BOSTON -- With the third-largest Haitian community in the United States, Boston is struggling to handle requests from relatives trying to bring their family members to Massachusetts.

With more than 100,000 Haitian immigrants living in Massachusetts, groups like Catholic Charities have set up clinics to assist those trying to bring relatives to Massachusetts.

"It's been overwhelming. Just this morning, we've had over 50 phone calls in a one-hour period," said Marjean Perhot. "It's heartbreaking. We have elderly folks coming to us saying, 'Our children are sleeping on the street. I'm here eating. I have roof over my head. What can I do?'"

Perhot said they have to tell people there is nothing they can do legally unless their loved ones are brought to the United States.

State Rep. Linda Forry has relatives now sleeping on the streets in Haiti. While she is optimistic that eventually they'll persuade Congress and the State Department to offer humanitarian parole to victims of the earthquake, she said racism could make it more difficult than when refugees from Kosovo were granted parole.

"Definitely there has been some discrepancies," Forry said. "That is the strength of the Haitian community. Hard workers. So if we are allowed to bring family members in, I know that family members will be able to take care of immigrants that come in from Haiti."

But Forry and Perhot warn of disreputable individuals offering assistance.

"Folks are telling some Haitians, 'Well, you can go to Haiti and take out two people at a time. This is completely erroneous," Perhot said.

Meanwhile, hundreds of undocumented Haitians already in Boston are beginning to step forward.

"It's great we got temporary protective status -- 18 months granted to Haitian immigrants who were not documented," Forry said.

Catholic Charities will be holding a legal clinic for displaced Haitians needing information and help at the Haitian Multi-Service Center located at 185 Columbia Road in Dorchester on Jan. 30 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

A resource center has been set up at the Mattapan branch of the Boston Public Library and can be reached at: 617-593-0363.

The Boston Public Health Commission has also extended its help services for affected persons through Jan. 30.