El Paso County Texas Catholic Charities assistance programs.
The main programs from Catholic Charities are for addressing basic needs. The most commonly used resource is a free food pantry, which will help address the increasing number of families that struggle to feed their family. However, in some limited cases there may be emergency financial aid available as well as seasonal programs such as help for Christmas. Catholic Charities also assists refugees, immigrants (documented or not) and asylum seekers with legal, basic needs, and settling.
Staff from the Catholic Charities based churches both raise money from the community, their thrift operations and apply for funding from government resources such as Emergency Food and Shelter. This money is used to provide emergency financial assistance to qualified low income families.
Applying for financial help from El Paso County Catholic Charities
Applicants must be experiencing difficulty and/or emergency. In addition, they need to be able to move towards stability once any help from El Paso County Catholic Charities is given. Most of the financial aid is for residents that have some source of income, whether from a job, pension, or benefit such as SSI. The primary uses of the funds are as follows.
- Rental assistance -This grant will only help for no more than one month. The regulations require a recent emergency need to have caused the family a financial hardship.
- -Energy bill assistance – This will assist with everything from heating to water bills if the household is faced with a shut off.
- -Vouchers for medications may be issued by Catholic Charities as well.
- -A portion of a security deposit or first months rent payment can be made, though this is rare.
Financial aid will not pay for costs such as internet, telephone, cable bill or trash, as these are wants and not needs. When applying for emergency financial help, documentation of this crisis situation will be required to be considered for assistance. Not only will a grant or loan be issued, but the participant will also be assisted with developing a budget as well as a future financial plan of action to resume payments themselves. In addition, any money is given directly to the landlord, utility or electric company or medical provider.
El Paso TX Catholic Charities food, holiday help, and thrift store
The Free Food Pantry from Catholic Charities El Paso Texas is a busy site. While they try to raise enough from the community to accommodate everyone in need, this is not always possible. The food bank is a client choice location, and it can pass out fresh fruits or vegetables, baby formula, canned and boxed food and more. This is for families in need. There are other state and local places that battle hunger too. Find free food and meals in Texas.
Christmas is a time that many low to even moderate income families struggle. However, it is also a time for caring. Families from El Paso County Texas and really all areas are faced with increasing expenses. They often need help in buying toys for the holidays or serving a meal to their family. Seniors often need a visitor or are lonely.
The Catholic Charities Christmas program provides free holiday food assistance to low-income families, immigrants, Spanish speakers and people living in poverty. They also support children. Anyone served throughout the agency may drop in, or there are many others that are referred from diocesan parishes and schools in the El Paso Texas area. Based on need, each applicant to the holiday program will often be given a free holiday meal box, clothing, or free toys. The items passed out are customized for the size and need of the family.
A Thrift Store in El Paso Texas will have a wide variety of gently used or new items for clients. Many people that meet low income guidelines are given their items for free, but more moderate income families need to buy clothing or furniture. For example, the store may pass out free furniture, clothing, hygiene items and more to those who are most critical. Much of the money raised by the state is recycled back into the assistance programs above.
The store helps hundreds of locals obtain the furniture, clothing, holiday toys, and goods they need, including immigrants who are settling to the region. What is for sale at the Catholic Charities site will change throughout the year. It is driven mostly by donations from the community. There may be cribs, clothing, beds, school supplies, shoes for children and more. Not only that, but there are staff on site that refer people to programs for financial assistance.
El Paso Catholic Charities housing, shelters, and homeless resources
Anyone that is struggling with their rent, immigrants or migrant workers from Mexico, and others that are homeless, can apply to transitional housing or homeless shelters. This Catholic Charities service gives support to people who were recently evicted or that have some other barrier, such as maybe a disability or they are a senior on a fixed income.
Many of the Catholic Charity clients to these temporary housing resources are people who have been in and out of the local shelters numerous times. Others are facing a one time crisis, such as a job loss. The El Paso TX Catholic Charities will try to help clients become stabilized. Then, once that has been done, the next step is to locate new permanent apartments in the community and learn to access and use other local relevant providers.
Case Management and help for immigrants, migrants and asylum seekers
Catholic Charities, both in El Paso County Texas as well as nationwide, assists those people, no matter their race, religion, or backgrounds, that have moved to the El Paso area. There is support for refugees, immigrants, Spanish speakers, and others from out of state or the country, including from across the border. The non-profit can help people find, and pay for, county Identification Cards. This can be a driver's license, birth certificate, or social security card among others.
Immigrants, migrants and asylum seekers can get assistance. There is free or low cost legal aid. Get help with acclimating to the region, such as ESL Classes or assistance in locating basic needs, including food or housing as well as hygiene items. Catholic Charities will help migrants / immigrants with trying to get Green Cards, the naturalization process, and navigating the complex process on citizenship.
Financial aid can be used for El Paso County Identification cards. These are critical for newcomers. As proper ID is essential for obtaining any type of government benefit or employment. As far as the legal support, this is generally low cost. Read more on resources for immigrants.
Applying for Catholic Charity church help in El Paso Texas
All of the above services are combined with Case Management. This will help individuals and families identify root problems that led them to their crisis. It will then address their daily needs and staff also provide referrals to community resources. The end result is goals that will need to be adhered too. For more information, call (915) 872-8412. The main church is at 499 St. Matthews Street, El Paso, TX 79907.
|
