U.S. Bishops’ Anti-Poverty Program Creates a Path to Good Jobs and Stronger Communities

WASHINGTON – As the Catholic Church commemorates the World Day of the Poor on November 17, dioceses across the United States will take up the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) annual collection for their anti-poverty program, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD). #iGiveCatholicTogether also accepts funds for CCHD.

Founded in 1970, CCHD focuses on promoting the active participation of people experiencing poverty in the United States working together to create job opportunities, improve conditions in their neighborhoods, and address the root causes of poverty in their communities.

“When you give to CCHD, you uphold the dignity of the poor by creating a path to good jobs and better, stronger communities,” said Bishop Timothy C. Senior of Harrisburg, chairman of the USCCB’s Subcommittee on the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. “CCHD opens the door to the active participation of those experiencing poverty to convene, identify barriers, research issues, brainstorm solutions, and take action to change problematic structures and systems in their communities and is an essential part of the social mission of the Church in the United States.

Last year, CCHD distributed more than $12.7 million to non-partisan grassroots organizations that help poor or marginalized people across the country work together to rise above the obstacles to living wages, affordable housing, and safe neighborhoods. Additionally, 25% of all contributions to diocesan CCHD collections stay in the diocese where they were given, funding local anti-poverty projects.

Among the national CCHD grant recipients are:

• Northwest Hub in Salem, Oregon, which teaches bicycle repair and basic business skills to people experiencing homelessness, many of them recently released from local prisons, rehabilitation centers, or mental health facilities.
• KC Can Compost in Kansas City, Missouri, which provides job training to people struggling to overcome barriers to employment through a composting business and training for work in green industry jobs.
• Seed Commons, based in New York City, which makes low-interest start-up loans nationwide to business cooperatives that are owned by their employees.
• Centro de Trabajadores Unidas en la Lucha, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which protects both union and non-union workers against injustices such as wage theft.
• Strangers No Longer, an outreach in several Michigan dioceses that provides basic assistance and encouragement to immigrants and refugees while advocating for both individual immigrants and immigration reform.

Grant applications are reviewed and approved by both the local bishop and the U.S. bishops’ subcommittee on CCHD.

“Organizations that receive funding from CCHD reflect the diversity of the communities they serve, and bring together Catholics, ecumenical and interfaith leaders, and non-religious members dedicated to making positive change. While they are religiously diverse, these funded organizations commit to advancing and uplifting Catholic moral and social teaching,” Bishop Senior said. “Once a grant is awarded, CCHD staff maintain close relationships with organizations throughout the length of the grant.”

For more information about CCHD see https://www.usccb.org/committees/catholic-campaign-human-development

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