LOW-INCOME CITIZENS NEED A PLACE AT THE TABLE WHEN THE GULF COAST REBUILDS

By Bishop Howard J. Hubbard of Albany, NY
Chairman, Catholic Campaign for Human Development Committee

Suddenly, a spotlight shines on poverty in America. For many, it is a rude awakening. Few knew that so many families and individuals in this wealthiest of nations would be unable to evacuate in an emergency because they lacked the wherewithal to simply get out of town and temporarily relocate someplace else. They were forced to stay behind and face the storm.

Learning the extent of poverty in places like New Orleans was shocking news to many, but not to the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD). For 35 years, it has been listening to those who struggle and addressing the root causes of poverty in the United States. Right now, 37 million men, women and children are living below the poverty line. That’s one out of every eight Americans. It’s over 10 percent of all families and nearly 12.9 million children trapped in poverty.

The unique mission of CCHD is different from that of human services agencies that respond to the immediate critical needs of the poor while they are in crisis. CCHD’s mission is focused on providing the important assistance they need to improve their situation for the long-term. It is directed at helping people break the cycle of poverty by providing grants that support community-based projects that help create jobs, improve neighborhoods and allow families to find a way out of poverty by giving them a voice in the decisions that affect them most. Most important of all, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development offers a pathway to hope for a better future to many who have been struggling for generations.

Many in the philanthropic community are talking about who will pay for long-term recovery needs. To help begin rebuilding in the Gulf Coast, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development immediately made $150,000 available to national community organizing networks that have a presence in the affected areas. These special grants will help low-income citizens plan for long-term recovery and be involved with those who will be making the decisions as cities and communities are rebuilt.

Our nation’s poor are our most vulnerable and need a voice in addressing their future needs. Most necessary is employment that pays a living wage, safe and affordable housing, access to education and healthcare and more. To this end, CCHD will make additional grant funds available to community groups in the impacted areas in 2005 and 2006 including technical assistance funds to help dioceses support local organizations involved in response efforts.

We stand in solidarity with the poor and low-income people who lived along the Gulf Coast and pray for them. We also pray that the spotlight that now shines on our nation’s poor will not grow dim too soon. There is much work to be done and we need to listen carefully to their voices and see clearly their needs.