Catholic Charities Aid to Lee County Families
MEDIA CONTACT:
Kirsten Pedersen
941-486-4700 (o)
941-800-8597 (c)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Catholic Charities Helps Hundreds in Hurricane Ian Recovery Aid to Lee County Families
Fort Myers, FL – July 25, 2025 – Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice, Inc., through the Lee County Unmet Needs Long-Term Recovery Group (LTRG), has distributed over $2.7 million in aid to survivors of Hurricane Ian, with support reaching more than 960 individuals in Lee County alone. This milestone reflects a coordinated effort to rebuild lives, restore homes, and offer hope to those still recovering more than two years after the storm’s devastating impact.
Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice led and co-funded the LTRG program, in partnership with the Lee County Board of County Commissioners and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the CDBG-DR program. Through LTRG, Catholic Charities provided comprehensive recovery assistance to Hurricane Ian survivors, including housing repairs, complete home replacements, accessibility upgrades, employment services, transportation support, and mental health care, helping families rebuild their lives with dignity and stability.
As of July 22, 2025, Catholic Charities has:
- Helped 960 Individuals with housing, food, counseling, and recovery services
- Distributed $2.7 million in aid in Lee County
- Provided 495 individuals with assistance, each representing unique needs
- Replaced 149 Homes for families whose houses were beyond repair
- Repaired 148 Homes to safe living conditions
- Completed 9 Accessibility upgrades, improving the quality of life for elderly or
disabled residents
“This work reflects who we are,” said Chris Root, CEO of Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice. “Our mission is to provide help, create hope, and serve all. We walk with people through their suffering to bring relief, dignity, and restoration. We are proud to stand alongside our partners and continue supporting survivors until the work is truly finished.”
The Lee County Unmet Needs Long-Term Recovery Group is a public-private partnership composed of local, state, nonprofit, and faith-based organizations. Catholic Charities serves as a lead agency, helping ensure that vulnerable residents continue to receive case management and direct support long after initial disaster response teams have moved on.
To learn more about Catholic Charities’ ongoing disaster recovery efforts or to donate, visit catholiccharities.org/LTRG
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About Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, Inc.
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, Inc., is a nonprofit founded in 1984 by the Diocese of Venice in Florida and serves as a resource to the community, offering health and human services, food pantries, counseling, legal assistance, rapid re-housing, education, and disaster response. Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice is located in 10 SWFL counties, including Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Lee, Manatee, and Sarasota. The mission of Catholic Charities is to provide help, create hope, and serve all. For more information, visit catholiccharitiesdov.org.