‘Poverty Never Takes a Holiday’Survey: Catholic Charities Needed More Than Ever

A national survey by Catholic Charities USA has revealed that many Catholic Charities agencies across the country have seen an increase in people requesting help during the holiday season. (CCUSA survey, 2006).

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City is also experiencing requests for  help from Oklahomans who are struggling financially, especially at Christmas, says Becky Van Poole, director of Parish Outreach and Program Development. “We are currently very busy working on the annual Christmas Adopt-a-Family project, which is designed to provide Christmas gifts for children and families. We are fortunate that many people and organizations are willing to sponsor a family for Christmas,” she said.  

Family Support Services, Counseling and Refugee Services at Catholic Charities of OKC and the regional offices in Oklahoma (Lawton, Enid and Clinton) are also helping clients during the  holiday season with donated gifts such as toys, food, Christmas gift cards and other needed items. Catholic Charities in Oklahoma is experiencing similar needs as those across the country.

“As we enter the holiday season, our survey of Catholic Charities agencies shows that poverty never takes a holiday,” said Rev. Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA. “Year after year, we continue to see that requests for help are growing much faster than the money to provide assistance, putting continued strain on social services.”

Across the nation, Catholic Charities agencies, including Catholic Charities of OKC,  continue to see an increase in low-income families and vulnerable populations seeking just the basic needs — financial assistance to pay utilities, housing, food and prescriptions.

“Due to many increasing needs across the Archdiocese of OKC,  and our strategic goal to develop services for homeless persons in Oklahoma City, Catholic Charities increased its 2006 Annual Appeal goal to $2.2 million,” Tim O’Connor, executive director of Catholic Charities, stated. “Although we have not reached our goal yet, we are optimistic that our annual appeal goal will be met by the end of this year,” O’Connor added.

For more information on Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, call (405) 523-3000 or 1-800-375-8514.

Here are some key findings in the 2006 Catholic Charities USA national survey:

Increasing Need

•75 percent are seeing more people seeking help in paying utility bills

•72 percent of Catholic Charities agencies report an increase in the need for financial assistance

•68 percent are finding an increase in requests for aid in making rent or mortgage payments

•64 percent report an increase in the need for food

•53 percent report an increase in the need for mental health services

•45 percent report an increase in the need for prescription assistance

•44 percent of the agencies cite an increase in the need for temporary housing

Who is Seeking Help: Working Poor and Other Vulnerable Populations

•81 percent of agencies cite an increase in the working poor seeking help

•68 percent of local agencies report an increase in the number of families coming to them for help

•56 percent are seeing more seniors

•55 percent report an increase in immigrants needing assistance

•48 percent are seeing an increase in the number of homeless seeking help