the call that an apartment was available. I drove to the neighborhood just to say to myself, “This is going to be my street.”
Crossing the threshold of that apartment with my son was a life-changing moment. We finally had a place to call home. At first, I struggled to believe it was real. Could I truly deserve this stability after everything we’d been through? But with Jesse’s encouragement and the support of CATCH, I pushed forward, determined to build the life my son deserved.
Today, five years later, our life has truly taken flight. With the foundation of a stable home, I was able to pursue meaningful work as a personal trainer and coach, two longtime dreams of mine. Recently, I began working at the Boise Airport, a job I’ve wanted for years, and it feels like my career is soaring alongside our lives.
My son Valor is thriving too. He’s preparing to enter high school and dreams of becoming a pilot someday. Seeing his fascination with aviation inspires me every day. Having a stable home gave him the security to explore his passions and imagine a future full of possibilities.
Although the holidays are especially difficult for families experiencing homelessness, they are also a season of giving and transformation. Right now, CATCH is participating in the Avenues for Hope, a statewide giving campaign for housing nonprofits in Idaho, with the goal of co-authoring 22 new beginnings for families like mine.
When you give to CATCH, you’re not just helping families secure a roof over their heads — you’re giving children like Valor the chance to dream and parents like me the chance to rebuild. You’re creating a future where families can plant roots, grow, and thrive.
As I reflect on how far we’ve come, I’m typing this from the apartment CATCH helped me secure five years ago, I can’t help but feel overwhelming gratitude. Thanks to CATCH and the generosity of this community, my son and I have a home, a community, and hope for the future. Together, we’ve shown that even the hardest chapters can have a happy ending.