Americans Joining Together To Fight Poverty ZS (NAPS)—A growing numberof Americans are doing something to SOS break thecycle of poverty. Even at a time of great eco- nomic prosperity, 32 million peo- ple still live in poverty in the United States. The 1999 average poverty threshold for a family of three was $13,290. The latest census figures con- firm that one of every six American children lives in poverty. That is nearly five million children—a number greater than the population of the city of Los Ange- les. Families continue to be hard hit as well, as one in every eleven families in America struggles to get out of poverty. To survive and break the cycle of poverty, families need access to a decent education and job training; adequate health care, and safe neighborhoods. However, unlike those in the middle class, the poor cannot take these things for granted. Fortunately, for those who want to be part of the solution, there are a numberof practical and productive ways to get involved. You can be a mentor to an underprivileged child. You can hire and pay a living wage to someone whois trying to work his or her way out of poverty. Or, you can support an organization in your local community that helps people help themselves. For example, it is possible to support organizations like the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. For the past 30 Funded by CCHD, an lowa program is stabilizing family farms by connecting new farmers with those whoareretiring. bishops and supported by an annualcollection in all Catholic churches. CCHD funds community and economic development programs without regard to religiousaffiliation in the belief that local leaders know best the needs of the communities they serve. The grants are distributed only to organizations in which the poor assume leadership roles for com- munity improvement efforts. The funded programs are designed to make permanent changes in the lives of the people they serve and the generations that follow. Nationally, CCHD also promotes programsdesigned to raise years, CCHD, as it is known, has public awareness of poverty and its self-perpetuating effects. In to 3,500 self-help programsto cre- campaign also encourages people distributed $250 million in grants ate jobs, provide affordable hous- ing, improve schools, ensure just wages, fight crime and develop leaders for the future. CCHD is sponsored by the U.S. Catholic addition to raising awareness, this to visit a Web site where they can find out how to fight poverty in their own community. To learn more, visit the Web site at www.povertyusa.org. wane ene e nnn e eee e eee eeeOST eno eee nae eee eee e eee Note to Editors: January is Poverty in America Awareness Month.
