New Poverty USA Website Offers Statistics, Stories, Resources To Catholics

WASHINGTON—Catholics can learnabout the state of poverty in the United States and concrete ways they can makea difference at a new website from the the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops(USCCB). The site, www.povertyusa.org,was launched August 15 and offers tools and resources to spread the word aboutpoverty in America. Resources include an interactive poverty map with state andcounty level poverty statistics, a Poverty Tour video which gives viewers asense of what it is like to live at the federal poverty line, videos and linksto PovertyUSA's social media sites, including www.facebook.com/povertyusa.

The website, which is an initiativeof the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) and USCCB's Department ofJustice, Peace and Human Development, will feature selected news storiesrelated to the state of poverty in the United States. Also, on the county-levelview of poverty statistics, visitors will be able to find examples of localorganizations working to alleviate poverty in their communities.

We are committed to providingeducational content related to poverty as well as hopeful examples of what wecan do to make the state of poverty better," said Ralph McCloud, national directorof CCHD. "We welcome comments regarding the new site or suggestions for futurefeature articles or guest editorials."

Comments and suggestions may be sentto the Justice, Peace and Human Development main email.Those wishing to receive additional resources on a regular basis can signup for the email newsletter, Notes for Neighbors.

CCHD is the domestic anti-poverty programof the USCCB and works to break the cycle of poverty by helping low-incomepeople participate in decisions that affect their lives, families andcommunities. It has a complementary mission of educating on poverty and itscauses. This dual pastoral strategy of education for justice and helping peoplewho are poor speak and act for themselves reflects the mandate of theScriptures and the principles of Catholic social teaching.

CCHD is made possible by thegenerous support of Catholics in the United States, especially through anannual parish collection. CCHD's grants to local anti-poverty efforts arescreened, awarded and monitored in close partnership with local Catholicdioceses. CCHD grants to groups in a local community require the explicitapproval of the bishop of that diocese.

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Keywords: Poverty USA, website,Facebook, poverty, statistics, resources, stories, Catholic Campaign for HumanDevelopment, CCHD

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