Catholic Charities USA Releases Annual Survey Data Further Documenting Recent Census Bureau Poverty Numbers

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Sep 21, 2010, 09:05 ET

Calls for Innovative Solutions to Address the Economic and Moral Crisis of Poverty

WASHINGTON, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA), the 100-year-old social service network committed to reducing poverty in America, today released the findings of its 2009 Annual Survey, an extensive compilation of first-hand data from its local agencies serving more than 9 million people each year. The data comes on the heels of last week's U.S. Census Bureau numbers and leads in to CCUSA's Centennial event this weekend to focus Congress and the nation on new ways to eliminate poverty.

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The data shows a 7.5 percent increase from 2008 in the total number of people served by Catholic Charities. Of the services provided, the largest increase in requests was for food services. Since 2008, there was a 15 percent increase in total requests for food services with over 1 million more people visiting food banks/pantries.

Rev. Larry Snyder, President of CCUSA, in opening remarks, reaffirmed CCUSA's commitment to reduce poverty by 50 percent by 2020, despite the growing increase and the highest rate of poverty since 1964. "Reducing poverty and ensuring that the least among us are afforded the dignity they deserve will require that we 'Think and Act Anew' about the poor, who they are, and how to help them," said Fr. Snyder.

Fr. Snyder's call to "Think and Act Anew" is based on three action steps:

Examine poverty as a consequence of the economy and look for solutions in the economic markets that govern the system.
Redefine what it means to be poor in America today – use meaningful numbers to effectively tackle issues.
Focus on continual innovation, looking beyond good intention to real results.

Joining Fr. Snyder for the Annual survey release was a panel featuring Ed Cooney, President, Congressional Hunger Center; Kim Palmisano, an oil-spill victim and consumer of services from Catholic Charities; and Philip Hong, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Social Work, Loyola University Chicago. The panel provided a personal perspective on poverty and discussed strategies needed to take meaningful steps to reduce poverty and advance opportunity.

The release of the 2009 Annual Survey data is the start of a week of Centennial activities in Washington, DC, (Sept. 25 to 28) which will bring together thousands of Catholic Charities members and partners from around the country to recommit themselves to the goal of reducing poverty and galvanizing the nation to join in its work as it moves into its second century of service.

Catholic Charities USA was founded in 1910 "to bring about a sense of solidarity" among those in charitable ministries. Since 1910, Catholic Charities USA has encouraged professional social work practice, provided opportunities for training and networking, and served as a national voice and expert on poverty issues. For more information, visit http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/centennial.

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