January is “Poverty in America Awareness Month”

Today, 37.3 million Americans—and 1 in 6 children (18 percent of all American children) are living below the poverty line. They live in families who have to make difficult choices between food, health care, heat and rent. To bring attention to this national crisis, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) has designated January as “Poverty in America Awareness Month.”

CCHD is committed to working towards the elimination of poverty in the United States. Sponsored by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization, CCHD today stands as one of the nation’s largest funding organizations for self-help programs for the poor.

Numbers of Hungry Children Increasing In US

CCHD invests in the dignity of people living below the poverty line. Their programs support self-sufficiency and self-determination for people who are working to bring permanent change to their communities. Their philosophy emphasizes empowerment and participation for those in poverty. By helping the poor to participate in the decisions and actions affecting their lives and communities, CCHD empowers them to move beyond poverty.

Since 1970, CCHD has provided about 8,000 grants to self-help projects to aid those living in poverty. Each year CCHD distributes national grants to more than 300 projects and hundreds of smaller local programs are funded through the 25 percent share of the CCHD collection retained by dioceses.

During Poverty in America Awareness Month, the CCHD devotes efforts to heightening the nation's understanding of the size and depth of the problems of poverty by:
• Releasing public service campaign to raise awareness of poverty in America.
• Encouraging the editorial media to focus on poverty.
• Educating the public to be sensitive to the needs of those in poverty and to treat poor people with respect.
• Holding events in schools and public settings to remind people poverty does exist in American.

USA Poverty Statistics
The official poverty rate in 2009 was 14.3 percent, that is up from 13.2 percent in 2008. The number of people living in extreme poverty (those with incomes below half the poverty line), rose to over 17 million people. This is the highest level on record since data first became available in 1975. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Housing and Household Economic Statistics Division: 2008

Tour Poverty USA
Today in America, millions of people are struggling to hang on. Hang onto their jobs, their homes. Trying to keep their families fed. This is what it is like to live below the poverty line, where over 37 million Americans live every day

Different Ways to Get Involved

1. Volunteer
2. Make a donation.
3. Share your knowledge.
4. Give your support.
5. Ask before you give.
6. Find out what people need.
7. Sponsor an event.