Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America

May 5, 2008

Campaign to Reduce Poverty in AmericaCampaign Goals

Reduce poverty rate in the United States by 50% by the year 2020.

Call upon the government to do more to serve those who are poor and to improve public policies that strengthen and support families.

Campaign to Reduce Poverty in AmericaCampaign Goals

Educate policy makers and the public about the struggles of those living in poverty and the good work of those who serve them in local communities.

Engage those who are most impacted by government policies to be active participants in developing solutions to reducing poverty.

Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America

Policy Papers Poverty in America: A Threat to

the Common Good (2007) Poverty and Racism: Overlapping

Threats to the Common Good (2008)

Poverty in America: A Threat to the Common

GoodPOVERTY FACTS

37 million people live below the official federal poverty level ($20,000,HH=4)

Poverty rates are highest in central cities and in rural areas

The number of people living in poverty increased by 5.3 million between 2000 and 2004

POVERTY FACTS Poverty rates by ethnic group

Non-Hispanic Whites 8%African Americans 24.1%Hispanics 21.8%Native Americans 23.2%

Poverty in America: A Threat to the Common

Good

POVERTY FACTS Poverty rates for children, by

ethnic groupWhites 10%African Americans 33%Hispanics 28%Native Americans 27%

Poverty in America: A Threat to the Common

Good

POVERTY FACTS Two-thirds of those in poverty

are the working poor Almost half of all Americans will

have experienced poverty for a year or more by the time they reach age 60

Poverty in America: A Threat to the Common

Good

Poverty in Louisiana2006

1.6 million households in Louisiana 19% of people were in poverty 28% of related children under 18

were below the poverty level 14% of people 65 year old and over

were below the poverty level

Poverty in Louisiana2006

14% of all families had incomes below the poverty level

39% of female head-of-household families had incomes below the poverty level

Poverty in Houma-Thibodaux

Houma 2000 8,235 families 16.4% of all families

were below the poverty level

40.6% of female head-of-household families had incomes below the poverty level

Thibodaux 2000 3,289 families 20.6% of all families

were below the poverty level

51.5% of female head-of-household families had incomes below the poverty level

Poverty and Racism: Overlapping Threats to the

Common Good

Key Events Linking Race and Poverty

Slavery – labor of enslaved created wealth for others

Indian Removal Act of 1830 Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

Key Events Linking Race and Poverty

Social Security Act of 1935 Wagner Act of 1935 Federal Housing Administration

loan practices (1940-1950)

Poverty in America: A Threat to the Common Good

Discussion Questions

How many are hearing of these statistics for the first time?

What shocked or disturbed you most? Who would like to give us a definition

of poverty? What are some misconceptions about

poverty? What does poverty look like in this

community?

Call to Action

Create more livable wage jobs and raise wages, including the minimum wage

Invest in social policies that support lower-income families and individualsImprove access to safe and stable child

careCreate more affordable housingImprove access to education and

training

Call to Action

Support progressive affirmative action policies in education and employment

Improve fair housing laws Enact comprehensive immigration

policies Address the disparities and

deficiencies in the criminal justice system

Things You Can Do

REFLECT Pray Review Catholic social teaching Read the papers Conduct a self-examination Act

Things You Can Do

GET INFORMED Educate yourself about poverty

in your community and in the United States

Make yourself familiar with legislation and policy proposals

Identify a specific issue on which to become an expert

Things You Can Do

GET ORGANIZED Identify existing resources or

advocacy groups working on similar issues

Develop a working group within your church or neighborhood

Things You Can Do

GET INVOLVED Get involved in advocacy

activities at the local, state and national levels

Contact your local elected officials with specific concerns about poverty in your community

Join our legislative network and become an active participant

Prayer of St. Francis

Make me a channel of your peace,Where there is hatred, let me bring

Your love,Where there is injury, Your pardon LordAnd where there’s doubt, true faith in

You

Prayer of St. Francis

Make me a channel of your peace,Where there’s despair in life let me

bring hope,When there is darkness – only lightAnd where there’s sadness, ever joy

Prayer of St. Francis

Oh Master, grant that I may never seekSo much to be consoled as to console,To be understood, as to understand,

To be loved, as to love with all my soul

Prayer of St. Francis

Make me a channel of your peace, It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

In giving to all men that we receive,And in dying that we’re born to eternal

life.