Catholic Charities Of The Diocese Of Allentown Inc

CATHOLIC CHARITIES PROVIDES HUMAN SERVICES TO ANYONE IN NEED, REGARDLESS OF THEIR FAITH.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES' EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ERAP) PROVIDED INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITH RENT ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE EMERGENCY RENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ERAP). THE PROGRAM HAS DEDICATED STAFF DESIGNATED TO ASSIST HOUSEHOLDS WHO WERE DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IMPACTED BY COVID-19. THE PROGRAM WAS IMPLEMENTED TO ASSIST WITH BACK RENT AND AN ADDITIONAL THREE MONTHS OF FUTURE RENT, IN ORDER TO KEEP HOUSEHOLDS IN THEIR HOUSING SO AS NOT TO SPREAD THE VIRUS OF COVID-19. THE PROGRAM ENSURES THAT ALL CLIENTS RECEIVE A APPLICATION THAT ASSESSES THE NEED FOR THE PROGRAM AND IF THEY MEET PROGRAM GUIDELINES. THIS PROGRAM SERVED HOUSEHOLDS IN LEHIGH AND CARBON COUNTIES. TOTAL NUMBER OF UNDUPLICATED CASE MANAGEMENT CLIENTS SERVED IN THE FISCAL YEAR WERE 8,003. (LEHIGH = 7,687, CARBON = 316).SERVICES PROVIDED BY CASE WORKERS INCLUDED: HOUSING, EMERGENCY SHELTER, UTILITY ASSISTANCE, AND REFERRALS TO RELEVANT SOCIAL SERVICES AND SUPPORTS WITHIN THE AGENCY OR COMMUNITY.

PPL'S ONTRACK PROGRAM PROVIDES LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS WITH REDUCED PAYMENT AMOUNTS AND DEBT FORGIVENESS. THE PROGRAM WAS FIRST PILOTED BY PPL IN 1993 IN RESPONSE TO A PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION (PUC) POLICY STATEMENT THAT DEVELOPED GUIDELINES FOR CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. PPL EXPANDED ONTRACK IN 1999 AND AGAIN IN 2004.THE PRIMARY FEATURES OF ONTRACK INCLUDE:1. A REDUCED FIXED PAYMENT AMOUNT BASED ON ABILITY TO PAY2. ARREARAGE FORGIVENESS OVER A SPECIFIED PERIOD OF TIME (18 MONTHS)3. PROTECTION AGAINST SHUTOFF OF ELECTRIC SERVICE4. REFERRALS TO OTHER PROGRAMS AND SERVICESTHE BENEFITS OF ONTRACK PARTICIPATION ARE AS FOLLOWS.-A REDUCED ELECTRIC PAYMENT, BASED ON THE HOUSEHOLD'S ABILITY TO PAY.-WAIVED LATE PAYMENT CHARGES.-ARREARAGE FORGIVENESS, OVER A PERIOD OF 18 MONTHS.-PROTECTION FROM TERMINATION PROCEDURES.-REFERRALS TO OTHER COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.TOTAL NUMBER OF UNDUPLICATED HOUSEHOLDS SERVED IN THE FISCAL YEAR WERE 5,911.BOTH SOUP KITCHENS REMAINED OPEN DURING 2021 AND DURING COVID. BOTH WERE OPEN WITH MODIFIED PROGRAM GUIDELINES DURING THE PANDEMIC.THE POTTSVILLE AREA KITCHEN (PAK) WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE A BAG LUNCH TO GO FOR BOTH ADULTS AND SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN. WITH A LACK OF VOLUNTEERS, STAFF CONTINUED TO ARRIVE DAILY TO MAKE LUNCHES AND HAND THEM OUT WITH MASKS AND GLOVES SO AS TO BE AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE. THERE WERE 13,567 MEALS SERVED FOR 2021.THE ECUMENICAL SOUP KITCHEN IN ALLENTOWN WAS ABLE TO GET YOUNGER VOLUNTEERS WHO HAD BEEN LAID OFF OR FURLOUGHED TO HELP WITH THE REVISED OPERATIONS WHEREBY FAMILIES WERE PROVIDED WITH BOXES OF FOOD. STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS DID CONTACTLESS DROP OFFS OF GROCERIES FROM THE LARGER COMMUNITY TO THE KITCHEN. ONCE GROCERIES WERE COLLECTED, SORTED, AND ORGANIZED, THEY WERE PLACED INTO MANAGEABLE BOXES TO BE GIVEN OUT TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. OVERALL, THERE WERE 25,758 MEALS/GROCERIES SERVED FOR 2021.

OTHER CATHOLIC CHARITIES PROGRAMS INCLUDE:HOUSING CASE MANAGEMENT, ADOPTION SEARCH, COUNSELING, IMMIGRATION, COMMUNITY OUTREACH, PREGNANCY & PARENTING SUPPORT AND OMBUDSMAN.