The Diocesan Campaign Against Poverty encourages and assists local Church Parishes and Social Service Centers with focusing upon and addressing the root causes of poverty in our area. Poverty is pervasive in Louisiana with 19.8% of our population poor; well above the national average of just over 13%. With the Poverty Theshold established at an annual income level of $22,314 (or below) for a family of four, nearly one out of every five Louisiana citizens finds themselves impoverished.
The educational workshops, projects, and efforts at community organizing are all part of the work of the Church, both locally and nationally. We embrace the challenge that is put before us in our Diocese by so many who are poor.
Founded in 1969 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) has worked in the name of the Church to help people break the cycle of poverty, not just for a day, but for a lifetime. CCHD relies upon an annual national collection to fund anti-poverty programs in communities across the country. CCHD promotes advocacy programs and local organization efforts that address the underlying causes of poverty, and move people to work for structural changes in their communities.
"He has sent me to bring good news to the poor, liberty to captives, new sight to the blind, and to set the downtrodden free..." Luke 4:18-20