Results: Catholic Charities USA
2006 Snapshot Survey of Local Agencies

Earlier this month, 88 Catholic Charities agencies responded to a Catholic Charities USA online survey. Results indicate that more people, especially the working poor, are turning to Catholic Charities for help with the basic necessities. Donations this holiday season have become even more critical in helping Catholic Charities meet the needs of the people they serve. Here are some of the highlights from the survey.

• 75 percent of Catholic Charities agencies are seeing more people seeking help in paying utility bills.
• 72 percent 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.

• 81 percent of local Catholic Charities agencies cite an increase in the working poor seeking help.
• 68 percent 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.

• 99 percent of local Catholic Charities agencies say their greatest need during the 2005 holiday season will be financial contributions.
• 30 percent said food donations were needed.
• 25 percent needed more volunteers; and 21 percent needed more toys.

• Donations from individuals to local agencies are mixed, with 37 percent of the agencies reporting increases from individuals and another 21 percent reporting a decline.
• 25 percent of the local agencies reported a decrease in government funding in 2006, which is expected to have the biggest impact.
• In addition, foundation and corporate support remained generally flat, with about 20 percent of agencies reporting increases, roughly half reporting no change and 10 percent showing declines.

• “While the needs of the working poor and elderly have increased, to the extent that we are now seeing some working poor that are actually homeless.”—Judith Modecki, Catholic Charities of Greensburg, PA
• “More and more requests [for emergency services] come from senior citizens and persons who are working, but cannot make ends meet.”—Joe Duffy, Catholic Charities of Paterson, NJ
• “We are seeing more and more [indigent] elderly.”—Sherran Denkler, Catholic Charities of Eastern Virginia
• “Direct client assistance is an area where the need is increasing much faster than the resources to address the problems, with increasing requests for utility and rent/mortgage assistance.”—Wayne Peel, Catholic Charities of Cleveland, OH
• “[We are seeing] more families; more people who previously were able to make it and now can’t.”—Peg Harmon, Catholic Community Services of Tucson, AZ
• [We are seeing] overall increases in those seeking assistance—50 percent since 2000-01. More and more working people get behind on utility bills, which impact their ability to pay their rent/mortgage.”—Vicki Riddle, Catholic Charities of Springfield, MA
• “We have seen an increase in middle-income families needing job placement and/or direct assistance. Also, immigrant clients have increased significantly. Housing counseling (foreclosures) continues to be highly sought after.”—Joseph Galvin, Catholic Charities of Atlanta, GA
• “We are seeing more of the working poor, [including] many families with one or both parents employed at low income jobs who are unable to feed and house their families on their earnings. The impact of no medical insurance associated with these low-wage jobs also has an enormous impact on family stability. One illness requiring an emergency room visit can cause a marginal family to lose their housing.”—Elizabeth K. Thurbee, Catholic Social Services of Charlotte, NC
• “The complexity of cases has increased as well as the number. We are seeing families who need so much more than just assistance with a light bill. Many people fall through the cracks of other social service or governmental organizations because of multiple problems or lack of resources. Also, the number of people who are above the poverty level that need significant help has increased. Families can not survive on income even as much as 120 percent of poverty level.”—Fr. Ragan Schriver, Catholic Charities of East Tennessee
• “Many families in our diocese are walking a tightrope, hoping to have enough just to make it through the day and keep from falling into poverty.”—Rachel A. Hrbolich, Catholic Charities of Youngstown, OH
• “In our food bank, we have seen an increase of over 30 percent.”—Leslie Johnson, Catholic Charities of Minneapolis-St. Paul