Assistance programs from Catholic Charities in Allen and St. Joseph County.
People that need help with basic needs can turn to Catholic Charities in the Fort Wayne Indiana and Allen County region. Catholic Charities can help senior citizens, the working poor and immigrants in the area. The agency operates under the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend and serves a large stretch of northeast Indiana. It helps in the Fort Wayne area with everything from financial assistance for bills to health services, job programs and more as listed below, with contact information.
The assistance model in Fort Wayne is built around both short-term emergency help and long-term stabilization. The agency covers several counties around Fort Wayne, including Allen, Whitley, Huntington, Wells, Adams, and Wabash. This broad footprint allows the organization to offer programs that are useful to both city residents and those in underserved rural areas.
Financial help and free employment services in St. Joseph County and nearby areas
One of the central programs in the region is the Resource and Referral service. It operates as an intake and stabilization program for people who need help with past-due bills, food, rent, or temporary emergencies. Unlike some Catholic Charities sites that primarily focus on referrals, the Fort Wayne office provides hands-on casework and direct financial help when funding is available.
- Community services and financial assistance is offered. This can include money for housing, food, transportation and other needs. An interview process and assessment will be undertaken. The financial support is very limited and not easy to be received. If the charity or church can't help you then they will try to provide referrals to other local resources or government programs.
- Catholic Charity free food pantries in South Bend, Fort Wayne and Auburn Indiana rely on donations from the community. Some of what may be offered from a Fort Wayne IN food pantry includes groceries such as canned goods and boxed non-perishables. Qualified clients may get frozen items or fresh foods such as meat and vegetables, too. A pantry may have household goods such as paper towels, toilet paper, feminine-hygiene products, soap, shampoo, and household cleaners.
Seasonal programs include winter coat distributions and a large back-to-school supply initiative each summer, with other charities giving free school supplies. These programs are more extensive than what many Catholic Charities offices in other states can provide, largely because of Fort Wayne’s strong donor network and partnerships with local parishes and businesses.
The Fort Wayne location stands out for its emphasis on relational casework. Applicants meet individually with caseworkers who assess needs, explain budgeting steps, and help plan next moves rather than simply issuing a one-time payment. This approach is designed to help families avoid repeated crisis cycles and connect with long-term support, such as job training, mental-health counseling, or immigrant services. The office also employs multilingual staff and supports numerous cultural communities, which is significant because the city has one of the largest refugee populations in the Midwest.
- Job training and placement is a key services and is also offered for immigrants and refugees. Catholic Charities can also support the underemployed or jobless. They work with the state to offer services to newcomers and refugees that are new to the country.
- Case managers and Catholic Charities also offer job readiness assessment, assistance with the interview process and resume writing. There are also recruitment services, training and referrals to local employers in Allen or St. Joseph County and other agencies. Learn more on Indiana free government job training programs.
Free or low cost health care and related services
A fairly unique program known as Hispanic Health Advocate is for non-English speakers. A highly trained caseworker will accompany the client to their doctor's appointment and ensure that they get the medical care they need.
Saint Joseph County Catholic Charity medical professionals also can advocate for others in the community. They can review medical bills. Or help people find affordable insurance. Or help arrange for hospital care or transportation in the Fort Wayne region. Learn more on free services from medical billing advocates.
The Fort Wayne Catholic Charity location also provides counseling and mental-health services, which is not something every Catholic Charities office offers. These programs include traditional counseling, trauma-informed care for refugee families, and support groups for people dealing with loss, stress, or family challenges. The counseling staff can also help connect clients with local clinics, psychiatrists, or state health programs.
Catholic Charity programs for immigrants or the elderly and retirees
The Fort Wayne office also offers specialized programs not commonly found in other Catholic Charities regions. There is an extensive set of immigration and refugee services, including legal assistance, documentation help, and cultural adjustment support. The United States Board of Immigration Appeals is a partner on this.
- The city has long been a major resettlement area, and the agency operates one of the most active refugee programs in the Midwest. This includes health navigation help for refugees, translation assistance, and support for newly arrived families adjusting to local schools, workplaces, and agencies.
- Citizenship classes are also available in the region, including St. Joseph County Indiana. Case managers from the organizations try to help all newcomers to the country, whether they are immigrants or refugees.
The SCSEP senior job program is another service offered by Catholic Charities. It offers the elderly and older adults the opportunity to find meaningful work so that they can keep learning and growing. Among other assistance offered includes subsidized employment for low-income seniors (age 55 and over). The agency will help them find jobs and also work on site with them. The employment will be at governmental entities or local nonprofit organizations.
- Participants, most who are seniors, are able to gain valuable work experience and also have the opportunity to learn new job and employment skills. The program operates in most counties, including Whitley, Adams, Allen, Huntington, DeKalb, Elkhart, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Marshall, Steuben, Noble, St. Joseph, Wabash, and Wells counties Indiana.
Locations and contact for Catholic Charities in Saint Joseph County
While there are multiple churches and Catholic Charity centers, the primary locations are as follows. The staff as well as volunteers may offer referrals as well.
- 915 S Clinton St, Fort Wayne, IN 46802, call (260) 422-5625
- 1817 Miami Street, South Bend, Indiana 46613, dial (574) 234-3111
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