Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Washington
Catholic Charities is the most comprehensive social services provider in the Washington area. We offer comfort, care and compassion through access to lower-cost medical and dental care, food and nutrition assistance, counseling and housing assistance, and legal services.
Since 1929, we have been answering the call to help those who are less fortunate in the District of Columbia and five surrounding Maryland counties. We serve anyone who comes to us in need regardless of social, economic or religious background.
We offer comfort, care and compassion through access to lower-cost medical and dental care, food and nutrition assistance, counseling and housing assistance, and legal services. In doing so, we open doors to help and hope.
Motivated by the gospel message of Jesus Christ and guided by Catholic social teaching, Catholic Charities strengthens the lives of all in need by giving help that empowers and hope that lasts. We affirm and support the dignity of all human life, strengthen families and serve the poor and most vulnerable as the social services agency of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington.
Catholic Charities assists individuals and families in need, especially those who are most vulnerable. We believe in helping people develop the skills and strength to move from crisis or isolation to stability and growth. We focus on prevention when possible, intervention when needed and advocacy when resources or opportunities are either inadequate or unfair.
We are strengthened through partnerships with other providers, government agencies, nonprofits, foundations, businesses, individuals, schools and churches, especially our Catholic parishes. We collaborate with these resources and other community assets to offer programs that are effective and fiscally sound.
Catholic Charities provides quality care in a highly effective manner.
Accredited by the Council on Accreditation, Catholic Charities is committed to continuous quality improvement, a process that regularly assesses and improves the agency’s performance with our mission and best practices in mind.
As a result of this commitment to quality, our Behavioral Health Services is one of the highest rated providers in the region and we have longtime partnerships with city and county governments, and other nonprofits and organizations.
In fulfilling our service mission, we are committed to the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion and serve as an advocate for social justice. Our core values and code of ethics prohibit racism, discrimination and bigotry in our work and workplace.
Almost 159,000 people in Washington, D.C., and suburban Maryland received help last year from Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington. The number of people in need returned to a pre-pandemic level after four years of increased need and an extraordinary response by Catholic Charities. In 2023-2024, Catholic Charities continued its legacy of compassionate care through 47 programs in 29 locations.
4 million+ meals were given to those experiencing hunger and food insecurity.
54,435 information and referral services were provided to people seeking help, a 28 percent increase over last year. 8,733 people received medical, mental health and dental care.
2,361 adults benefited from job training and employment services.
While Catholic Charities is the philanthropic arm of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, less than 1 percent of our overall funding comes from the archdiocese, which allows the agency to operate autonomously in our mission to serve the most vulnerable in our community. All funding the agency receives is used to support the designated Catholic Charities program or service.
Out of every dollar donated, more than 86 cents goes directly to helping people in need.