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It's not yet clear how Catholic Charities in Albany and other New York State dioceses will be affected by the $175 million in cuts to human services passed by the state last week in budget extender bills.

But the cuts are bound to interfere with Catholic Charities USA's goal of reducing by half the number of Americans living in poverty - currently 40 million - by 2020.

That campaign started in 2006. There are five national priority areas:

• health care: specifically, reducing the infant mortality rate and increasing child healthcare coverage;

• hunger: improving access to nutritious food;

• housing: reducing the number of families in emergency shelters and increasing affordable housing units;

• family economic security: boosting the minimum wage and increasing paternal involvement in families; and

• workforce training and education: improving access to quality, affordable early childhood education.

In the Albany Diocese, Catholic Charities officials say the economy and the state's fiscal uncertainty make progress difficult. Meanwhile, demand on Catholic Charities programs has increased.

This year, Catholic Charities has already served 25,000 more clients than last year. About 100 more people have looked to the agency for emergency assistance, and more families are using food pantries.

Millions of dollars were cut in June for many state programs that keep Catholic Charities running. For instance, the Supportive Housing for Families program, which funds Catholic Charities' Housing Office program, will lose $2.4 million.

Wheels for Work, which pairs donated cars with people in need of transportation, will lose more than $6 million. Other programs affected include emergency assistance for the homeless, domestic violence services and supplemental homelessness prevention.

"If these cuts hit Catholic Charities program proportionately, the financial impact [in the Diocese] would exceed $1 million," explained Martha Pofit, diocesan director of public policy.

Catholic Charities has rallied for the poor in New York State. The agency fights for the reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act, access to health care and the creation of a state legislative poverty commission.

Officials want to revamp the system so people don't need soup kitchens or public assistance. Direct services can plug the gaps, said Marianne Comfort, Catholic Charities' public policy advocate.

"The ultimate goal," she said, "is to put ourselves out of business."

(06/24/10)[[In-content Ad]]

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