CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE DIOCESE OF PGH

CATHOLIC CHARITIES ADMINISTERS A PROGRAM FOR SENIORS TO ENHANCE THEIR INDEPENDENCE IN THE COMMUNITY. CATHOLIC CHARITIES PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES IN THE HOME, WHICH MAY ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR AN INDIVIDUAL TO MOVE TO A NURSING HOME. SERVICES INCLUDE: CARE MANAGEMENT, HOME DELIVERED MEALS, NURSING HOME TRANSITION, PERSONAL CARE, RESPITE CARE, FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT, ASSISTANCE WITH UNDERSTANDING MEDICAID COVERAGE AND OPTIONS, LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM, SUPPORT GROUPS, TRANSPORTATION, AND HOME SUPPORT. CATHOLIC CHARITIES RUNS TWO COMMUNITY CENTERS WHERE INDIVIDUALS CAN RECEIVE MEALS, RECREATION ACTIVITIES, EDUCATION PROGRAMMING, HEALTH PROMOTION PROGRAMS, AND ACTIVITIES WHICH INCLUDES A STATE-OF-THE-ART FITNESS CENTER WITH A FULL-TIME FITNESS EXPERT. CASE MANAGEMENT IS PROVIDED TO CONSUMERS WITH THE GOAL OF ASSISTING EACH RESIDENT IN MAINTAINING THEIR INDEPENDENCE UNTIL THEY MUST MOVE TO ASSISTED LIVING, PERSONAL CARE, OR NURSING CARE FACILITIES.

ST. JOSEPH HOUSE OF HOSPITALITY IS A PROGRAM OF CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE DIOCESE OF PITTSBURGH THAT SERVES MEN, 50 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER, FROM SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA WHO ARE HOMELESS OR FACED WITH HOMELESSNESS. A MAJORITY OF HOMELESS MEN WHO ARE SERVED HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSIS OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, SOME HAVE PROBLEMS STEMMING FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN RELEASED FROM INCARCERATION. DUE TO A LACK OF EDUCATION AND OPPORTUNITY OR DEPRESSED ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, MANY OF ST. JOSEPH'S CLIENTS CANNOT SECURE GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT OR BECOME FINANCIALLY INDEPENDENT. ST. JOSEPH'S OFFERS RESIDENTS PERMANENT HOUSING AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING. IN THE PERMANENT HOUSING PROGRAM, MEN LIVE AT ST. JOSEPH'S AS LONG AS THEY ARE CAPABLE OF INDEPENDENT LIVING. RESIDENTS IN PERMANENT HOUSING PROGRAM TYPICALLY LIVE AT ST. JOSEPH'S FOR MORE THAN 24 MONTHS.ST. JOSEPH'S FOOD PROGRAM IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED FOR RESIDENTS. ST. JOSEPH'S PREPARES AND SERVES MEALS AT THE SAME TIME EVERYDAY, PROVIDING A DAILY STRUCTURE THAT IS OFTEN LACKING IN THE RESIDENTS' PREVIOUS LIFESTYLE. NUTRITIOUS MEALS SERVED AT THE SAME TIME EVERYDAY IS IMPORTANT IN ESTABLISHING A PATTERN OF STABILITY IN THE LIVES OF ST. JOSEPH'S RESIDENTS. THIS STABILITY IS AN IMPORTANT PREREQUISITE TO HELP RESIDENTS MOVE TOWARD GREATER SELF-SUFFICIENCY. SUPPORTIVE COUNSELING SERVICES ARE ALSO PROVIDED TO ENABLE HOMELESS MEN TO OBTAIN EMPLOYMENT AND BECOME INDEPENDENT CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.ST. JOSEPH'S PROVIDES THREE PREPARED MEALS EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR, SERVING AN ESTIMATED 38,420 MEALS ANNUALLY.