About us

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. Rooted in gospel values, 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 86,000 people in need, including through our affiliate Charities Housing Development Corporation.

Our compassion and commitment go beyond direct service and compel us to address the root causes of poverty. We have launched Footsteps: Pathways to Self-sufficiency as a family-centered community change strategy to disrupt generational poverty.

Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County has been serving and advocating for individuals and families for more than 67 years. While we are affiliated with the Diocese of San Jose, Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County is a separately incorporated nonprofit agency and operates independently with a CEO, Board of Directors, and separate financial structure. We are part of the nation's largest social services network through our affiliation with Catholic Charities USA, which serves more than 8 million people each year.

Mission

Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County serves and advocates for individuals and families in need, especially those living in poverty. Rooted in gospel values, we work to create a more just and compassionate community in which people of all cultures and beliefs can participate and prosper.

Vision

We envision a valley where every child has the opportunity to learn from cradle to career and lives in a neighborhood free from fear, where families can afford to live in safe and decent housing and eat nutritious food, where enterprising workers can earn enough to make ends meet and save for the future, where immigrants are welcomed, and where those who are imprisoned, physically and mentally ill, elderly, and vulnerable can find healing and hope.

Values

We commit to act with a spirit of Compassion, Service and Justice guided by the principles of Respect, Integrity, Teamwork and Excellence.