Emergency Assistance

Mental Health Emergency

If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please call one of the following phone numbers:

  • 757- 274-4956…for persons currently receiving help from Catholic Charities’ Mental Health Counseling Services
  • 757-627-LIFE (5433) or 757-496-3500 if you are not a client but are severely distressed and need to speak with a mental health counselor
  • 911 if you are in crisis and a threat to yourself or someone else

Pregnancy

If you are pregnant, you may wish to speak with someone about your life changing situation. Choosing whether to parent or place your child with an adoptive family may be the most important and far reaching decision you will make in your life. Catholic Charities is staffed by professional social workers who are trained specifically to help you make the best decision for you and your unborn child. Our pregnancy counseling services are free and strictly confidential. Catholic Charities’ staff also can link you to resources in the community needed for a healthy pregnancy including pre-natal care, housing and adoption choices. Please contact our staff at 1-800-CARE002 (1-800-227-3002)

Emergency Financial Assistance

Emergency financial aid is available to individuals and families who are in desperate financial need. Applicants may stop by one of our locations to pick up an application form. Additional documentation (such as family income statements, bills, proof of identity such as a valid driver’s license or military I.D. , rental contracts or mortgage statements, etc.) may be required to submit your application for emergency financial aid. Our sources of funding are limited. Requirements for eligibility include:

Eligibility

  • Renter or Homeowner must physically occupy the property as his/her principle residence.
  • Bill must be in Occupant’s name at time of request.
  • The Bill should not be delinquent more than 30 days at the time of application.
  • Program can not serve clients whom were served within a 12 month period.
  • Individual or Family must be in a crisis beyond their control.
  • Applicants must show the ability to maintain self-sufficiency after assistance is awarded.

Emergency Services Inquiries

Telephone calls and inquiries about Emergency Financial Assistance are routed to our Emergency Services Coordinator at 757-484-4134. The coordinator will complete comprehensive telephone interview with the client to determine the nature of his/her need. The assessment will include personal information such as address, phone number, proof of income, etc. Information is taken concerning the nature of the crisis and the events leading up to the need. A brief budget will be taken to determine the client’s present financial situation.

Emergency funds will be distributed only to assist with Rent, Mortgage, Utility Bill delinquency and may be used to pay the sum of: One-month past due only associated with the delinquency. No Deposits of any kind will be paid.

Before emergency funds are granted, the homeowner or renter must pursue other reasonable and available options to cure delinquency. These options may include repayment plans with the Rent, Mortgage, and Utility Company, assistance from other local community agencies or even the use of personal credit or cash, and family assistance including the sale of personal property.

A financial aid committee at Catholic Charities will review all aid applications and make a decision. The coordinator will present recommendations and support materials but will not have a vote on the funding approval.

Due to the overwhelming number of applicants, it may take up to twelve days to reach a decision on financial aid requests.

Amounts approved by the funding committee will be payable to the Rent, Mortgage and Utility company only, Never to the applicant. If the amount required to correct the delinquency is higher than the approved payment, the applicant will be provided with referrals to other state and local community agencies.

The approved payment and any amount provided by the applicant must cure the delinquency at the time of receipt by the Rent, Mortgage and Utility Company.

All clients requesting mortgage assistance must schedule an appointment for Housing Counseling before funding is considered.