Rachel Evans
Catholic Charities is a non-governmental organization that helps vulnerable families in the Greater Galveston-Houston area. They provide a range of services, including free food distributions, counselling, and refugee resettlement. The organization has a long history of supporting parishes and reducing poverty in America. They also offer a Disaster Response program to help communities affected by natural disasters, such as floods and tornadoes. Catholic Charities' programs are designed to help individuals, especially those living in poverty, reach their full potential. The organization's work is rooted in the belief that every person is made in God's image and responds to economic, social, cultural, personal, and spiritual needs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Counseling services | Catholic Charities offers counseling services to individuals, families, and children facing anxiety, grief, relationship challenges, or trauma. |
| Food distribution | Catholic Charities provides free food distributions across Greater Houston to help feed families. |
| Housing | Catholic Charities agencies provide safe, decent, and affordable housing, including permanent, temporary, and emergency options. |
| Disaster response | Catholic Charities has a Disaster Response program to help communities affected by natural disasters such as floods, tornadoes, and hurricanes. |
| Refugee and immigrant services | Catholic Charities assists in resettling refugees and provides legal services to immigrants. |
| Funding sources | Catholic Charities receives funding through donations, government grants, real estate donations, and contributions from various organizations and individuals. |
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What You'll Learn
Houston Catholic Charities is an NGO, not a charity
In the 2019/2020 financial report, only about 28% of the total revenue could be classified as charitable donations. This percentage decreased to about 12% in 2024, with contributions being combined with foundation grants, which are likely government funds. This decrease in charitable contributions coincides with a period of significant budget increases, with total government grants more than tripling from $25.5 million in 2020 to $82.2 million in 2024.
During this same period, there was a change in the US administration, with the Biden administration increasing federal funds to Catholic entities for migration and refugee services. This is evident in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston's annual reports, which show a major budget increase for immigration and refugee services, from $11.9 million in 2020 to an expenditure of over $55 million in 2024.
The Houston Catholic Charities' reliance on government funding has had significant implications. In 2025, amid a freeze in federal funding, the organization was forced to cut 20% of its staff, amounting to a loss of 120 staff members. Despite this setback, the Houston Catholic Charities remains committed to its mission of serving individuals and families in need, building on its decades-long history of providing essential humanitarian services.
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The organisation offers a counselling program
Houston Catholic Charities is an NGO that helps vulnerable families in the Greater Galveston-Houston area. The organisation offers a counselling program that provides a safe space for individuals, families, and children to heal, grow, and move forward. The counselling program addresses various issues, including anxiety, grief, relationship challenges, and trauma. Licensed counsellors offer faith-based support to help people facing these difficulties.
The counselling program is strengthened by investments from organisations like CommonSpirit Health and St. Luke's Health, which provided $28,500 to support mental well-being initiatives. This funding helps more individuals and families access the counselling services they need to heal and thrive.
The counselling services are part of Catholic Charities' broader commitment to supporting the economic, social, cultural, personal, and spiritual needs of its clients. The organisation has a long history of working with parishes to live out the Gospel, care for the poor and vulnerable, and work for justice.
While Houston Catholic Charities has faced challenges due to freezes in federal funding, particularly impacting their refugee resettlement efforts, their counselling program remains a vital aspect of their services, promoting mental health and well-being within the community.
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It provides free food distributions
Catholic Charities provides free food distributions across Greater Houston to help feed families. The organisation has a history of helping those in poverty and vulnerability, and its food distribution program is an extension of this. Catholic Charities is committed to providing healthy food options for those at risk of hunger via food banks, pantries, schools, daycare centres, and community dining settings.
The food distribution program is just one of the ways Catholic Charities is helping Houston. The organisation has a wide reach and offers support to thousands of vulnerable families in the Houston area. They also provide legal services to immigrants and help resettle refugees.
Catholic Charities' food distribution program ensures that families in need have access to nutritious meals. This is particularly important for those struggling financially, as it helps alleviate the stress of putting food on the table. The program also has a positive impact on the community, fostering a sense of support and compassion.
The food provided through the distributions is varied, with Catholic Charities aiming to offer healthy and nutritious options. This includes non-perishable goods such as canned foods and dried goods, as well as fresh produce, proteins, and dairy products when available.
The free food distributions are made possible through donations and grants. Catholic Charities relies on the support of the community, and individuals can get involved by donating funds, food items, or even their time as a volunteer. The organisation also receives grants from organisations such as CommonSpirit Health and St. Luke's Health, which help strengthen their programs and increase their impact.
Through its free food distributions, Catholic Charities is making a direct impact on food insecurity in Houston. By providing healthy meals, they are helping families in need and strengthening the community as a whole. This vital program is a testament to the organisation's commitment to serving those in need and improving lives.
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It helps with disaster response
Houston Catholic Charities is an NGO that helps with disaster response. It has a long history of supporting parishes and their efforts to live out the Gospel and care for the poor and vulnerable. The organization has a disaster response program that helps people affected by disasters such as tornadoes. They also provide free food distributions across Greater Houston to feed families in need.
Houston Catholic Charities also offers a counseling program that provides a safe space for individuals, families, and children to heal and grow. Their licensed counselors offer faith-based support for those facing anxiety, grief, relationship challenges, or trauma. The organization also works to reduce poverty and prevent homelessness. They are among the largest providers of safe and affordable housing, with thousands of permanent units for families, seniors, and veterans, as well as temporary and emergency housing options.
Additionally, Houston Catholic Charities has been actively involved in refugee resettlement and providing legal services to immigrants. However, due to a freeze in federal funding, they have had to cut staff, primarily in their refugee program. Despite this setback, they remain committed to serving the community and helping those in need.
The organization relies on donations and grants to fund its various programs and initiatives. They accept monetary donations, property, and real estate contributions, which provide vital resources to support their mission of helping vulnerable individuals and families.
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It provides safe, affordable housing
Catholic Charities is an NGO that has been serving the community for several decades. It is rooted in the belief that every person is made in God's image and responds to clients' economic, social, cultural, personal, and spiritual needs.
One of the ways in which Catholic Charities helps the community is by providing safe, affordable housing. They are among the nation's largest providers of such housing, with more than 38,000 permanent housing units for families, seniors, and veterans. They also provide temporary and emergency housing.
The organization achieves this through donations of real estate, including homes, land, and commercial property. These donations are tax-deductible and have a lasting impact on the community. For example, in 2019/2020, 28% of the total revenue for Catholic Charities in Houston could be classified as charity, and in 2024, this figure was about 12%.
Catholic Charities also has a Disaster Response program that helps communities affected by natural disasters, such as tornadoes and floods. They provide relief efforts and accept donations to support those impacted by these events.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholic Charities is an NGO that helps people in need, regardless of their faith. The organization has a long history of supporting parishes and their efforts to live out the Gospel and care for the poor and vulnerable.
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston provides humanitarian services to individuals and families in need. This includes free food distributions, counselling programs, and refugee resettlement.
Catholic Charities in Houston provides legal services to immigrants and resettles refugees. Between July 2023 and June 2024, the organization resettled 10,550 refugees in the Houston-Galveston archdiocese.
Catholic Charities in Houston is funded through donations, government grants, and foundation grants. People can donate money, real estate, or property to the organization.
You can get involved with Catholic Charities in Houston by donating or volunteering with the organization. You can also request help from Catholic Charities if you are in need of support.
