Catholic Charities USA Labor Day Statement

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Sep 03, 2010, 09:09 ET

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Rev. Larry Snyder, president and CEO of Catholic Charities USA, the social service network committed to reducing poverty by 50 percent by 2020, issued the following statement today at the beginning of the Labor Day weekend:

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"As our nation begins to celebrate and enjoy time off from work this weekend, we are mindful of the 39 million Americans struggling in poverty every day. The opportunity to have a good job and support one's family is at the heart of the American dream. Yet for the past year, 14.6 million people have been out of work.

"At our local Catholic Charities agencies, the individuals and families in need of assistance are faced with tremendous barriers to work. In many communities there are no jobs; in others, the available jobs barely pay a livable wage. A lack of training, childcare, and transportation also make it difficult for hard-working families to move toward self-sufficiency."

As Catholic Charities USA moves into its second century of service, it calls upon our nation to do more to support Americans struggling in poverty and improve public policies that strengthen and support families. Catholic Charities USA supports the creation and expansion of programs that strengthen workforce development through education and training, enabling more families to participate in the future economic success of the country.

Catholic Charities USA's members provide help and create hope for more than 9 million people a year regardless of religious, social, or economic backgrounds. For almost 300 years, Catholic Charities agencies have worked to reduce poverty by providing a myriad of vital services in their communities, ranging from health care and job training to food and housing. In 2010, Catholic Charities USA celebrates its centennial anniversary.

SOURCE Catholic Charities USA