National Human Service
Leaders Summit
Poverty in America
• 36.5 million Americans live in poverty, including 12.8 million children (not
statistically different than 2005)
• 12.3 % of the U.S. population, down from 12.6% for the first time this decade
• Small improvements were seen in the rate of seniors and Hispanics living in
poverty
• Federal Poverty Level in 2006 is $20,000 for a family of four *
• 47 million people do not have health insurance, up from 44.8 million in 2005
• Higher rates of poverty for people of color
• Most of the poor work
– Nearly two out of three families with incomes below the poverty line include one
or more workers.
• Almost half of all Americans will have experienced poverty for a year or more
at some point in their lives by the time they reach age 60.
* Census Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2006
Roots of the Campaign
August 2005 Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast
As a country we saw the disproportionate affect of disaster on the poorand Poverty was brought into the national spotlight, for a fleeting
moment.
Poverty has not been a “hot topic” for the media, even though it affects
such a large portion of our population.
For perspective a FAIR ( Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting) study
released September 7, 2007 showed that the three main networks had
only 58 stories,-quoting just 191 sources- about poverty in a 3 year
period (9/11/03– 10/30/06). Assuming the average number of sources
in one year to be over 14,000, poverty sources only accounted for
0.4 % of all stories
Why Catholic Charities?
• Historic role as “Attorney for the Poor”
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We bring “real world” experiences of clients and agencies
• We act as a moral voice on behalf of the poor and vulnerable
• We work with clients to use their own voices
• Catholic Charities USA and agencies across the country are
respected by policymakers
• Our collective voice makes an impact
– We CAN and DO make a difference!
Roots of the Campaign
Catholic Charities agencies, who serve over 7 million people each year, saw the need to
bring Poverty back into public dialogue
In 2006, Catholic Charities USA’s released the policy paper, Poverty in America: A Threat to
the Common Good
This paper establishes framework of what has become the Campaign to Reduce Poverty in
America
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Church teaching on why we advocate for the poor
Experiences of those living in poverty
Identifies simple policy changes our nation can make
Call to action for Catholic Charities
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Changing political landscape
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Opportunity to establish a bold agenda
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The Campaign actualizes our call
Poverty in America
Poverty is a moral and social wound on
our nation…..it threatens the health
and economic well-being of families
and of our country.
What is the Campaign?
• Multi-year initiative to cut poverty in half by 2020
• Multi-faceted approach
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Public Policy: a call for change
Public awareness: spread the good news
Agency action: your involvement makes a difference
Client engagement: voices of those who are most impacted
All people of good will: join us!
TO CREATE THE POLITICAL WILL TO
REDUCE POVERTY IN HALF…
TO MAKE OUR NATION WHOLE.
Campaign Goals
• Cut poverty in the United States by 50 percent by year 2020
• Call upon the government to better serve the poor and improve
public policies that strengthen and support families
• Educate policymakers and the public about the struggles of
those living in poverty
• Engage those who are most impacted by government policies to
be active participants in developing solutions to reducing
poverty
• Partner with individuals, government, and organizations to
address poverty in our country
Leadership, Partnership,
Accountability
Leadership
– Continuing Catholic Charities two-century history of providing
services
– Asking others to take leadership
Partnership
– Working with government, other organizations, and all people of
good will to accomplish the goal of reducing poverty
Accountability
– Holding our nation and leaders at all levels of government
accountable to ensuring that everyone has basic material necessities
of life
• HUNGER
Catholic Charities USA’s
Legislative Priorities for
the 110th Congress
– All persons should have adequate food and water to nourish their bodies
– e.g., strengthen the Food Stamp Program for low-income families and
individuals
• HEALTH CARE
– Every person should have access to equitable and affordable health care
– e.g., expand health care coverage for children under SCHIP
• HOUSING
– Every person should have a safe, decent, affordable place to live
– e.g., improve the McKinney-Vento Homelessness Act to help homeless
families
FAMILY ECONOMIC SECURITY
– All persons should have the opportunity to adequately provide for
themselves and their families.
– e.g., raise the minimum wage
Strategies:
Public Education and Awareness
• National Launch and Media Campaign (January 2007)
– Inform Congress and the media about CCUSA’s legislative agenda
– Establish goal to cut poverty in half
• Capitol Hill Briefings on Primary Issue Areas (throughout 2007)
– Hold strategic briefings to inform Congress on our primary issue areas
• Launch Fatherhood Initiative (June 2007)
– Organize national discussion on Fatherhood as a family economic security issue
• The Needs of the Working Poor (November 2007)
– Release survey of services provided by Catholic Charities agencies
– Document needs of poor in our nation
• Ongoing media at national and local levels
– Press releases, letters to the editor, op-eds
• Word of mouth
– Parish/community forums, endorsements, local advertising
Endorse the Campaign
Please join us in this fight to reduce poverty and
support those in our communities with limited
resources by endorsing the Campaign.
By endorsing the Campaign you are making the
statement that you agree with the Campaign goals,
in essence you want to reduce poverty in America,
and that you are going to take action.
Encourage others to endorse the Campaign!
•Staff
•Coalitions
•Friends
•Community leaders
Agency Engagement and
Action:
Advocacy
• Endorsers of the Campaign receive regular Action Alerts on
poverty, and specific issues that allow them to
– Email and call your Members of Congress
– Join colleagues and let your voice be heard!
– Sign up today at www.capwiz.com/catholiccharitiesusa
• Engage in regular interactions with your Members of Congress
– At home
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Meetings
Invite them to visit your programs
Attend town hall meetings
Be a resource
– In Washington
• join CCUSA members in D.C. for advocacy training and Hill visits
Agency and Individual
Engagement: Other Activities
• CCUSA has developed numerous tools for agencies and individuals to
use to spread the word about poverty
– Website
– Blog (web log)
– Materials
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Press Release
Legislative Agenda
Facts about poverty
Policy Paper
Advocacy manual
Study guide
Online endorsement
20 things you can do to reduce poverty
Brochures
Prayer Cards
Get Involved!
Get Others Involved!
Twenty Things You Can Do To Address Poverty
Reflect
1) Pray for those whose lives are impacted by poverty
2) Use Scripture to deepen your understanding of poverty
3) Familiarize yourself with Catholic social teaching on the poor
Get Informed
4) Educate yourself about poverty in your community and in the United States. Read
Poverty in America: A Threat to the Common Good and other facts and stories about
poverty. Also, use the study guide to the poverty paper.
5) Identify an issue (such as health care, housing, hunger, economic security, or moral
budget priorities) that you are passionate about and can take action on.
6) Make yourself familiar with legislation and policy proposals that impact those lowincome families and individuals. Visit Catholic Charities USA’s advocacy page.
7) Reach out to those living in poverty in your community by participating in parish and
community activities and service.
Get Involved!
Get Others Involved!
Twenty Things You Can Do To Address Poverty
Get Organized
8) Invite those who are directly impacted by poverty to join your discussions of
the paper and become participants in the actions you all take to address poverty.
9) Identify existing resources or advocacy groups working on your issue in your
community.
10) Reach out to those living in poverty in your community by participating in
parish and community activities and service.
11) Develop a working group within your church and community- to help spread
the word and raise concerns about “your issue”- make sure to involve some lowincome families on your work group.
12) Share what you have learned with others in your community and encourage
them to take action too.
Get Involved!
Get Others Involved!
Twenty Things You Can Do To Address Poverty
Get Involved
13) Let your voice be heard by involving yourself in advocacy activities at the local, state
and national levels. Visit Catholic Charities USA’s advocacy page.
14) Identify key power brokers within your church and community who can assist you
with your advocacy efforts.
15) Join your diocesan or Catholic Charities legislative network and become an active
participant.
16) Contact your local elected officials with specific concerns about poverty in your
community and ask for a staff contact to follow up with. Follow up with that staff.
17) Engage your state legislators and U.S. Congressional members. Visit Catholic
Charities USA’s Legislative Action Center.
18) Once you have a strong understanding of your issue, have organized some community
support, and know what changes you would like to see, engage your local media to call
attention to what is happening in your community. Visit Catholic Charities USA’s
Legislative Action Center.
Get Involved!
Get Others Involved!
Twenty Things You Can Do To Address Poverty
Volunteer
19) Learn about volunteering with Catholic Charities in your
community. Contact your local Catholic Charities agency to find
out how you can serve your community.
Donate
20)Support Catholic Charities’ efforts.
Why Everyone should be
involved
Poverty is a threat to the common good, a threat
that needs the assistance of all people of good
will.
Together we can partner and work in our own
communities to create change for those that live
among us. We CAN create the political will to
reduce poverty in this country.
Contact Us
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Candy Hill, Senior Vice President for Social Policy
Christin Driscoll, Senior Director for Policy Development and Advocacy
Desmond Brown, Director of Health and Welfare Policy
Monica Maggiano, Senior Campaign Manager
Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America
Catholic Charities USA
1731 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 549-1390
Poverty@catholiccharitiesusa.org
www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/poverty