Diocese campaigns against poverty

from the Youngstown Vindicator

All six counties in the
Youngstown diocese have seen increases in poverty, according to the census.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Youngstown is involved in the Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America, a multiyear initiative launched by Catholic Charities USA earlier this year. The goal is to cut poverty in half by 2020. The campaign urges Congress and the administration to give a much higher priority to the needs of the poor in budget and policy decisions on issues such as health care, housing, nutrition and economic security.

Catholic Charities USA is leading a broad effort involving partners in social service agencies, the faith community and other groups in a sustained effort to convince government officials of the importance of making systemic changes in government programs to help the poor and most vulnerable in society.

Recent statistics released by the U.S. Census Bureau show a marginal decrease in the national poverty rate last year but all of the six counties in the Diocese of Youngstown experienced increases:

Mahoning County's poverty rate jumped from 13.4 percent in 2005 to 15.8 percent in 2006.

Trumbull County, with the lowest poverty rate in the diocese, experienced an increase from 10.7 percent to 11.1 percent.

Columbiana County has the highest poverty rate in the diocese — 17.2 percent, which is up from 16.3 percent in 2005.

Ashtabula County's poverty rate rose from 16.1 percent to 16.7 percent.

Portage County's rate rose from 11.4 percent to 13.8 percent.

Stark County experienced a slight increase in its poverty rate from 12.0 percent to 12.3 percent in 2006.