As a ministry of the Roman Catholic Church, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rockville Centre assists in serving the basic needs of the poor, troubled, weak, and oppressed and is committed to addressing the causes of injustice. We aim to organize and empower people to secure the participation of all in the life of the community.

The Need

Long Island is on the leading edge of American suburbs. The region ranks highly in national surveys of income and consumer spending. However, this affluence results in notoriously high living expenses, such as sky-high rent, home prices, taxes, and automobile insurance. The high cost of living is especially hard on those people working in entry-level service positions, transitioning from welfare to work, or coping with ongoing illnesses, disabilities, or other difficulties. Not surprisingly, many in our communities live in poverty. Long Islanders facing difficulties, whatever their faith, come to Catholic Charities and Roman Catholic parishes for help meeting their basic needs.

Our Response

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Rockville Centre, provides Care With Dignity...Life With Hope to the poor, isolated, vulnerable, and disadvantaged on Long Island. Since its founding in 1957, Catholic Charities has grown to a leadership position in human services in the region. The agency now provides a full range of services, operating out of more than 60 sites. With an operating budget of $34.9 million and more than 600 staff members, the agency serves more than 55,000 people in need every year, in partnership with local parishes. Programs include mental health care, chemical dependency treatment, maternity services, food, immigrant services, HIV/AIDS services, senior services, housing, services for people with physical or developmental disabilities, or a combination of these.

Recent Accomplishments

• More help for single moms:   Unwed, young mothers have a new support as Catholic Charities opened Mary's Residence, a new transitional living facility in October 2009. The home is located next door to Catholic Charities' Regina Residence in Merrick and is an extension of Regina's 40-year-old program offering housing and supportive services to single mothers and their children. The new residence was the result of an extraordinary coming together of various members of the community who generously contributed both time and funds. In particular, the Marianist community of Long Island and more than 100 of their student volunteers and families transformed the residence with an estimated $150,000 worth of renovations inside and out. Regina Maternity Services provides optimal support for young women to help develop them into responsible, loving, working mothers.
  
  
• Food for more people at risk:   Also in October, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the New York State Department of Health chose Catholic Charities of Rockville Centre to administer their only bi-county Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program to residents of Nassau and Suffolk counties. WIC provides nutritious foods, nutrition education, and referrals to health and social services to low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, and children up to the age of five who are at nutrition risk. Close coordination with our other food services programs will ensure even better care for vulnerable Long Islanders.
  
  
• More seniors call us "home":   After overcoming many obstacles, our Housing Department broke ground and began construction of Cabrini Gardens, our much-awaited 65 units of affordable housing in Coram for low-income seniors. Upon completion, this project will bring the total number of units available to 1,328 at 16 locations, making Catholic Charities one of the largest nonprofit providers of affordable housing on Long Island.

How To Contact Us

Catholic Charities
Diocese of Rockville Centre
90 Cherry Lane
Hicksville, New York 11801
Directions
516-733-7000

E-mail Us

For information about the agency and its services, click here.
For information on charitable giving, click here.
For information on volunteering, click here.

Links

The Vatican
Diocese of Rockville Centre
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Catholic Charities USA
New York State Catholic Conference


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