Claire Collins

Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County changes 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. We help people of all cultures and beliefs rise up out of poverty and overcome the barriers to self-sufficiency and wellness. Because most lives are a complex pattern of choices and circumstances, we take a holistic approach to helping people change their lives, taking into account the whole person, as well as their family and life situations. We do this in three ways. First, we alleviate the conditions of chronic poverty through food, housing assistance, access to benefits, senior services, and mental health services. Second, we reduce the effects of situational poverty by providing jobs, immigration legal services, refugee foster care, financial literacy, and asset development. Third, we prevent the cycle of generational poverty through early childhood development, parenting support, after-school enhanced learning, and youth empowerment. We strengthen our communities through parish and community engagement, immigrant and refugee integration, and neighborhood development services. Each year, we serve more than 40,000 people in need.