Delaware Catholic Charities provides a variety of services. The organization can help families during a difficult time. This can include providing for basic needs (such as food or clothing), emergency assistance (rent, utilities) and also ongoing support. This agency is focused on helping Delaware families with long term needs such as employment and housing.
There are emergency shelters located in every county of Delaware. Many families are given a place to stay overnight, as well as food and hot meals. After 30 days, you will have to leave. A case manager helps a resident find housing and a job and increases their income. They also help the resident find affordable long term housing in the region. Catholic Charities also helps with getting prescription medications, doing laundry, having clothing, and getting transportation for those in the shelter.
The Delaware Basic Needs Program helps people who need help becoming self-sufficient. The program can help with budgeting, housing counseling, and referrals to other services. It may also have funds to help with utility bills or rent. The program can help families by giving them a place to stay and by helping them become self-sufficient over the long term. The assistance programs are able to be changed to fit the clients needs and requests. Catholic Charities partners with other non-profits and provides a comprehensive approach to solving financial emergencies.
The organization provides assistance to low income families through various programs, including mental health services, pregnancy counseling, and resources for victims of domestic violence. If you are struggling to pay for heat, there are programs like LIHEAP that can help. You can also try going to emergency pantries or food cooperatives.
If a case manager is unable to help you, they may be able to refer you to another program, the government, or a non-profit agency in Delaware. This support will hopefully help you manage the crisis and give you some additional time to find a job, improve your skills, or take on extra work hours at your current job.
The Bayard House is a place where pregnant minors or homeless people can go to get help and start to transition into a better life. It helps young families and pregnant teens/women who are at risk by providing them with information and resources. The program provides homeless pregnant women with food and shelter, as well as educational and employment assistance, independent living and home management skills, and access to affordable health care in Delaware. It also offers free pregnancy counseling and referral services.
The Hope Program will provide food assistance to those in need by giving them additional bags of groceries every month. They partner with the Food Bank of Delaware and other organizations to get food at a lower cost so they can provide more meals to people in need. There are food distribution sites and pantries in Bridgeville, Milton, Georgetown, Lewes, Wilmington, Long Neck, Bethany Beach, and Slaughter Neck, Delaware.
There are emergency food pantries that are stocked with donated food items, including perishable items, groceries, and food commodities from the USDA. The Catholic Charity pantry provides food and groceries for those in crisis who cannot buy food themselves for 3-4 days. There are centers in Casa San Francisco and Seton Center. The Child and Adult Care Food Program is a government-funded program that provides meals for students and children who are in day care centers.
The Delaware Catholic Charities’ Immigration Program provides assistance to individuals and families with citizenship and immigration matters. The specialists and counselors at this organization are accredited by the Board of Immigration Appeals, which is a federal government organization. The services will help people with their legal status in the United States and state of Delaware so they can have a better life, without family separation. The Diocese of Wilmington is the primary center of operations but it also operates in other areas of the state.
The Refugee Resettlement Program is a resource that helps people who have been forced to leave their homes due to conflict or persecution. It provides receiving, job placement and monitoring services for local cases. A contract with United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) is needed in order to assign clients.
One of the Delaware non-profits that administers the federally funded Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program is Catholic Charities. This service helps people who cannot afford to pay for their home energy and heating bills.
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program has been available for over 20 years. There is help available for people who rent or own their homes and who cannot afford to pay their housing costs. You may be able to get help paying for different kinds of utility bills, like electricity, gas, oil, wood, propane, natural gas, coal, and even heating and cooling costs. The program will cover part of your energy bill, not the full amount. Summer assistance with air conditioning and cooling bills is less common.
The Wilmington Delaware Thrift Center is a place where people can go to buy or donate items. It provides the working poor and low income with appliances, gently used clothing, furniture, household goods, Christmas items, mattresses, and much more. The items are offered at very low prices to the public, regardless of income. The thrift store also connects residents in need of emergency assistance to information about and referrals to other local community programs.
The main Catholic Charities’ centers are located below.
The address for the New Castle County Office is 2601 W Fourth Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19805 and the main phone number is 302-655-9624. The address for the Kent County Office is 2099 S DuPont Highway, Dover, Delaware 19901 and the main phone number is 302-674-1600. The address for the Sussex County Office is 406 S Bedford Street, Suite 9, Georgetown, Delaware 19947 and the main phone number is 302-856-9578.