Survey: Number of people getting help has increased

The number of immigrants served by the charities increased significantly.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Youngstown recently completed the 2005 Catholic Charities USA Annual Survey and found that the number of people getting help has increased.
The survey collects information on services, collaborative efforts, social action initiatives, parish relationships, personnel, volunteers and finances from Catholic Charities organizations across the United States.
Eight institutions in the Diocese of Youngstown, which covers the counties of Ashtabula, Columbiana, Mahoning, Portage, Stark and Trumbull, participated in the study locally. They are the Catholic Charities administrative offices in the diocesan chancery, Catholic Charities of Ashtabula County, Catholic Charities of Portage County, Catholic Charities Regional Agency (serving Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties), Catholic Charities of Stark County, Catholic Charities Housing Opportunities, Centro San Jos & eacute; el Trabajador (pastoral care for immigrants and newcomers) and Caritas Communities (a partnership between Catholic Charities Housing Opportunities and Humility of Mary Housing Inc.).
Statistics
In 2005, Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Youngstown served 50,116 people, an increase of 22 percent over the total number served in 2004. The increase is largely because of the development of the Catholic Charities' services, ministries and targeted outreach efforts to the immigrant population living and working in the diocese.
More than half of those served by Catholic Charities in 2005 are receiving public assistance, including food stamps and Medicaid benefits. Sixty-seven percent of Catholic Charities' clients report incomes below the poverty line, which was $19,037 for a family of four last year.
Emergency assistance remains the top priority for Catholic Charities. Last year, 2,985 people received assistance with food and food vouches; 1,245 received prescription assistance; 4,068 received help with utility payments; and 1,147 received clothing assistance.
An additional 19,540 received other types of emergency assistance including advocacy and information and referral services. Nearly half a million dollars was provided in direct cash assistance to individuals and families in need.
A total of 1,459 people accessed Catholic Charities' mental health counseling services, including 404 children, 970 adults from 18 to 64 years old and 85 adults 65 and older. A little more than one half of clients served in the counseling program fell below the poverty line last year.
Additionally, the number of children receiving school-based counseling services, conflict resolution training and abstinence-based education in the diocese grew by 81 percent from 2004 to 2005. This was attributed to an increase in the number of schools requesting Catholic Charities' services and the initiation of new school-based services by Catholic Charities' social service agencies.
First Step program
Catholic Charities' First Step program, which provides specific emergency assistance and case management services to low-income pregnant women and families with small children, also experienced growth. In 2004, Catholic Charities' agencies reported assisting more than 300 people through First Step. In 2005, the number increased to 2,036, which was attributed to better statistical tracking and further development of the First Step program at the four Catholic Charities' social service agencies.
Mary Ellen Anderson, president and CEO of the Diocese of Youngstown Catholic Charities Corp., the organization that provides oversight for the social service and housing activities in the diocese, said agencies with fewer resources are serving a larger number of people. She noted that cuts in government funding and other funding sources have challenged Catholic Charities' work but good community collaboration among agencies has made possible the provision of quality services to a growing number of people in the diocese.
About 50 diocesan parishes maintained an active relationship with Catholic Charities in 2005 and assisted with the implementation of the following priorities: Coordinating Catholic Relief Services efforts and promoting global solidarity, coordinating Catholic Campaign for Human Development efforts and promoting community organizing and economic development and promoting education and formation on the Catholic social mission.
Brian R. Corbin, executive director of Catholic Charities Services and Health Affairs and director of Social Action for the Diocese of Youngstown, said that his office relies on the involvement of Catholics throughout the diocese who support positive social change and address emerging concerns such as immigration.
He also cited the successful diocesan capital campaign as vital to the immediate and long-term goals of Catholic Charities.
Aiding immigrants
In 2005, the number of immigrants accessing Catholic Charities' pastoral, social and legal services increased by 82 percent. Several diocesan parishes have been instrumental in helping meet the pastoral and sacramental needs of the newcomer population to the area.
As a system, Catholic Charities employed 136 people in 2005, the majority of whom are part-time employees. Women account for 85 percent of the Catholic Charities' workforce. Additionally, 218 volunteers provided more than 12,000 hours of service to Catholic Charities agencies across the diocese. Another 83 people served on Catholic Charities' boards of directors.
Catholic Charities USA, of which Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Youngstown is a member, is the nation's largest private network of people helping people with more than 1,700 local agencies and institutions nationwide. In 2005, Catholic Charities USA was ranked second among the nation's largest nonprofits in the country by Nonprofit Times, the oldest annual ranking of charities in the country and 10th among the largest fund-raising organizations in the country by the Chronicle of Philanthropy.
For more information, contact Corbin at Catholic Charities Services at (330) 744-8451.