Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh
Basic Needs Assistance Program

Description:  This investment will expand the “Basic Needs Assistance Program” to provide tangible assistance for approximately 700 additional people during this funding period.  A subset of this population, identified as having more complex needs that cannot be met with a one-time service, will be selected to receive enhanced and longer term services that are to be provided either in the main office or by a mobile team utilizing sites located where the families are living. 

The Program Serves a Population with Great Needs:  Basic Needs Assistance program currently serves individuals throughout Allegheny County who contact Catholic Charities for assistance.  Records indicate a high concentration of those individuals residing in high poverty communities such as:  Central North Side, Mt. Oliver, Wilkinsburg, Braddock, Homewood, and McKeesport.  Four centrally located mobile case management sites will be developed to encourage face-to-face meetings. 

The Program Achieves Measurable Results:  The Basic Needs Program has in the past served more than 3,000 per year, including those referred by the United Way HelpLine for potential Direct Help Fund grants.  Approximately one third served also received tangible assistance grants to prevent eviction, avoid utility termination, maintain employment, and/or assist with other household emergencies.  (Note:  grants are directed to vendors rather than to individuals.)  Although the enhancement of coordinated case management is new to the Basic Needs Program, the agency’s “Neighborhood Based Services” program implements a similar model with a coordinated case management component and reports a 90% success rate.    

The Program Applies a Sound Approach:  Catholic Charities has identified a subset of clients that contact its Basic Needs Program throughout the year with repeat requests for “emergency” assistance.  In order to break this cycle the agency plans to recruit 135 of these individuals into the proposed coordinated case management program which includes financial literacy (Advantage Credit Counseling Services) and workforce development (Albert Institute) classes.  Through ongoing coordinated case management, the clients will be taught skills essential to breaking the cycle of need for tangible assistance. 

Alignment with Preferred Outcomes and Likelihood of Community Change (in the first year):

• 25% will complete educational classes or job skills training in order to secure and maintain employment
• 25% will be able to achieve employment goals due to receipt of emergency assistance

Community Outcomes:  Through quarterly meetings with key Allegheny County safety-net service providers Catholic Charities will share their program data and ongoing modifications in order to create the potential for replicating this model and impacting the greater community.