Catholic Charities Emergency Assistance Services

Emergency Assistance Services (EAS) are at the heart of our Catholic mission and represent the single largest service area at Catholic Charities. Annually, Catholic Charities EAS provides food, shelter, and financial assistance (primarily emergency rent and utility support) to more than 115,000 individuals in communities across the eight-county Diocese of Cleveland. In the spirit of Matthew 25, Catholic Charities EAS represents our work to respond with dignity in meeting the basic human needs of our neighbors experiencing hunger, homelessness, illness, and loneliness. Our Emergency Assistance Services sites and programs collaborate with local organizations, public and private agencies, and religious institutions to ensure the basic needs of the most vulnerable in our communities are met.

Emergency Assistance Services Sites

Bishop William M. Cosgrove Center

Located in the heart of Cleveland, Bishop William M. Cosgrove Center (Cosgrove) is a lifeline for individuals experiencing hunger, homelessness, poverty, and marginalization. Cosgrove is one of the largest day drop-in centers in the Greater Cleveland area, providing breakfast and lunch daily, clothing and hygiene items, showers, a food pantry, and daily respite for those experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Clients at Cosgrove can also access emergency financial assistance, birth certificates and IDs, and a physical mailing address. Catholic Charities partners with a number of community organizations at Cosgrove to ensure that clients are connected to resources to support long-term stability and success.

Annually, Catholic Charities staff and volunteers serves more than 133,000 hot meals at Cosgrove. Your generous gift to Catholic Charities Bishop Cosgrove Center supports our ability to provide a welcoming environment, hot meals, clothing, hygiene items, and resource connection to nearly 6,000 of our neighbors in need.

St. Elizabeth Center

St. Elizabeth Center offers emergency assistance services for people experiencing poverty, homelessness and housing instability.

With 50 beds for single men, St. Elizabeth Center is Lorain County’s only low-barrier emergency shelter, welcoming clients regardless of where they are on the path toward housing stability. Annually, the center serves 235 unduplicated clients in shelter for a total of 17,350 shelter nights.

Additionally, St. Elizabeth Center’s emergency assistance services to the community are essential to meet residents’ needs related to housing, food and basic needs support. Annually, St. Elizabeth Center serves 97,200 hot meals, and more than 700 families are served by the food pantry. St. Elizabeth Center oversees the distribution of more than $12,000 in emergency assistance (rent and utility).

St. Augustine Hunger Center

Located in Tremont, St. Augustine Hunger Center offers emergency assistance services every day of the week, including weekends. St. Augustine is known throughout the community for services that help support individuals in need, including food, clothing, emergency funding for rent and utilities, furniture, appliances and advocacy for those seeking medical help. St. Augustine Hunger Center is well known for its Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas meals, each of which distribute about 12,000 meals to the community.

Donate Today!

Your generous gift to Catholic Charities EAS supports our ability to provide:

• Community hot meals and access to nutritious food
• Overnight and day shelter services, which provide hospitality, safety, and warmth to those experiencing homelessness and housing instability
• Emergency financial assistance in order to prevent loss of housing, utility shut offs, medical crisis, etc.
• Other basic needs that honor the dignity of our neighbors, such as hygiene items, bus tickets, etc.
   

Help us continue to meet the needs of our community by donating today!

Your contributions will help us provide emergency assistance services to those in need in 2025.

Founded in 1912, Catholic Charities Corporation has grown to become one of the largest social services organizations in Northeast Ohio, serving Cuyahoga, Summit, Lorain, Medina, Ashland, Wayne, Lake, and Geauga counties. We provide comprehensive services for children and families, older adults, persons with disabilities, individuals needing emergency assistance, and services to immigrants and refugees. Catholic Charities delivers more than 150 services at 60 locations to nearly 400,000 individuals each year.