CCRT: Catholic Community Response Team

Our Area Church In Action

Pontiac Area Vicariate

Fall 2013

“I was hungry and you gave me food; I was a stranger and you made me welcome” (Mat. 25:35)

CCRT Mission

CCRT provides direct support and referral services to those in crisis need in a manner relative to the Gospel of Jesus.

When and Why was CCRT Formed?

Created in 2004 by the Pastoral Ministers Association as response from the Vicariate to several factors: 2 different worlds in the Vicariate divided by I-75

A relatively affluent population A population living at or below poverty level

St Vincent de Paul (Pontiac) not able to respond to all requests Need to coordinate responses from different parishes Living out our commitment to solidarity

An overview of our Vicariate…

People living at or below level of poverty* Auburn Hills 11.3%

Pontiac 31.6%Rochester 5.0% Rochester Hills 7.8%

Waterford 15.5%* 2010 data

Federal poverty levels (2012): Family of four: $ 22,050 Individual: $ 10,294

Whom do we serve?From July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013, CCRT served 1853 different clients, most of them in an emergency situationFrom July 2004 to July 2013, CCRT served 5358 different clientsWe serve a very varied population: Homeless people People released from jail People facing eviction and/or utility shut-off People struggling with addictions People with mental illnesses People in need of clothing/food/furniture…

Most of the clients have either no income or an average monthly income (disability or work) between $ 600 and $ 900 – below the federal poverty level

Funding of CCRT for 2012

• Grant from Archdiocese: $ 15,000• Support from the Vicariate Parishes: $ 10,000

• Both support the cost of staffing, administration and facilities for CCRT.

• All other donations from parishes, agencies and individuals go directly to the support of clients

• GAP support• Non designated donations• Fund raiser

10 year Gala Anniversary

o “Hearts A Glow” – the 10 year Gala for CCRTo Date: March 1st. 2014o Where : Notre Dame Prep – Pontiac

Wine Tasting and Craft Beers with Strolling Dinner

Silent Auctions

Ticket Price $ 40.00

Who are our clients?

Adults 1448

Children 405

Total 1853Family members 1188

Singles 665

What do we do for our Clients?

We provide different kinds of Emergency Services regarding: Food and clothing Housing (rent payment, evictions, utility payments) etc. Furniture and household goods Toiletries Identification documents

We provide help with legal issues for our clients through collaboration with legal aid

We provide a listening ear and guidance to our clients

What do we do for our clients?*

Service # Requests # Assisted

Food, food vouchers 1953 1931

Housing, Rent payments, security deposits 446 283

Utility payments 286 225

Clothing 834 799

Furniture/Household goods 738 654

Identification documents 141 120

Personal Grooming supplies 724 711

* Data for year 2012

Organizational chart

2 part time Staff members

We rely essentially on volunteers to:Provide staffing help 5 days a weekTo deliver food and clothing to CCRT every

weekTo pick up available furniture and deliver it

directly to clients

The Relationship of CCRT with the Parishes of the Vicariate is a two

way street:

What can we do for the parishes?

What can the Parishes do for CCRT and its Clients?

What can you do for CCRT?

What can we do for the Parishes?

• Opportunities for Volunteerism – and we need volunteers!

• Share the knowledge of a reality that many of us do not see

• Make real the tenets of Catholic Social Teaching: solidarity between communities

• Provide help for people who are trying to navigate the State emergency support systems

What can the Parishes do for CCRT?

Financial support: tithing, donations…Everything we receive as donations go directly to the Clients

Toiletries drive… Food drive… If each parish could do a food drive once a year…

Uniforms for school as well as school supplies

Christmas projects

Winter clothing for men… mittens, hats, sweat suits…

Office volunteers…

What can you do for CCRT ?

• Help us to be known in your community• Presentation/discussion with different small groups

(Christian Services. Youth groups etc…)

• Share information regarding CCRT with your communities: what we do, what we need…

• Share information regarding the situation in Pontiac• Help with CCRT Gala (fund raiser)

• Procure auction items• Ticket sales• General marketing

A Final Blessing…May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, so that you will live deep in your heart.May God bless you with anger at injustice and oppression, so that you will work for justice, equality and peace.May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer, so you will reach out your hand to comfort them and change their pain to joy.And may God bless you with foolishness to think that you can make a difference in the world, so you will do the things which others say cannot be done.

The Franciscan Four-Part Blessing