Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Allentown

the below services impacted 13,037 persons.erapcatholic Charities' emergency rental assistance program (erap) provided individuals and families with rent assistance through the emergency rent assistance program (erap). the program has staff designated to assist households who were directly or indirectly impacted by covid 19. the program was implemented to assist with back rent and an additional three months of future rent to keep households in their housing. the program works to ensure that all clients receive an application that assesses the need for the program and if they meet program guidelines. This program served households in carbon county. Ppl ontrackppl's ontrack program provides low-income households with reduced payment amounts and debt forgiveness. the program was first piloted by ppl in 1993 in response to a public utility commission (puc) policy statement that developed guidelines for customer assistance programs. the primary features of ontrack include:1. A reduced fixed payment amount based on ability to pay2. Arrearage forgiveness over a specified period of time (18 months)3. Protection against shutoff of electric service4. Referrals to other programs and servicesthe benefits of ontrack participation are as follows:- a reduced electric payment, based on the household's ability to pay.- waived late payment charges.- arrearage forgiveness, over a period of 18 months.- protection from termination procedures.- referrals to other community programs and services.counselingprofessional counselors offer help in areas such as depression, anxiety, marriage and family issues. Insurances are accepted for services and we also offer a sliding fee scale based on household net income.immigrationcatholic Charities has been designated by the department of justice (formerly the board of immigration appeals) since 1989 to provide accredited legal services by trained practitioners. We provide efficient and low-cost immigration services.catholic Charities' provides: consultations, family petitions, adjustment of status and consular processing, travel documents, replacement and renewal of lost/stolen and expired alien registration and employment authorization cards, deferred action for childhood arrivals, employment authorization, temporary protected status, non-immigrant visas ("k", "t", "u and "v"), and representation at uscis interviewsombudsman programthe ombudsman program is designed to support and empower consumers by resolving individual complaints involving long-term care service, while working to improve and enhance the long-term care living system for the residents and their families.long-term care ombudsman make themselves available to take a message of concern forward and help to resolve it on behalf of care-dependent elderly. Ombudsmen are client driven and client directed. As the consumer's advocate, they act on the wishes of the client.adoption search servicesreasonable fees are charged for search services. Services provided to those who were adopted through Catholic Charities, Diocese of Allentown and include:- non-identifying information summary for adoptees within the limits of the Pennsylvania law- a search to locate birth parents or an adult adoptee- reunion services to reunite birth parents and adult adoptee- counseling to birth parents and adoptees as neededcase managementcase managers advocate on behalf of those in need and connect them to community resources, all while helping individuals and families overcome difficult circumstances. Some of the services provided include:- assistance to older adults that promotes their safety and independence- disaster relief assistance if funds are available- pregnancy and parenting support, including free pregnancy tests and baby supplies- housing/utility assistance if funds are available and program guides met- emergency food as available- veteran services funded in conjunction with the united way of berks county

Soup kitchens:both soup kitchens have been modified since covid. Both have had to change their days being open due to both kitchens having a reduced number of volunteers. However, over the past months, each has reported an increase in the number of those served due to the rising cost of groceries and food all from the increase of inflation. Also, since covid, both kitchens offer meals as take-out or as sit down. Many attendees take meals to-go for grandchildren since the grandparent is now the caretaker. This is the result or generally due to addiction being experienced by the adult children. Interestingly, those experiencing homeless tend to sit and eat their meal at the Allentown kitchen, while those without a home in pottsville tend to take their meal as take-out.the pottsville area kitchen (pak) has reduced its weekly schedule from five days a week to four days a week. the number of meals served was 13,762.the ecumenical soup kitchen, located in Allentown, has reduced its number of days from four days to three days a week. the number of meals served was 25,758.