“The programs at this agency, they change people’s lives, and for some people, it saves their lives. We are the voice for the people who don’t have one,” states Donna Brundage, grants development specialist and community outreach advocate at St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho.
What began as a simple clothing closet at St. Thomas Parish in Coeur d’Alene back in 1946 has grown to be a remarkable nonprofit organization offering 23 essential services to those in most need within our local community and throughout Kootenai County. Approximately 20,000 people come through St. Vincent’s doors each year.
Donna is in charge of grant writing and being a conduit of St. Vincent’s, attending Zoom calls, board meetings and public meetings, as well as other opportunities to share the vital work she and her team do to help those less fortunate in our community. Prior to taking on this position, she ran Trinity Group Homes, which is one of St. Vincent’s programs for residents with severe mental health issues.
Whether it be due to mental health (one in four families have someone who is impacted by mental health issues; one in five individuals suffers from mental illness), a traumatic brain injury, divorce or domestic violence, Donna reminds that you can’t just label a person as homeless. “Anyone can end up homeless, and that has been happening, because families are getting priced out of their homes, and their apartments, and they are staying in their minivans in parking lots right now, because they came home to a letter one day that their rent is going to increase by $1,000, or the owner is going to sell, and they can’t afford to buy it,” she explains.
Today, 31 percent of Kootenai County, which has a population of 71,000 residents, are part of the ALICE (Asset Limited Income Constraint Employment) population, according to recent data. “This means that individuals and families are unable to save enough for first, last and deposit for a home or apartment, and for the affordable housing, there is a three- to five-year waiting list. How do you help people like this who are just so lost?” Donna asks.
One of the most significant challenges St. Vincent de Paul faces is the lack of affordable housing in the area. While the organization provides grants to cover deposits and up to six months of rent, there simply aren’t enough homes available. St. Vincent de Paul operates two emergency shelters, one for women and children and another for men, but they can only accommodate a total of 30 people. The need far outweighs the resources. Despite this, the organization continues to push forward, helping individuals transition from homelessness to more permanent housing when possible.
In addition to the lack of housing, public perception remains a significant hurdle. Donna stresses the importance of changing how the community views homelessness. Too often, people assume that offering help enables dependency, but Donna explains that many of the people St. Vincent de Paul serves have faced immense trauma and simply need the right support. “It’s like when you teach a man to fish,” she says. “Well, what if they don’t have a pole? What if they don’t have a bike to get to the pond? What if they don’t have the ability to ever learn how to fish? And those are the people that we see.” Changing these perceptions is an ongoing battle, but the nonprofit remains committed to educating the community about the realities of homelessness. They’re not homeless because they choose to be.”
Donna’s goal is to educate the community through discussions and presentations.
St. Vincent de Paul has many partnerships within the community. They receive funding through state grants and through Idaho Housing and Finance (Emergency Solutions Grant and COC Grant). They help pay for the shelters, as does money from St. Vincent de Paul’s thrift stores, donations, and proceeds from fundraisers. “In terms of working with affinity partners, we work very closely with Heritage Health, who provides a lot of our mental health services and medical care at the clinic,” Donna notes. “We work with Panhandle Health, where I’m on the Behavioral Health Board. We work with the Kroc Center, Safe Passage, and 211, but we work very closely with many other nonprofits who have the same focus.”
Each month, they hold a Homeless Coalition Meeting, where all of the different agencies of the five northern counties come together and talk about the issues, share resources and give ideas.
Donna encourages those who are able to do so to donate and shop at their thrift stores, as a majority of their service programs are funded through these thrift stores. They also have a Basic Needs Closet for socks, gloves, scarves, beanies and small blankets. Hygiene gear is also in high demand. They are truly grateful for Mountain Madness, who donates their wonderful homemade soap every month, but they are always in need of shampoo, razors, deodorant, toothbrushes and toothpaste, and items of that nature. These can be dropped off at the Help Center between 8am and 4pm Monday through Friday. St. Vinny’s also has a small food pantry, so they can always use canned goods (that don’t require a can opener) and other foods that don’t need to be cooked. Cleaning supplies are also appreciated for those on fixed budgets (like Social Security) and for low-income households.
On September 5, they held their third annual Housing Resource Fair at McEuen Park’s outdoor Pavilion. Since the inaugural event, it continues to be a success, growing every year and providing different components. This year, Heritage Health was on-site with their bus, along with approximately 15 other vendors. And as Donna shares, “You could feel the positive energy” amongst the vendors and the attendees as they forged connections with one another.
St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho relies heavily on community support to fund its many programs. Thrift store sales, grants and donations play a vital role, but fundraising events are equally important. One of the most anticipated events is the annual Souport the End of Homelessness, held each fall at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds.
This heartwarming event brings together 30 local restaurants, businesses and individuals who compete to create the best soups, offering attendees the opportunity to taste a wide variety of delicious recipes. The friendly competition includes trophies for the best professional and amateur soups, as well as a People’s Choice Award and Best Decorated Table. For just $20, attendees can enjoy the soups while knowing their contribution is helping to fund St. Vincent de Paul’s critical services. Tickets can be purchased online at StVincentdePaulNorthIdaho.org.
“The most rewarding thing about working at St. Vincent’s is that you know that you are making a real difference. When you’re helping someone get from homelessness — some of them even going through the shelters, going through one of our supportive housing programs — and then saving up enough money for a deposit to get their own apartment, even their own house,” reflects Donna. “The residents at Trinity, seeing them stop isolating, coming out of their shell, going to the life skills classes, going to events in the community, gaining self-confidence that they’re more than just their diagnosis.”
To find out more about St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho, its services, and to donate, visit StVincentdePaulNorthIdaho.org.
