National Human Service Leaders Summit

National Human Service Leaders Summit

Poverty in AmericaPoverty 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

• 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 CampaignRoots of the Campaign

August 2005 Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast

As a country we saw the disproportionate affect of disaster on the poor- and 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

August 2005 Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast

As a country we saw the disproportionate affect of disaster on the poor- and 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?Why Catholic Charities?

• Historic role as “Attorney for the Poor”

• 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!

• Historic role as “Attorney for the Poor”

• 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 CampaignRoots 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

– 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

• Changing political landscape

• Opportunity to establish a bold agenda

• The Campaign actualizes our call

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

– 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

• Changing political landscape

• Opportunity to establish a bold agenda

• The Campaign actualizes our call

Poverty in AmericaPoverty 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.

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?What is the Campaign?

• Multi-year initiative to cut poverty in half by 2020

• Multi-faceted approach– 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.

• Multi-year initiative to cut poverty in half by 2020

• Multi-faceted approach– 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 GoalsCampaign 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

• 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, 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

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

Catholic Charities USA’s Legislative Priorities for

the 110th Congress

Catholic Charities USA’s Legislative Priorities for

the 110th Congress• HUNGER

– 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

• HUNGER– 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

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

• 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

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

• 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

• 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

• 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

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

• 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

• CCUSA has developed numerous tools for agencies and individuals to use to spread the word about poverty– Website– Blog (web log) – Materials

• 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!

Get Involved!Get Others Involved!

Twenty Things You Can Do To Address PovertyReflect

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 low-income 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.

Twenty Things You Can Do To Address PovertyReflect

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 low-income 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!

Get Involved!Get Others Involved!

Twenty Things You Can Do To Address PovertyGet 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 low-income families on your work group.

12) Share what you have learned with others in your community and encourage them to take action too.

Twenty Things You Can Do To Address PovertyGet 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 low-income 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!

Get Involved!Get Others Involved!

Twenty Things You Can Do To Address PovertyGet 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.

Twenty Things You Can Do To Address PovertyGet 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!

Get Involved!Get Others Involved!

Twenty Things You Can Do To Address Poverty

Volunteer

19) Learn about volunteering with Catholic Learn about volunteering with Catholic CharitiesCharities in your community. Contact your Contact your local Catholic Charities agencylocal Catholic Charities agency to find out how you can serve your community.

Donate

20)Support Catholic Charities’ efforts20)Support Catholic Charities’ efforts.

Twenty Things You Can Do To Address Poverty

Volunteer

19) Learn about volunteering with Catholic Learn about volunteering with Catholic CharitiesCharities in your community. Contact your Contact your local Catholic Charities agencylocal Catholic Charities agency to find out how you can serve your community.

Donate

20)Support Catholic Charities’ efforts20)Support Catholic Charities’ efforts.

Why Everyone should be involved

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.

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 UsContact Us

• 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 AmericaCatholic Charities USA

1731 King StreetAlexandria, VA 22314

(703) 549-1390Poverty@catholiccharitiesusa.org

www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/poverty

• 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 AmericaCatholic Charities USA

1731 King StreetAlexandria, VA 22314

(703) 549-1390Poverty@catholiccharitiesusa.org

www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/poverty