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 Breaking the Cycle of Poverty: CCHD funded group successes
123 living wage ordinances have been passed, generating $750,000,000 in new annual wages (employees of cities, counties, school districts). CCHD funded projects were involved in 11 of the new ordinances.
State minimum wage laws are now enacted in 26 states. In 2006, six states passed minimum wage laws and CCHD funded groups got it on the ballot in four of those states.
The federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is an important source of income for low-income families. Families who do not apply for the EITC lose $1,000-$2,000 in returned taxes. CCHD funded projects operate tax centers that do free tax preparation for low-income families. Door knocking by funded groups generates eligible applicants. |
Since its start thirty-seven years ago, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) has worked to transform lives and communities, focusing steadily on breaking the cycle of poverty in thousands of communities across the United States. CCHD was established by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops with a two-fold mandate to fund low-income controlled empowerment projects and to educate Catholics about the root causes of poverty within the context of the Catholic social tradition. CCHD programs are funded through an annual collection in parishes each year. |
Amanda Zurface was named 2006 Young Catholic Woman of the Year by Columbus Bishop Frederick Campbell. Amanda, a student at Ohio Dominican University, was honored for her participation in the youth group and her service as a eucharistic minister and member of the Columbus Diocesan Youth Council. Amanda was a CCHD intern in the diocese last summer. |