Washington DC Society of St. Vincent de Paul assistance programs.
The poor, homeless, and low income can get help from the Washington DC Society of St. Vincent de Paul. There are multiple parishes that take part in this charity, and they form a conference to coordinate resources. Based on applicant’s need, there may be emergency financial help for bills, housing, or other living expenses along with counseling, hot meals, food, and more. Hundreds of volunteers give back to help the less fortunate as part of the SVDP program.
There are multiple churches and parishes, based on ward. See details below. Applicants will need to prove need. The Washington DC SVDP parishes focus on meeting basic needs. That includes a roof over someone’s head; food on their plate furniture in their home; lights and heat utility service on; and access to healthcare among other basic need.
Emergency assistance from SVDP in Washington DC wards
There are a few emergency services offered. One, which is most limited, is financial aid. This may be for rent, utilities or mortgages to stop homelessness or utility disconnection. There may also be free canned or fresh food or hot meals. Society of St. Vincent also works to provide clothing as well as furniture, or they give out winter jackets, furniture for a home, or vouchers for medications. Other needs are assessed on a one-off basis.
The services from Washington DC St. Vincent de Paul are the source of information on financial aid, food, free or low cost health care clinics and other programs for residents in wards of District of Columbia that are being served by the parish conferences. When applying for help, participant needs are determined by filling out an intake form with the charity. This will incorporate many things. It often requires a home visit from staff at SVDP.
Not only will it establish the type of assistance they are applying for, it will also go over a plan of what they need to do to become self-sufficient. Many new and so called nontraditional families (such as immigrants or single mothers) need some form of emergency assistance, including many that are having a difficult time finding employment with a decent wage.
At the main office of each church or parish, emergency food pantries are available for feeding families in a crisis. The Society of Saint Vincent pantry will usually provide a few days of food stuffs as well as critical grocery items to persons in need. This may be canned groceries or fresh, perishable food. The goal is to feed families who are desperate and out of other resources. Families living in poverty from the community can receive six orders in a twelve-month period, although in emergency situations that was not created by them there may be exceptions made by the staff at the food bank. No appointment is required.
Other financial or medical help, including cash aid, grants, or even non-interest loans, can be paid out for certain expenses. Individuals from the community can be served on a first-come, first-served basis, if they meet qualifications. There may be money available for paying utility bill or rent, water costs, or maybe vouchers to buy work clothing. The need for these food and other financial services is limited in DC. Many people in the district also struggle to access healthcare, and SVDP partners by offering free, mobile community clinics for basic check ups, vaccinations, and other support. Find other locations of free health care community clinics near you.
St. Vincent continues to hear about the cost of living in the capitol. Of particular concern is housing. The cost of rent alone in the Washington DC region often exceeds the amount of money earned from a full time job. Or housing is more expensive than people make on SSD or SSI (Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income). So the programs available from Society of Saint Vincent, or the referrals they give, can help meet this demand.
Saint Vincent de Paul community kitchen (which are located at most churches) are used to help feed the community, whether the homeless, poor, or students out of school who are seeking a meal. It is run in partnership with other groups, including a local church, the Salvation Army, local restaurants, and volunteers from the community.
The soup kitchen is free to use, and it gives anyone from the community a place to get a free meal, a box of food, and case managers also help them identify their other needs. For example, if a homeless person is at the community kitchen, they may be referred to a shelter. Or someone seeking more long term hunger prevention can get help applying for SNAP food stamps. Other aid is arranged too. Learn more on low income government food assistance programs.
Donations are needed to keep the soup kitchen running. What is needed includes Tomatoes, Large Bags of Rice, Coffee, Bulk Size Dried Soup, Serving Gloves, Vegetables, Fruit, Creamer, Sugar, Tomato and Spaghetti Sauce, Napkins and more.
Applying to and contact for St. Vincent de Paul in Washington DC
There are multiple churches and parishes in the SVDP Washington DC Archdiocesan Conferences. They are based on Wards. Residents of Ward 3 should try the church Our Lady of Victory, and the phone number is 202-337-4835. Holy Name provides food and financial help in Ward 6, dial 202- 258-9634. In Ward 7, try Our Lady Queen of Peace (call 202- 582-8600) or try St Frances Xavier, dial 202-582-5021.
There are SVDP parishes in other parts of the city as well. The primary intake number for other lower income families, in different DC wards is 301-942-1110.
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