The mission of Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County is to change lives for good. As the social service and social justice ministry of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of San Jose, Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County works toward building a just and compassionate community with all people in a changing Santa Clara County.
Because most lives are a complex pattern of choices and circumstances, Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County takes a holistic approach to helping people change their lives, taking into account the whole person, as well as their family and life situations. They do this in three ways. First, by alleviating the conditions of chronic poverty through food, housing assistance, access to benefits, senior services, and mental health services. Second, by reducing the effects of situational poverty by providing jobs, immigration legal services, refugee foster care, financial literacy, and asset development. And third, by preventing the cycle of generational poverty through early childhood development, parenting support, after-school enhanced learning, and youth empowerment.
The ministry has been serving and advocating for individuals and families for more than 67 years as part of the nation's largest social services network, Catholic Charities USA, which serves more than 8 million people each year.