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PHOTOS: This Catholic charity is boosting affordable housing with a prefab ‘pocket neighborhood’

August 14, 2024 Catholic News Agency 0
Workers assemble units in Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City’s “Caritas Casitas” neighborhood on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. / Credit: Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.

CNA Staff, Aug 14, 2024 / 15:06 pm (CNA).

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City (CCAOKC) is spurring production of affordable housing in the region with the development of what it calls a “pocket neighborhood” of prefabricated houses.

CCAOKC’s “Caritas Casitas” initiative consists of “a pocket neighborhood made up of 12 efficiency units designed to foster neighborly interactions while preserving personal privacy,” the organization says on its website. The state has “a severe lack of affordable housing,” the charity said.

The charity announced the delivery of the prefabricated houses on Monday on its Facebook page. The homes “can be installed in a matter of hours and feature all the modern amenities needed for a cozy, dignity-affirming home,” the announcement said.

Workers were on hand assembling the structures during a community “installation viewing” on Tuesday. The units comprise a “cost-efficient, modular-style shippable home equipped with a full kitchen and bath, washer/dryer, and heating/air conditioner.”

Workers assemble units in Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City's "Caritas Casitas" neighborhood on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. Credit: Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
Workers assemble units in Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City’s “Caritas Casitas” neighborhood on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. Credit: Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City

The homes, fabricated by Las Vegas-based company BOXABL, include 375 square feet of living space. The overall project “will provide affordable rental housing for 20 years or more,” the charity says on its website.

Community members tour a housing unit at "Caritas Casitas" in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. Credit: Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
Community members tour a housing unit at “Caritas Casitas” in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. Credit: Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City

In a statement to CNA, CCAOKC Director of Housing Yolanda Worth said the charity “recognize[s] that rising housing costs are a challenge statewide, especially for those with lower incomes.”

“With this pilot project, we are hoping to improve development times and maintain construction costs relatively low so we can provide affordable alternatives for renters,” Worth said.

“The installation of the last two days is a significant milestone for Catholic Charities’ affordable housing efforts,” she added.

Earlier this year BOXABL shared a tour of its Casitas model on social media. The home “comes equipped with all the necessary utility hookups such as water, electricity, internet, and sewage.”

On its website, BOXABL says its Casitas model is “designed with simplicity and efficiency in mind” and “is able to be installed much faster than most traditional homes.”

Construction costs on the small homes start at $60,000, the company says.

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Catholic Charities to open ‘Compassion Corner’ to serve homeless, poor in Pittsburgh

May 6, 2024 Catholic News Agency 1
The Diocese of Pittsburgh’s Gismondi Job Training Program helps those in need. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, May 6, 2024 / 17:40 pm (CNA).

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh is expanding its social services offered to people who are homeless and those in poverty with a newly created “Compassion Corner” opening in August. 

The nonprofit charity group is renovating a former office building located in downtown Pittsburgh to provide health care services, mental health services, job training programs, a place for the homeless population to eat, and a variety of other resources. The nearly 45,000-square-foot building is located at 111 Boulevard of the Allies, next to The Red Door (run by the Catholic Divine Mercy Parish), which provides services such as food for people who are homeless.

“I believe this is all divinely led,” Christopher Scoletti, a board member of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh and previous president of the board, said during an official launch last week. 

“I believe God is working and channeling the love that we all have for our communities, for our neighbors, for one another,” Scoletti added. “I believe God is channeling the pride that we have for the City of Pittsburgh to enforce a powerful change for a better future.”

Susan Rauscher, who serves as the charity’s executive director, told CNA that the new building will allow Catholic Charities to provide more medical and dental care, which it offers to those in poverty for free. She said this expansion will allow for more dental chairs and more medical services, among other things. 

“[We’re] really excited about the increase in the number of people who can get health care services,” Rauscher said. 

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh provides eye exams to its clients. Credit: Photo courtesy of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh provides eye exams to its clients. Credit: Photo courtesy of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh

According to Rauscher, the added space will allow the nonprofit to provide mental wellness services, which will include anger management and therapy. The group will also provide job training services, which will include a free 12-week telecommunications course, and connect them with employers with whom the charity has existing relationships. The job programs will include training for five certifications. 

“Moving into the new building gives us some additional space to move into new areas that help us bring holistic solutions to our clients,” Rauscher added.

Because of the Compassion Corner’s proximity to The Red Door, Catholic Charities will create a spot for people who are homeless to eat inside. Rauscher noted that those people will also receive access to these services. 

“[Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh is] pushing toward not only providing that emergency assistance and those basic needs but also incorporating case management and that long-term stability,” Rauscher said.

More than 100 elected officials, community leaders, and business leaders attended the official launch of the Compassion Corner, according to the diocesan Catholic Charities. This included Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, who praised the work of the nonprofit and said Christians “can’t just read the Bible and teach the Bible” but need to show their faith in Christ through the “works and deeds that we do.”

“That falls on all of us to do,” Gainey said during a speech at the launch. “It doesn’t just fall on government [and] nonprofit [organizations]. It falls on us.”

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh has raised about $12 million in donations for its Campaign for Compassion Corner to provide these services, which is more than 70% of its goal of $17 million. The group is trying to raise $13 million for Catholic Charities and $4 million for its partner, Gift of Mary, an emergency women’s shelter. 

Rauscher told CNA that 100% of the staff at the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh has personally contributed to the fundraising effort. She praised the work of the staff, saying: “They can squeeze every penny out of every dollar that’s entrusted to us and turn it into solutions for the people they serve.”

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh serves about 20,000 people annually, according to Rauscher. She said the nonprofit served about 23,000 people last year.

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