Catholic Charities: 7 million help requests--up 11% in 96 FWD
Tom Boland (wgcp@earthlink.net)
Mon, 5 Jan 1998 11:00:45 -0800 (PST)
FWD from <http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/121097.html>
See also Catholic Charities USA home page:
<http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/>
For immediate release: December 10, 1997
For information, contact: 703-549-1390, Ext. 14
Alexandra Peeler, 301-352-7864 (H)
Jo-Ann Leitch, 703-916-8718 (H)
Kathryn Mahon, 703-299-9296(H)
SEVEN MILLION PEOPLE KNOCK ON CATHOLIC CHARITIES DOOR FOR EMERGENCY HELP
Washington, DC: A startling 7.9 million people came to Catholic Charities
agencies for emergency services in 1996, an unexpected 11 percent increase
over the previous year, according to a new survey released today by
Catholic Charities USA. Half of the increase was in people coming for food.
Overall, Catholic Charities agencies served 12.7 million people in 1996, up
from 10.8 million in 1995.
"There is still hunger in America. Poverty is not going away. Many people
working at minimum wage jobs can't feed, clothe, and provide shelter and
medical care for their families. They come to Catholic Charities to help
them with these necessities," said Rev. Fred Kammer, SJ, president of
Catholic Charities USA.
Catholic Charities USA released the results of its 1996 Annual Survey-the
most comprehensive report available of private social services, now in its
25th year-at a December 10 news conference.
The survey reported that 5.6 million Americans received food from Catholic
Charities in 1996, up from 4.9 million in 1995. Increased food needs were
reported in Davenport, Iowa, and Long Island, NY as well as in Washington,
DC and Los Angeles.
Father Kammer called on government, business, unions, and private charities
to seek innovative solutions to the vexing issues of poverty and hunger,
beginning with jobs.
He proposed the following long-term changes to help alleviate hunger in America:
An increase in the minimum wage so working families can eat without
visiting a food pantry.
Adequate health care so parents don't have to choose between food and
medicine for their children.
Quality day care.
Increased funding for emergency food and shelter.
Job training.
"Those who reap the benefits of our economic system also have a
responsibility to promote the well-being of their less fortunate
neighbors," Father Kammer said. "We find this surge in the number of hungry
people during prosperous times shocking," he said. "It's obvious that not
all Americans are participating in the country's economic expansion. We are
especially concerned about the number of working families who are forced to
come to a food pantry or other food service.
"The increase in hungry people during a strong economy dumbfounds everyone.
Thousands of Catholic Charities volunteers and staff reach out to more and
more people every month at hundreds of food pantries, soup kitchens, and
shelters. The nonprofit social services and churches have become the
kitchen of last resort," Father Kammer said.
Catholic Charities agencies sponsor hundreds of soup kitchens and food
banks, thousands of meals for homebound elderly, and special programs such
as S.H.A.R.E. in which families supplement the cost of a bag of groceries
with volunteer time.
Other survey findings show that:
Social services, which include counseling, adoption, housing, medical
assistance, employment services, increased overall by 28 percent since
1993.
More people received permanent housing, a total of 61,709 for a 20 percent
increase over 1995.
Residential care, foster care, and group homes increased 18 percent since
1995 to 107,659 people.
About one out of four who needed temporary shelter, clothing, medicine, or
food were children, and children accounted for almost half of those who
received services for physical or sexual abuse.
Also participating in the news conference were Sister Ann Murray, SHCJ,
director of the Office for the Homeless and Hungry for Catholic Charities
in New York City; Rev. Michael Boland, administrator of Catholic Charities
of the Archdiocese of Chicago, and Christene Dykes-Sorrells, director of
Catholic
Charities' Emergency Assistance Program in Chicago; Scot Adams, Ph.D.,
director of Catholic Charities in Omaha, NE; and David and Alba Raquel
Higgins, clients of Catholic Charities of Washington, DC, who participate
in the SHARE food program.
Catholic Charities USA is the nation's largest, private network of
independent social service organizations. The 1,400 local agencies and
institutions provide services across the country to millions of people in
need-regardless of religious, ethnic, and social background.
Catholic Charities USA 1731 King Street, #200 Alexandria, Virginia 22314
Telephone: (703) 549-1390 Fax: (703) 549-1656
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