Catholic Charities of Miami Behav Hlth Servs St Luke in Miami, Florida, United States

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami was founded on March 8, 1931, in response to the widespread poverty caused by the Great Miami Hurricane and the Great Depression. Four parishes from the Diocese of St. Augustine, along with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, formed this charitable organization to address pressing social issues such as family problems, juvenile delinquency, and immigrant deportation threats. Working alongside the Community Chest, now known as the United Way, the organization set out to provide much-needed support to families in crisis—a mission it continues to uphold.

Over the years, Catholic Charities has pioneered numerous social service innovations in South Florida. It was the first agency in the region to offer professional welfare services for children and develop adult day care programs for the elderly. The organization also played a key role in refugee resettlement, opening the first bilingual social service center in Miami. It led efforts in addiction treatment, elderly care, homeless services, and community support for marginalized populations like the Haitian and homeless AIDs communities. From its humble beginnings with under $8,000 in funding, Catholic Charities has grown into a multi-funded organization with revenues of $30 million, continuing its legacy of service and community impact.