Diocese issues poverty report

Catholic Charities of the Albany Diocese is joining the Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America with the release of a report on poverty within the Diocese's 14 counties and attention on public policy issues through the eyes of the most vulnerable people.

The nationwide Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America was launched by Catholic Charities USA, a network of more than 1,700 Catholic Charities agencies and institutions. The project aims to cut poverty in half in the U.S. by 2020.

In the Diocese, the campaign formally kicks off this week with publication of "Poverty in the Diocese of Albany: A Threat to the Common Good."

Causes

The report explores five factors contributing to poverty: income insecurity, educational disadvantages, hunger and inadequate nutrition, lack of access to health care, and the shortage of safe, affordable housing.

"This report challenges us to fulfill the Gospel mandate to respond to the needs of the least among us," Bishop Howard J. Hubbard writes in an introductory letter.

"Fortified with knowledge about poverty in our midst, Catholics in the Albany Diocese -- joined with members of other faith communities, government leaders, and other organizations serving the poor and vulnerable -- can move toward improving the situation in our own towns, villages and cities."

Findings

The report portrays the plight of workers whose wages and benefits don't cover their families' basic needs, the demand for emergency assistance at food pantries across the Diocese, the gaps in health and educational attainment for low-income families, and the often futile search for safe, affordable housing in communities where costs are skyrocketing with the arrival of wealthier residents.

Also highlighted are the needs of children, the elderly, people with disabilities, immigrants, persons released from the criminal justice system and persons with HIV/AIDS.

The report includes charts that plot statistics for each county to illustrate the percentage of residents living in poverty, without health insurance, lacking a high school degree and paying more than they can afford for housing.

What's next?

The report will become a guide for the Diocese's public policy efforts over the next few years, said Sister Maureen Joyce, RSM, chief executive officer of Catholic Charities.

The state budget and legislative initiatives will be examined with the needs described in the report in mind, she explained.

The report contains general public policy suggestions in each of the five issue areas. A separate sheet will be included with the report that describes specific opportunities this year for supporting low-income individuals and families through the budgetary process and proposed legislation.

An updated issue sheet will be released each year as a supplement to the report to provide information on legislative initiatives that will be key in the ongoing Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America.

Public policy

Sister Maureen said that the report will be especially useful at the New York State Catholic Conference of Bishops' Public Policy Day on March 11.

That's when Catholics from around the state visit the State Capitol to meet with legislators.

With the report in hand, she said, Catholics will be able to alert legislators to specific needs in their local communities and tie those needs to proposed legislation.

Follow-up

At the conclusion of the report, Sister Maureen invites readers to join the advocacy networks at Catholic Charities USA and the New York State Catholic Conference.

That allows Catholics to receive and respond to timely legislative actions at the federal and state levels.

She also pointed out a "poverty in our Diocese" toolbox that contains bulletin inserts, lessons for faith formation classes, prayer resources and a list of informative DVDs.

(The poverty report is an update of "Rebuilding the Covenant with the Poor," a diocesan paper on poverty released in 2005. Along with more recent statistics, the new report relies on the experiences of individuals and families served by Catholic Charities agencies throughout the Diocese. The report was written as a resource for parishes, social justice committees, faith formation programs and Catholic schools as they advocate on behalf of those in need in their communities. The release is timed with the end of Poverty in America Awareness Month. The full report is available at www.ccrcda.org.)

(01/31/08)