Catholic Charities assists families with limited resources in making arrangements and final plans for a family member. To apply, please call 704-370-3262 and ask to speak with a social worker for Mecklenburg County or 828-255-0146 for Asheville area.

Program Origins

When Mecklenburg County discontinued funding to assist with burials in 1994, Catholic Charities convened with a group of concerned citizens, social work professionals, funeral home directors and the Director of the City Cemetery to develop a burial plan for Mecklenburg County residents.

An agreement was made among Catholic Charities, the participating funeral homes and the City Cemetery Department to provide funeral and burial or cremation services to families in need.

Eligibility

This program serves families who have no insurance, are unable to negotiate financial arrangements with a funeral home, or do not have the finances to pay the costs associated with traditional death expenses.  The deceased must have been a resident of Mecklenburg County or Asheville area to be eligible. 

Administration for the Program

Catholic Charities provides the social service support and eligibility verification for the program at no cost.  The agency has continued to administer the program since its inception with regular reporting to funding sources and undergoes a yearly audit.

Program Funding

Applicants are asked to contribute to the program as much of the cost of the burial as possible.  Financial assistance is provided through charitable contributions of individuals, churches and other civic organizations when families are unable to cover the cost. The cost for burial is $1,100 or $600 for cremation.

The greatest financial support comes from generous people in our community.

To pay for services online, please click the following link: payments.