Anti-poverty program creates paths to the margins

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development collection has helped the Living Hope Wheelchair Association, an organization based in Houston, attain equipment to assist with wheelchair repair and maintenance. Organization officials said the funds have helped them serve more wheelchair users. (Photo courtesy of Living Hope Wheelchair Association)

HOUSTON — As the Catholic Church commemorates the World Day of the Poor on Nov. 17, dioceses across the U.S. will take up the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) annual collection on Nov. 17 to 18 for their anti-poverty program, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD), including Galveston-Houston.

CCHD was founded to serve those who do not have access to the resources necessary to address poverty in their own communities. According to the mission statement,

“CCHD’s pastoral strategy is empowerment of the poor through a methodology of participation and education for justice leading toward solidarity … rooted in our Baptism and faith commitment.” An Archdiocesan committee works with persons in Galveston-Houston who are addressing those issues through their ministries.

“Working with our local committee and grant recipients is a humbling experience,” said Sister Maureen O’Connell, OP, secretariat director of the Office of Justice and Peace at the Archdiocese. “I have a long history of working in this Archdiocese, and my experience with CCHD allows me to witness the care for our most vulnerable brothers and sisters and the commitment of this Archdiocesan community to create an environment of justice and peace where all can thrive.”

Local grant recipients have included: 

1. Living Hope Wheelchair Association — Founded and led by disabled immigrants, most of whom have spinal cord injuries, LWHA has created a remarkable mutual aid society from the grassroots, responding to needs that were unaddressed by other institutions.

2. Houston Legal Aid Center — Provides full legal representation in the areas of immigration, family law and criminal record expungement primarily to victims of domestic violence, human trafficking, immigrants and refugees in the Greater Houston area.

3. Cypress Assistance Ministries — Provides emergency financial support, nutritious food, clothing and basic needs assistance in the northwest quadrant of the Archdiocese.

Helping others move in life

Living Hope Wheelchair Association is a community based non-profit organization formed by people with spinal cord injuries as well as with other mobility disabilities working together to improve their quality of life and promote their rights.

Modesto Hinojosa with the LHWA thanked the Archdiocesan faithful for their support, adding they have been able to make significant strides in improving the services they offer.

“The new equipment, from the welding machine to the emergency generator, is already making a huge difference in the work we do every day,” he said. “With the table lift and additional tools, our team is able to fix wheelchairs, power chairs, scooters and all kinds of medical equipment. We are now able to provide safer, more efficient work environments for our team and those we serve.”

Hinojosa said the funds have allowed them to better serve those who rely on them for hands-on skills training and job readiness programs. The organization was also able to get security cameras and a generator, which Hinojosa said, “provide peace of mind.”

“Whether it’s welding, organizing materials with the new racks, or simply having reliable power during an emergency, it’s clear that this support is helping us build a stronger foundation for the future,” he said. “I feel more confident in the skills I am learning, and I’m excited for the new possibilities that are opening up.”

Founded in 1970, CCHD focuses on promoting the active participation of people experiencing poverty in the U.S., working together to create job opportunities, improve conditions in their neighborhoods and address the root causes of poverty in their communities.

“When you give to CCHD, you uphold the dignity of the poor by creating a path to good jobs and better, stronger communities,” said Bishop Timothy C. Senior of Harrisburg, chairman of the USCCB’s subcommittee on the CCHD. “CCHD opens the door to the active participation of those experiencing poverty to convene, identify barriers, research issues, brainstorm solutions, and take action to change problematic structures and systems in their communities and is an essential part of the social mission of the Church in the United States.”

Last year, CCHD distributed more than $12.7 million to non-partisan grassroots organizations that help poor or marginalized people across the country work together to rise above the obstacles to living wages, affordable housing, and safe neighborhoods. Additionally, 25% of all contributions to Archdiocesan CCHD collections stay in the Archdiocese, where they were given funding for local anti-poverty projects.

Grant applications are reviewed and approved by both the local bishop and the U.S. bishops’ subcommittee on CCHD following site visits and recommendations of the local CCHD Committee.

“Organizations that receive funding from CCHD reflect the diversity of the communities they serve and bring together Catholics, ecumenical and interfaith leaders, and non-religious members dedicated to making positive change. While they are religiously diverse, these funded organizations commit to advancing and uplifting Catholic moral and social teaching,” Bishop Senior said. “Once a grant is awarded, CCHD staff maintain close relationships with organizations throughout the length of the grant.”

#iGiveCatholicTogether also accepts funds for CCHD. For more information about CCHD, visit www.usccb.org/cchd.