Catholic Charities sponsors three emergency shelters which accept homeless mothers with children: Elizabeth Ann Seton Residence in Long Beach; Lancaster Community Shelter; and the Mother-Child Residence of Good Shepherd Center for Homeless Women and Children in Los Angeles.

Established in 1919, Catholic Charities has provided assistance to the most needy and impoverished inhabitants of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. The agency’s Vision Statement reaffirms its inspiration by the Holy Spirit and the commitment to serve the vulnerable and to strive for a just society. Its Mission Statement outlines the strategy of collaboration with diverse communities when assisting the poor. The agency manifests Christ’s spirit by promoting human dignity, and by advocating for social justice.

Catholic Charities finds permanent solutions to crisis situations by giving its clients the resources they need to become independent and self-sufficient. A large variety of programs serve this purpose: job and skills training, including English as a Second Language classes; parenting and basic skills classes; assistance in finding employment; partial subsidies to low-income families for rent and utilities; psychological counseling; low-cost childcare; refugee services; and support groups for seniors. The agency’s activities are conducted in a network of locations: community centers with food pantries and thrift stores; emergency shelters and residences; offices and classrooms. During the fiscal year 2003-2004, Catholic Charities provided over 1,180,000 services to about 229,000 different individuals, including approximately 109,000 children. Over 85% of people who came to the agency seeking aid had an annual income of less than $13,000.

While it is important to help as many people as possible, it is also essential to do the job well. Catholic Charities of Los Angeles has repeatedly been praised for the quality of its services and efficiency of its programs. Recently, the agency has earned a top position among religious charities and a score of 69.07 out of the maximum of 70 in the annual ranking of 2,450 non-profit organizations by Charity Navigator. An average American charity spends $20 to raise and manage $100; Catholic Charities spends only $10!

“Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul…” In Dickinson’s poem, the little bird of hope “kept so many warm” with its wordless song. Numerous impoverished people in Southern California were kept warm in winter and safe through the year thanks to the assistance they received from Catholic Charities. For them, the agency’s help gave rise to new hope.