CATHOLIC CHARITIES

Charity in difficult economic times

By Paul Martodam | March 19, 2009 | The Catholic Sun

We read in the papers almost daily about shortages on food shelves, increasing numbers of people losing their homes, and community nonprofits struggling to meet increasing needs.

 I am often asked about the impact of the economic downturn on Catholic Charities Community Services. Recently, the questions are about the newly enacted state budget cuts.

The short story is so many more people need help during a time when funding and donations are decreasing. The longer answer is that our total funding has declined by almost $3 million during the past 14 months. Nearly every source of income is down, including donations, CDA, United Way, foundation grants, and local and state government. In the past year, we have eliminated by layoff or attrition more than 90 staff positions.

Our emergency financial assistance, utility assistance and rent/mortgage assistance programs help 300 families a month, but we are not able to help over 1,000 families who seek our help. We know state funding for a portion of these services will be cut. We hope federal stimulus funding will offset the cuts.

We have had to eliminate two rented housing units for homeless families. We serve 140 parents and children a month in our emergency and transitional shelters, but cannot help twice as many homeless families who come to us looking for help and hope.

We just received a notice from the State of Arizona eliminating $46,000 over the next four months to fund our 10-bed expansion of domestic violence shelter at My Sister’s Place. We must now consider closing the expansion until we can obtain funding.

Last month, the Department of Economic Security told us that our in-home services to families in the Child Protective Service system are reduced by 90 percent immediately. Substance abuse treatment and supportive services for children were cut 25 percent. That means Catholic Charities will not be able to serve 800 at-risk families throughout the diocese during the next five months. Instead, many more children will be removed from their families, and placed into a much more expensive foster care system.

This is the third economic downturn in my time in the Diocese of Phoenix. It is the first time, however, that Catholic Charities has shrunk in its capacity to provide critical services. We are convinced that if more people understood the importance and impact of what we do, support would dramatically increase.

To that end, we are hosting our third annual Compassion in Action breakfast 7:30 to 9 a.m., April 2, at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix. Please come and learn more about the fabulous ministry being done on your behalf. Learn about a family who escaped from Iraq and experienced a miracle in our diocese! Learn why prostitution is a children’s issue. Hear Bishop Olmsted share why he thinks this ministry is so important. Learn why an investment in charity is the best investment in the marketplace, especially in these difficult economic times. We must be a Church that says, “of course we can help you!”

Please be our guest. There is no charge to attend.

--

Third annual Compassion in Action breakfast

For registration information or to learn more about the services offered by Catholic Charities, visit www.CatholicCharitiesAZ.org or call Sylvia Hopkins at (602) 650-4830.

Paul Martodam is CEO of Catholic Charities Community Services.