Catholic Charities assistance programs in Seattle and King County.
Programs are offered by the King County Washington Catholic Charity organization for low income families, immigrants, and working poor families and seniors. The primary financial resources focus on emergency financial assistance for expenses such as bills and rent, food, senior services, legal aid and more. The charity covers Seattle as well as King County Washington.
Care for disabled and seniors from Catholic Charities
The disabled and seniors can get assistance from Catholic Community Services. The organization provides non-medical assistance to individuals with disabilities and aging persons who are living in their homes and who can’t access these services themselves. This program supports all of western Washington, including King County.
Volunteers and homecare workers do everything they can (within reason) to help the individual, including housework, such as the grocery shopping, dishes and laundry, to personal care such as bathing, dressing, and helping transfer the person from the bed. These senior and disabled care services may be just a few hours a day, or offered around the clock. For all income levels, Catholic Charities brings high quality, yet affordable personal care to the household every day. The service can help sustain those who are served with dignity in the home they cherish.
Kinship Navigator – This can help a so called Kinship Caregiver, and provide them guidance, support, and maybe even financial assistance. Resources available include information, assistance and referrals for programs such as counseling, financial support, housing/rent, medical, dental care, legal options, support groups, advocacy, and parent education.
A caregiver can be an aunt, uncle, or grandparent who is taking care of a child that is not theirs by birth. Additional emergency support may be offered by Catholic Charities for unexpected bills such as clothing, food, transportation, school supplies, youth activities, household supplies, band instruments, beds, and utility bills.
There is support and guidance provided as well as part of King County Kinship Collaboration. This is a diverse community of relatives who are raising children, teenagers, or other relatives. It partners with public and private social service providers from across the county and city of Seattle.
Financial help in King County
Free or low cost meals may be provided too. Catholic Charities provides individuals with a home-delivered meal and congregate meal program for senior and homebound. They also are a resource for soup kitchens as well as food pantries. These can find anyone in the Seattle area in need. Find free food pantries in King County.
Emergency Assistance program – This may offer financial assistance and other aid. The program may help Seattle area families, seniors and people with disabilities, and it can provide them with support for a number of expenses and basic needs.
- Rent and housing assistance including eviction prevention and move-in assistance. Case management will also be provided at the same time.
- Those facing imminent homelessness may receive emergency motel vouchers.
- Utility assistance, which can include heating bills, electric, and water costs.
- Information & Resource Referral to other local non-profits and state of Washington programs.
The Legal Action Center can help with civil issues. The center offers free legal assistance to qualifying working poor and low income persons in King County who are facing evictions, landlord/tenant issues, debtor/creditor issues, and subsidy terminations.
If you are faced with an eviction and/or subsidy termination cases, Catholic Charity clients first speak to staff over the phone to have their background and case evaluated. If you are found to be eligible, you may be scheduled for an appointment. Paralegals and attorneys provide free legal assistance and advice ranging from representation in court to self help information.
Other cases that may be supported include issues involving debtor/creditor issues and collection calls, repairs/habitability, security deposits, and medical care and more. For these types of cases, appointments are made in the Neighborhood Program.
What will happen next is a volunteer attorney or paralegal will evaluate the client’s legal problem and offers free legal representation and advice. It is important to note that staff from the law firm or Catholic Charities may provide follow-up representation to resolve the matter out of court and provide referrals to other programs in the King County region.
Transitional housing, shelter and related social services is available at Alder Crest Apartments, which is located in the High Point neighborhood of West Seattle. There are only a few units of housing available that are specifically available to low-income families. Clients need to be enrolled through project-based Section 8 vouchers.
King County Catholic Charities also tries to help the homeless. With the cost of housing and apartments so high in Seattle, even middle income families often struggle. Many live in cars, vans, RVs, and such. they try to help address housing needs. Clients can even find free hotel vouchers online, which may be used for a night or two in a crisis.
Additional food may be provided from Issaquah Meals. This agency serves dinner to the hungry in the community, and it available five nights a week in Issaquah. The program also runs less frequently at Avondale Park in Redmond. The Issaquah Meals program has served the needy in the community for many years, and can help people of all ages.
Catholic Immigration Legal Services provides low-income residents of Washington and Seattle with quality legal immigration assistance. The program may be able to offer free citizenship/N-400 application assistance to people who are currently on government or public benefits and/or who are living in the city of Seattle.
The organization can also facilitate green card assistance and free citizenship to refugees and asylees who have been in the U.S. less than five years. The CILS is offered from locations in Mt. Vernon and Seattle. Other services offered include Resource/referral, Family-based immigration, Employment authorization, and Citizenship/naturalization (including fee and disability waivers).
Applying for help from Catholic Charities in Seattle area
Resources and assistance programs provided can change, and any help depends on availability of funding. Catholic Community Services in King County can be reached in Seattle (call (206) 328-5696 or (206) 323-6336), East King County (425) 213-1963, and South King County (253) 854-0077.
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