Crisis Case Management and Health Care

Catholic Charities creating an indoor space to host guests from the Red Door, a program of Divine Mercy Parish

Gaining trust to build stability

Catholic Charities is establishing a crisis case management outreach that includes an extension of its free health care program to create a pathway to long-term, self-sustaining solutions for those served by the Red Door along with others who are experiencing homelessness, near homeless or experiencing a crisis that could end in homelessness.

The location is the future home of Catholic Charities at 111 Boulevard of the Allies, downtown Pittsburgh. This move makes Catholic Charities next door neighbors to Red Door Ministries. For almost a century, the Red Door has fostered strong, individual relationships among those chronically without shelter or who are facing a loss of housing who are often wary of organized services and the people who extend help.

Recognizing the hesitation of this population in working with traditional service agencies, our crisis case manager will go to the sidewalk to meet with those who are vulnerable. This outreach will be augmented with a collaboration with the Red Door staff to build trusting relationships.

Pending success in initial steps, the crisis case manager will then work with the client to understand their full scope of need, including the areas of Food, Healthcare, Housing, Income and Safety including mental wellness needs and possible rehabilitation needs. As appropriate, we also assess Interpersonal Relationships, Employment, Life Skills, Language and Literacy, and Parent Child Relationships. This information will provide the foundation for an individualized service plan that will ideally lead to sustainable self-sufficiency.

Similar to our established case management program, our crisis program will walk alongside each client to help them address their needs and create goals to define and work toward success on their terms. Among the services we will offer are direct assistance, including security deposits, rent, and utility assistance (up to three months) to prevent and reduce homelessness.

In conjunction with our case management services, our Free Health Care Center dental and medical providers will host monthly health screenings for this population. These health screenings will include an invitation to longer-term care with established dental and medical treatment plans if needed.