Catholic Charities Indianapolis and the help it offers families across Marion County, IN
A single number, 317-236-1500, connects you to Catholic Charities Indianapolis, but behind it sits a set of separate programs, each in its own place with its own focus. A family losing its housing, a senior who needs a ride to the doctor, a parent short on food this week, and someone working through the immigration system would each start somewhere different. This page sorts out what the agency offers and where to go for the help you actually need. Everything here is open to people of any faith or background.
If your family is losing its housing: Holy Family Shelter
The agency's largest program is Holy Family Shelter, which has been Indianapolis's emergency shelter for homeless families since 1984. It is built specifically for families rather than single adults, and it uses a housing-first approach, meaning the priority is getting a family into safe shelter and then working on everything else from there. It houses up to about two dozen families a night, and staff serve meals, provide hygiene supplies and laundry, and help arrange transportation.
What sets the shelter apart is the support that comes with the bed. Case managers may help a family find and pay for permanent housing, and residents may take part in job training, GED preparation, financial-literacy planning, counseling, addiction treatment, and parenting and nutrition classes, while children keep up with school and join in activities. The shelter is at 907 N. Holmes Avenue, and you can reach it directly at (317) 635-7830 or for other options see the Marion County homeless shelter page.
If you need food, clothing, or a little emergency help: the Crisis Office
For immediate, everyday needs, the Crisis Office is the place to go. It serves people who cannot cover basic necessities, and on a given visit you may receive food from its pantry, clothing, hygiene items such as soap, toothpaste, and diapers, and limited financial help, along with a connection to longer-term resources. Unlike most of the agency's programs, this one takes no appointments and runs entirely on walk-ins.
The Crisis Office is located in the Xavier Building at 1435 N. Illinois Street. It operates on a first-come, first-served basis and depends on volunteer and donation levels, so its hours are limited and can change; it is worth confirming the current schedule and arriving a little before opening to be sure you are seen and if it is not an option, find other options at the Marion County Indiana food pantry guide.
Holiday help through the Christmas Store
Around the holidays, the Christmas Store helps parents who are struggling provide gifts and clothing for their children. Families usually need to sign up in advance, and because spots and timing are set fresh each year, the best step is to call ahead of the season to ask how and when to apply. Details are handled through the Crisis Office.
Counseling you can afford, including with insurance
Catholic Charities also provides mental-health counseling for adults and children, set up to be reachable for people who often cannot afford therapy. Fees follow a sliding scale based on income, and the program also accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and many private insurance plans, so cost does not have to be the reason someone goes without care. Sessions are available in person, by video, or over the phone.
Counselors may help with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, relationship difficulties, and major life changes, for children and adults alike, and a Spanish-speaking therapist is on the team. In-person visits are offered in Indianapolis, with additional locations in Martinsville and Seymour. To get started, call 317-236-1500 and choose the counseling option, or submit a request form through the agency's website. If you are in crisis or thinking about suicide and need help right away, you can call or text 988 at any time.
Services for seniors and their caregivers
The agency runs a group of programs meant to help older adults stay independent and to support the family members caring for them. Through these programs a senior may get rides to medical appointments, help with medical equipment and essentials, or regular visits and companionship from a trained volunteer. A Caring Place offers adult day services, a supervised daytime program that also gives working or worn-out caregivers a break, and a separate caregiver-support program helps families manage the demands of looking after an aging relative.
Which program fits depends on the situation and on eligibility, so the clearest path is to call the main number and describe what the older adult needs. Staff can point you to the right program. For additional programs, see the guide to help for seniors in Indiana.
Help for immigrants and refugees
For people who are new to the country or working through the immigration system, Catholic Charities offers two connected services. Its refugee resettlement program helps arriving refugees get set up with housing, furniture, and household basics, and its job-readiness services help newcomers prepare for interviews and find work. Separately, its accredited immigration legal team provides legal advice and representation, starting with an intake appointment to determine which immigration benefits a person may qualify for.
Both are reached through the agency's main number, 317-236-1500, and refugee services can also be contacted at [email protected]. Immigration legal help is handled by appointment rather than walk-in.
Pregnancy and adoption support
For anyone facing an unplanned pregnancy or considering adoption, the agency's St. Elizabeth | Coleman program offers counseling and support through those decisions. If this is your situation, staff can walk you through the options available and what each one involves.
Where Catholic Charities fits, and where to start
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis has been serving central Indiana since 1919, and today its work reaches families, seniors, immigrants, and children across Marion County and beyond. It covers so much ground that the fastest way to get help is to match your need to the specific program above rather than starting from scratch.
When you are not sure, the main office at 1400 N. Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, and the number 317-236-1500 can point you to the right place with the main site at https://helpcreatehope.org/. Keep in mind that this page describes one organization; depending on what you need, other Indianapolis area pantries, shelters, and assistance programs (see the Marion County may serve you as well, and staff here can help point you toward them.
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