Program areas at Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston Houston
Services that strengthen families helps individuals and families who are currently struggling to access adequate food, clothing, and long-term housing. the family assistance program provides those who are impoverished with the basic necessities of food, shelter, clothing, medication, and transportation. the disaster recovery program provides financial support and case management to all those in need in the wake of disasters. Counseling and behavioral health clinic provides mental health services to low income families and individuals both in a clinical setting and in inner city Catholic schools. Catholic Charities stable homes program provides housing services, including rental assistance to prevent homelessness. In 2021, the agency served as co-administrator of the houston-harris county emergency rental assistance program.
Nurturing and caring for children includes the blessed beginnings program, which assists young parents during pregnancy and their children up to age five with medical referrals, education, counseling services, parenting and life skills coaching. Through the st. jerome emiliani foster care program, the agency provides a nurturing home environment for unaccompanied refugee children and youth in the homes of foster families where they are provided with education, medical care, life skills, english classes, and legal assistance. In addition, the agency works with the u.s. office of refugee resettlement to reunite children who are detained after entering the country lacking proper documentation with relatives while they are in a loving, stable environment at st. michael's home for children.
Immigration and refugee services provides help through the refugee resettlement program to government-approved refugees in becoming self-sufficient by providing education, housing, food, financial assistance, cultural orientation, job development, and family reunification services. the agency also provides a range of legal services, including education, assessment, counseling, representation and advocacy for immigrants, refugees, and victims of human trafficking and other violent crimes. St. frances cabrini center for immigration legal assistance is dedicated to providing high quality, low-cost and pro bono legal services to immigrants and refugees who would otherwise not be able to obtain legal representation.
Disaster relief and response: disaster recovery provides support to all those in need with a priority focus on low-income populations, including seniors and those living at or below the poverty line in the wake of disasters such as hurricane harvey,floods, other hurricanes and the covid 19 pandemic. the agency provides a variety of disaster recovery services including: -distribution of donated goods such as household items, cleaning items, grocery and gas cards, diapers, etc.-intakes and needs assessments for disaster victims-basic needs services such as foods distribution, temporary and emergency shelter assistance, rental assistance, and medication assistance-home repair assistance-relocation and furniture/household goods replacements-short-term and long-term case management, including assistance with registering for and receiving federal disaster assistance and other assistance programs-mental health services for victims of disaster
Services provided to seniors, women veterans and others include the women veterans program, which provides financial assistance, employment readiness skills, and support groups to help women veterans who need stability and support to rebuild their lives after facing the challenges of homelessness, domestic violence, and other life-changing events. Seniors are helped through houston-based case management and the mamie george community center, which offers nutritious weekday meals, financial assistance and socialization opportunities to low income seniors.