What Does Catholic Charities Help With?

We mention Catholic Charities in a lot of our articles so we wanted to take a moment to answer the common question, “What does Catholic Charities help with?” We are often asked if they will help with certain needs, like housing, rent, or utilities, so you’re definitely not alone if you’ve ever wondered about this!

Catholic Charities is a nationwide network of non-profit organizations committed to providing service to people in need, advocating for justice, and calling on others to do the same. They offer a variety of services to those in need, regardless of their religious affiliation.

What is Catholic Charities?

Catholic Charities is one of the largest social service networks in the United States, dedicated to providing help and creating hope for people who are poor and vulnerable. The organization encompasses more than 160 local agencies across the nation, each offering unique services tailored to the needs of their communities.

It’s important to note that you don’t have to be Catholic to receive assistance from them. The organization serves anyone in need, regardless of their religious, social, or economic backgrounds.

What does Catholic Charities help with?

While the mission of Catholic Charities remains consistent across the country, the specific services offered can vary from one local agency to another. This is because each agency tailors its programs to meet the unique needs of its community.

For example, an agency in a region with a high immigrant population might offer more extensive immigration services. In contrast, another agency in an area with a high rate of homelessness might focus more on housing assistance and related programs.

This flexibility allows Catholic Charities to respond effectively to the diverse needs across different communities. If you’re seeking help, it’s best to reach out to your local agency to understand what specific services they provide.

Some of the services offered by this organization include (but are not limited to):

• Children services (free Christmas gifts, free school supplies, free diapers, etc.)
• Clothing (free clothing, laundry vouchers, etc.)
• Criminal justice ministries
• Disaster relief
• Education services
• Employment services
• Financial services (like the Kansas Loan Pool Project)
• Food (food banks, hot meals, etc.)
• Home repair grants
• Housing (low income housing units, emergency shelters, transitional housing, etc)
• Housing costs (help with rent, security deposits, etc)
• Job placement
• Legal aid services
• Medical services
• Pregnancy support services (free pregnancy tests, counseling, free clothing and supplies, etc)
• Refugee and immigration services (legal assistance, language training, resettlement assistance, etc)
• Senior services
• Transportation (car repair, gas vouchers or bus passes)
• Utilities

Unfortunately, the answer to “does Catholic Charities help with housing?” or “does Catholic Charities help with utility bills?” is going to depend on your location because their services vary across the country. What is available in one area may not be available in another.

That being said, we’re doing our best to help you sort that out in our resource lists. We have over 100 resource lists that mention this organization already because this organization has been so incredible helpful to people nationwide.

In fact, when our founder Nicole was at risk of homelessness in 2007, Catholic Charities pledged around $300 toward her move-in costs. This organization was fundamental in helping her family stay safe and off the streets during their financial crisis.

Who is Eligible for Assistance?

Catholic Charities provides assistance to anyone in need. Their services are not limited to Catholics; they serve people of all faiths and those with no religious affiliation. They primarily assist individuals and families who are struggling with poverty and related issues.

They also provide specialized services for groups like veterans, immigrants, refugees, and the elderly. These services are customized to meet the unique needs of the people they serve.

Some of their programs are means-tested, which means that you may have to meet income limits or other criteria in order to apply. However, these criteria vary depending on what type of help you need and where you live so we cannot outline all of them in this article.

How to Get Help from Catholic Charities

If you’re in need, reaching out to your local agency is a good first step.

There are 167 different locations across the United States. You have to contact your local branch in order to receive assistance. Find the location nearest you using the Find Help tool on the CCUSA website.

Please note that the Catholic Charities USA office in Alexandria, Virginia does not provide any services directly to people in need. This national headquarters only exists to support the local offices. If you want to receive help, you must contact the office in your area.

Summary

So, what does Catholic Charities do? In short, they offer help to those in need, hope to those in despair, and advocacy for the voiceless. They provide a broad range of services designed to support individuals and families in need, and they do so with compassion, respect, and love. Their work touches millions of lives each year, offering support when it is most needed. And remember, you do not have to be Catholic to receive help – all are welcome. If you need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to your local agency. They are there to help.

Low Income Relief Team

This article is the product of a team effort! Multiple authors from the Low Income Relief team have contributed to this post. We have also used AI tools to organize data and refine the writing in accordance with our Responsible AI Use Policy. All articles on our website are reviewed by our founder and resident poverty expert, Nicole Thelin, prior to publication.