Catholic Charities, Diocese of St. Petersburg

Catholic Charities was created as a nonprofit corporation in June 1968, when the Diocese of St. Petersburg was established. From 1945 to 1968, services were provided in the area under the auspices of the Diocese of St. Augustine as the Tampa Office for Charity. The agency provides services to all persons, without regard to their race, color, religion, gender or gender identity, age, national origin, qualified handicap, socioeconomic status, sexual preference, gender identity, or lifestyle.

Since its inception, Catholic Charities has provided strategic alliances, advocacy, and a broad array of social services designed to provide support and preserve families and promote self-sufficiency and social justice. Today, Catholic Charities operates three ministries: Foundations of Life, Friends in Need, and Shelters of Hope. The agency supports these services through a variety of revenue sources, including local, state, and federal governmental funds; United Way; Diocese of St. Petersburg contributions; personal donations, and program fees. Our services include adoption, post-abortion counseling, pregnancy and parenting support services, free and charitable clinics, mental health counseling, disaster relief services, HUD rapid rehousing, emergency rent and utility assistance, housing counseling, emergency homeless shelters, medical respite for homeless individuals, immigration and citizenship, HUD elder housing, low-income and affordable housing, HIV/AIDS housing, farmworker housing, permanent supportive housing and transitional housing.