Gov. Linda Lingle has released a $288,000 grant-in-aid to Catholic Charities of Hawai'i to help pay for a new social services community center that will house programs to help Hawai'i's at-risk children, youth, families and senior citizens.

Catholic Charities plans to consolidate most of its social service programs on O'ahu into one main location at its new facilities in Makiki to better serve the needs of Hawai'i's poor and most vulnerable residents. Currently, the nonprofit organization's programs on O'ahu operate out of four separate sites. The consolidation will enable Catholic Charities to expand its programs, improve delivery of services, extend its outreach into the community and increase its efficiency.

Catholic Charities Hawai'i is dedicated to helping those in need to help themselves, regardless of faith, providing a variety of services aimed at the homeless, the disabled, troubled youths, victims of child and domestic abuse, immigrants, and people considered most at-risk.

In addition to state funds, Catholic Charities Hawai'i has obtained funding from federal agencies, Community Development Block Grants, private donations, charitable foundation grants and fundraisers.