Catholic Charities Community Services

For more than 20 years, Catholic Charities has provided emergency shelter and housing programs. We believe that a stable, affordable home is essential to achieve security and a life of dignity. Without affordable housing, it is difficult for vulnerable individuals and families to overcome the barrier of poverty.

We provide an array of programs and services to meet these needs, including affordable housing, foreclosure relocation, veteran services, and other assistance to help individuals and families.

Catholic Charities Community Services is committed to helping veterans and veteran families achieve stability through permanent housing. We assist those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless through our MANA (Marines, Army, Navy, Air Force) program and Supportive Services for Veteran Families program. Many of our staff are veterans themselves and resonate with the experiences of these individuals and families.

North Star Youth Partnership helps youth choose healthy lifestyle behaviors that prevent violence, gang activity, substance abuse, and teen pregnancy through an array of programs that build self-confidence and leadership skills.

Our programs truly engage youth in their communities and beyond. They develop the knowledge and skills they need to act as integral agents of change.

More than 60,000 Northern Arizona youth have participated in North Star’s award-winning programs since its inception in 1997.

Catholic Charities DIGNITY Diversion programs offer those arrested for prostitution the opportunity to avoid jail time. Individuals receive comprehensive education to divert them from this lifestyle.

Run in conjunction with the City of Phoenix Prosecutor’s Office, our program provides 36 hours of self-exploration and education to develop self-esteem and give hope. Participants also receive rehabilitation services including support, education, and treatment to help them escape prostitution. Job placement assistance is also provided. Those who complete the program will have their charges dismissed.

86 percent of those who completed the Catholic Charities DIGNITY Diversion program did not reoffend (Source: City of Phoenix Prosecutor’s Office study).

Catholic Charities Community Services provides a welcoming and supportive network to help those new to our country quickly gain independence and become productive members of their new community.

Refugees flee their country of origin to save their lives. They run from war and persecution, often having to leave behind family and friends. They are granted refugee status by the United Nations and cleared for entrance to America by our Department of Homeland Security.

Each year, we assist nearly 1,000 refugees. Some come to us from Iraq, where helping our military efforts have put their lives in danger. Others come from countries like Bhutan and Burma, where ethnic discrimination has infiltrated their homes and livelihoods. Others escape from war-torn countries like the Congo. Many come to us after spending more than 10 years in refugee camps.

Our caring pregnancy specialists are available 7 days a week through our on-call hotline, 1.888.818.4445.

Within 24 hours, one of our Joining Hearts pregnancy specialists will contact the client and help create a plan of what is best for the mother and her baby. She can choose whether to parent her baby or place the child with a loving adoptive family. We also help the client communicate her plan to those important to her.

Our counseling staff provides quality, affordable services to help people better understand themselves, their abilities, and their potential. We welcome people of all faiths, backgrounds, and abilities.

We provide counseling for individuals, families, couples, children, and teens dealing with a variety of issues, including:

• Abuse (emotional, physical, sexual, and verbal)
• Behavioral issues
• Anger management
• Anxiety
• Communication
• Depression

Catholic Charities helps those who are in our country legally reunify with minor children and spouses who remain in their country of origin.

More than 60 percent of our caseload is helping refugees—those granted refugee status by the United Nations and invited here by our federal government—to reunite with family members. Nearly 40 percent of our caseload is helping U.S. citizens and those with legal residency secure residency for their spouse and/or children.

Catholic Charities actively recruits and licenses families and single adults who are willing to open their hearts and homes to children in Arizona’s Department of Child Safety. We supervise care and support foster families to assure the needs of foster children and families are met. Children range in age from infants to 18 years and are from diverse ethnic and family backgrounds.

We help assess talents, skills, and desires of each family to ensure a successful placement. When a family expresses interest in becoming a “forever family” for a child that is available for adoption, Catholic Charities assists by certifying adoptive homes, matching children to families, and providing post-placement support.