Community Catalysts

06/17/2026

The hard truth: many, many people living and working in Livingston County cannot afford housing.

Together, we CAN solve this problem...but only if we have the courage to SEE and ENGAGE with the problem.

Today, Community Catalysts' CEO Eileen Moeller Zilch shares a little about her recent experience volunteering with St Josephs Food Bank, and how she was granted an unexpected opportunity to be love to a local stranger.

If you're feeling the pull to partner with us in our mission to create and sustain attainable housing for EVERYONE in Livingston County, click the links below.

Change starts with us.

➡️ VOLUNTEER: https://www.community-catalysts.org/contact

➡️ DONATE: https://www.community-catalysts.org/donate

06/15/2026

What does it take to truly understand a community's needs? Well, sometimes, it starts with a glass of wine, a few good appetizers, and an honest conversation!

This spring, Community Catalysts took a more intentional step toward connection by hosting a series of four small-group gatherings right here at our Grand River Avenue office.

Here's a little more about that... ⤵

What does it take to truly understand a community's needs? Well, sometimes, it starts with a glass of wine, a few good appetizers, and an honest conversation!This spring, Community Catalysts took a more intentional step toward connection by hosting a series of four small-group gatherings right here....

06/12/2026

PROUD!!!!!

We are extremely thankful to the Herrick Foundation for investing in capacity building for three Livingston County nonprofit organizations.
Carrie Newstead, Executive Director of Livingston County United Way; Eileen Zilch, CEO of Community Catalysts; and Austin Dunlop, Senior Manager of Fund Development at LACASA were awarded scholarships to attend the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and each of them just successfully completed four courses to obtain certificates in Fundraising Management.

06/10/2026

One of our two Housing Mamas, Eileen Moeller Zilch, spent Saturday morning volunteering alongside The Ivy Table at St Josephs Food Bank—and it got us thinking.

Approximately 1 in 9 people in Livingston County experience food insecurity, with nearly 60% of affected residents not qualifying for government food assistance.

Our community has effectively solved the problem of food insecurity, thanks to mobile food pantries, pay-what-you-can restaurant models (Ivy Table!), and years of diligent work addressing the practical needs of our neighbors.

Which makes us think: can we solve the problem of housing insecurity, too? 🏡

We KNOW eliminating housing insecurity isn't a pipe dream. It's a very real possibility, and something we're committed to seeing become real...but we need YOUR HELP to make it happen!

Won't you join us in creating a Livingston County where everyone has a safe, affordable place to call home?

✅ VOLUNTEER: https://www.community-catalysts.org/contact

✅ DONATE: https://www.community-catalysts.org/donate

06/04/2026

Last night, our Grand River office was vandalized, along with several other nearby businesses.

Firstly: all Community Catalysts team members are safe, and the building is being cleaned up as we speak!

What could have been a scary, frustrating situation quickly turned into a blessing and reason for gratitude: within hours of us reaching out for help, local business Kosin's Glass had people on the scene, helping us clean up broken glass, debris, and securing our shattered front door.

THANK YOU, Kosin’s, for being a good neighbor and helping us turn someone’s sad choices into an opportunity for thankfulness and community support! 🙌🏽

We hope to have our office restored soon—but in the meantime, if you’re looking for a company to help with some glass repair, we know a guy. 😉

06/03/2026

We have some EXCITING NEWS coming soon...can you guess what it could be?! 👀

(Hint: there's a BIG clue in this video...)

05/27/2026

Today's video is a giant THANK YOU. 👏🏽

Thank you to Howell Area Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Council of Livingston County for funding a recently completed housing analysis, and another 'thank-you' to Livingston County Catholic Charities for funding an additional study, which will be completed by the end of 2026.

Learn more about our mission to create housing people can afford & get involved: https://www.community-catalysts.org/

05/25/2026

Remembering those who gave it all so that we could live free. 🇺🇸

05/22/2026

One more day of celebrating three years of Bethel Suites! 👏🏽🏡

In addition to housing people who have become homeless, the team at Bethel Suites feeds them and connects them to key community resources.

Over the years, Bethel's food program has grown from a small freezer of meals to fresh, nutritious meals delivered multiple times a week, an onsite food pantry, a personal care pantry, and donated cooking appliances that guests can take with them when they leave! 🥙 🍕 🥬 🍔 🔌

Our incredible community partners (you know who you are!) have joined with us to make feeding our guests a top priority, allowing individuals and families to experience comfort and nourishment year-round.

We also have onsite community resources to assist guests with finding a job, getting weekly counseling, finding healthcare and child care that they can afford, developing a budget, and finding and moving into housing that they can afford. 📈🧑🏽‍🔧

As we close out this week of celebration, we invite you to join us in loving and serving our neighbors—whether that's in the form of a volunteer day, a monetary donation, a business partnership, or something else.

Learn more about Community Catalysts and Bethel Suites at the links below:

🟢 VOLUNTEER: https://www.community-catalysts.org/contact
🟢 DONATE: https://www.community-catalysts.org/donate

05/21/2026

We're continuing to celebrate three years of our flagship transitional housing project, Bethel Suites, with good news and stories of hope! 🎉

Did you know our Bethel Suites guests stay with us for an average of 9 months, as they work to stabilize their lives from the trauma that caused them to become homeless?

And here's something truly incredible:

We have been able to help about 70% of the people who stay with us move into PERMANENT housing that they can afford. That compares to the national average of a 10% success rate! TEN!