Types of help provided from Catholic Charities of Southern Colorado
What many people don't realize is how far the Catholic Charities of Southern Colorado reach extends. This is not just a Pueblo city agency. The Diocese of Pueblo covers the entire southern half of Colorado, and the charity also known CCSoCo currently operates programs, as listed below, across 29 counties — from Durango and Cortez in the west to La Junta and Lamar in the east, from Gunnison and Delta in the north to Trinidad and Alamosa in the south Mmany of the communities CCSoCo serves have few other resources. If you live somewhere that feels too rural to have real services, this is worth a call.
The main office is at 429 W. 10th Street, Pueblo, CO 81003. The main phone is 719-544-4233 and website is https://www.ccsoco.org/. All assistance is by appointment — call before coming in.
Emergency assistance: energy, water, and rent
CCSoCo's Home Stability program is the entry point for emergency financial help. All assistance is by appointment only. Call 719-544-4233 to find out what funding is currently available before coming in.
Energy bill help is provided through a partnership with Energy Outreach Colorado (EOC). To qualify, your gross monthly household income must be at or below 80% of the area median income. Eligible energy sources include electricity, natural gas, coal, firewood, kerosene, propane, oil, and pellets. The bill being paid must be for energy consumed at your home address, and you must be the account holder or an authorized user. See our guide to Colorado utility assistance programs.
One important planning detail: this energy benefit is available through CCSoCo once every 12 months, and up to three times in your lifetime. That lifetime cap means it is worth being strategic about when and how often you use it. Call to discuss your situation before applying if you are unsure whether this is your best option or whether other funding sources may apply first.
Water bill help is available through the CARES program for customers of Pueblo Water. You must be the account holder or an authorized user, and you generally need to have received a yellow disconnect notice to qualify.
Rent and mortgage assistance is available on an occasional basis depending on funding. Call the main office to check current availability. When applying for any emergency assistance, you will generally need a completed application, a copy of your ID, and household income documents. For rent assistance, a landlord verification form, eviction notice or lease agreement in your name, and a W-9 are also required. For utility assistance, bring a current utility statement in your name. A one-time financial education class is required as part of the assistance process.
Representative Payee: managing benefits for people who need help
The Representative Payee Program helps individuals who receive Social Security benefits — including SSA, RSDI, and SSI — as well as employment wages, manage their money when doing so independently is difficult. CCSoCo staff can help manage budgets, pay bills, provide funds for personal needs, and assist with government benefit applications and recertifications. This service is aimed at people whose circumstances — disability, cognitive challenges, or other barriers — make independent financial management genuinely hard, and it can be a significant stabilizing force for people who qualify. We also have more information on the Representative Payee Program page.
SNAP enrollment help
CCSoCo can connect eligible individuals and families to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, helping with the enrollment process. Many people who qualify for SNAP in southern Colorado are not enrolled. If you are unsure whether you qualify or need help with the application, this is a free service CCSoCo offers.
Immigration services: accredited help across rural Colorado
CCSoCo serves hundreds of immigrants each year through its Immigration Services program, and the reach of this program is one of the most distinctive things about the organization. Services are available in Spanish, and presentations and assistance are offered not just in Pueblo but in communities including Avondale, Cortez, Delta, Durango, Gunnison, La Junta, Lamar, Manzanola, Rocky Ford, and Trinidad — agricultural and rural communities where accredited immigration help is otherwise extremely scarce.
The immigration services are accredited, meaning CCSoCo staff can provide legal representation recognized by the Board of Immigration Appeals — not just referrals or general guidance. Services offered include family visa petitions (I-130 process), permanent resident card renewals (I-90 process), adjustment of status, FOIA requests, U non-immigrant status, Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) petitions, provisional unlawful presence waivers, and citizenship classes and test preparation. Immigrants who are victims of domestic violence can receive specific support.
To reach the immigration program directly, call 719-470-8785. Services are available in Spanish.
Programs for children and families: what CCSoCo does that most agencies don't
A large portion of CCSoCo's work is in early childhood and family strengthening — an area most people don't associate with Catholic Charities but that represents the bulk of the agency's current programming with some examples of programs below.
- The HIPPY Program (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) sends trained peer home visitors to the homes of families with children ages three to five, delivering an evidence-based school readiness curriculum and educational materials. HIPPY operates across 10 counties in southern Colorado and addresses a real gap: in rural communities without accessible preschool, it is often the only structured kindergarten preparation available.
- Parents As Teachers (PAT* serves younger children, from birth to age two, with home visits that support parents and caregivers in understanding their child's development and building the skills to support it.
- The Nurturing Parenting Program offers weekly classes to build a stronger, more positive relationship between caregivers and children, using an evidence-based curriculum.
- Kinship Navigation provides information and referrals for grandparents and other relatives who are raising children in their care — a growing population that often falls through the cracks of traditional child welfare services.
Employment: the ReHire program
For people who are struggling to find employment, CCSoCo's ReHire program provides transitional and subsidized employment — placing individuals into real jobs while simultaneously building work skills, experience, and confidence. The program specifically targets people who face barriers that make traditional job searching difficult.
How to get started
The main office is at 429 W. 10th Street, Pueblo, CO 81003, and the main phone is 719-544-4233 (email: [email protected]). All emergency assistance requires an appointment — call before visiting. For immigration services specifically, call 719-470-8785. More information on all programs, including service areas and eligibility, is available at ccsoco.org.
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