Challenges Highlighted by Boston Fed Report Are an Ongoing Focus of Catholic Charities’ Work

When Muhammad received a shut-off notice for his electricity, he was very scared. 

“I don’t have family here, and my English is not good,” he said. “Catholic Charities helped me fast and pay my utility bill, so my lights stayed on. I am very thankful. They make me feel like I am not alone.” 

Muhammad’s story is one that more individuals and families across Massachusetts share, according to a recently released study on wealth disparity in the Commonwealth. 

The study, published on Aug. 12 by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, highlighted a growing challenge that Catholic Charities Boston works every day to address: paying for emergency expenses. The study showed that many of the 5,000 Massachusetts families surveyed in 2025 did not have the funds to cover an emergency expense in the $400 range. 

For the Catholic Charities Boston Basic Needs team, the hundreds of requests received for emergency assistance range from help with paying for utilities, rent, and gas. 

“The cost of everything has gone up, so that is why our call logs are so much higher,” explained Faiza Hafeez, Director of Financial Assistance and Community Supports. “We are doing everything we can to help.” 

From the beginning of June to the beginning of August, Hafeez and her team fielded more than 400 online requests for emergency living assistance. She commended the team for its work to respond to requests as quickly as possible. If Catholic Charities Boston is unable to assist, the team provides information on alternative resources and refers individuals to other organizations. 

A myriad of factors are spurring the increase for emergency living assistance requests, noted Hafeez. From increased cost of living to federal cuts and restrictions to social safety net programs to the cancellation of Temporary Protected Status for Haiti and Syria. According to the Boston Fed report, more than 80 percent of Haitian families surveyed could not cover a $400-range emergency expense. 

For Catholic Charities, the most common request recently is from senior citizens on fixed incomes who need assistance paying their utility bills. “(These seniors) have the same income every month, so they can’t keep up with rising utility fees,” Hafeez said. “We are seeing more requests for utility assistance than rent assistance.” 

To continue to meet this growing need, Catholic Charities Boston established the 250 Challenge: Neighbors Helping Neighbors initiative. Launched in July, the 250 Challenge is raising funds to directly help those in Eastern Massachusetts facing financial hardships. Support for the initiative is paying for transportation, rent, utilities, food, and most importantly, ensuring families move through a difficult moment with greater stability, dignity, and hope. 

Hafeez noted that every little bit counts when it comes to supporting Catholic Charities Boston’s basic needs work. And not just with the help it provides clients, but also with the different forms of support it can foster. 

“We had a client come in looking for help paying for gas for her car, so we provided her with a gift card,” Hafeez explained. “About two weeks later, that same client came in and gave us a gift card to Staples. She said she didn’t have any use for it and wanted it to go to a parent who might need help buying back-to-school supplies for their kids.”