Special to the HERALD
(From the issue of 11/13/03)

For more than 30 years the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD), a program of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has given hope to people in the U.S. who are living in poverty. CCHD attempts to break the cycle of poverty not for just a day but for a lifetime. One of the best ways we can accomplish this is by supporting the CCHD’s efforts to assist the poor in helping themselves through the support of sustainable projects and education about poverty in America. Last year CCHD raised more than $10 million in grants to create jobs, provide affordable housing, improve schools, ensure just wages, fight crime and develop leaders for the future.

Funds are carefully administered to promote long-term solutions to the problems of low-income people right in their own communities. The goals and work of CCHD mirror the social mission of the Church. CCHD encourages self-sufficiency by empowering local groups to improve conditions in neighborhoods and to enhance training for adults and children. This is grassroots spending to meet grassroots needs and is not based on religious affiliation. Of course, no program would receive funds if it was contrary to the moral teachings of the Church.

This summer, Steve Luteran was named the new executive director of Catholic Charities for the diocese of Arlington, while Father Charles McCoart remains as the director of Diocesan Charities.

Father McCoart encourages the participation of new candidates from parishes throughout the Arlington Diocese, especially areas that have not historically been active in the program such as the Northern Neck and western and southern parts of the diocese.

Father McCoart restates Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde’s teaching that "organizing the poor in self-help actions rather than simply providing a service is the best way to begin overcoming the scourge of poverty.

Funded projects must contribute to long term institutional change and must offer the poor community being served the opportunity to share in the leadership of the endeavor. Organizations seeking assistance in qualifying new projects according to CCHD’s criteria for overcoming poverty are encouraged to contact the office of Catholic Charities in Arlington at 703/841-3839. For new organizations a pre-qualification interview or conference may be required in December or January to assure that the organization meets the CCHD criteria. Once the criteria are satisfied, all organizations must submit their applications for funding to the diocesan offices by March 31, 2004.

The weekend of Nov. 22-23 has been designated by Bishop Loverde for the special CCHD collection. Seventy-five percent of your contributions will be sent to the National CCHD office for grants nation-wide, but the balance supports projects within the Arlington diocese. Well-established organizations within the Arlington diocese have received National CCHD funding in the past and some will be applying for these National funds in the future.

Poverty does not have to be a permanent condition — we can only end poverty if we face it together.

Arlington Organizations

Some organizations in the Arlington Diocese that have been supported in the recent past are:

— Tenants and Workers Support Committee: A low-income community-based organization in Alexandria that was first organized in 1986 in response to the mass evictions of 5,000 low-income Latinos and African-Americans from local neighborhoods. Its mission is to help organize low-income residents, workers, women and youth; to challenge racism and sexism through direct action and education; and to promote social change, political leadership, community ownership and control of resources through working class organizations in Northern Virginia.

— Buyers and Renters Arlington Voice (BRAVO): Organizes and supports tenants seeking to improve living conditions and works to keep a steady availability of affordable housing in Arlington. It is dedicated to creating and sustaining a strong tenant leadership coalition. It works especially in areas where affordable housing is at-risk of being lost.

— Habitat for Humanity of Northern Va.: Organizes families to build affordable housing. It is a non-profit, ecumenical Christian volunteer organization that secures land and builds simple, affordable houses for families (of any faith) in need. We build in Arlington and Fairfax Counties and the cities of Falls Church, Alexandria and Fairfax. Families are involved with the building of their new home, and the home is purchased with one percent down and an interest-free mortgage. In the first ten years, the organization has built homes for 28 families — with no mortgage foreclosures.

— Progreso Hispano: Organizes the Hispanic people in the Alexandria/Route One area to provide needed services and to assure that adequate government social services are equally available to Hispanics.