Diocese releases survey data

Staff report

youngstown

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Youngstown recently completed the 2010 Catholic Charities USA annual survey, which collects information on services, collaborative efforts, social action initiatives, parish relationships, personnel, volunteers and finances from Catholic Charities organizations across the United States.

Six institutions in the Diocese of Youngstown participated in the survey locally. In addition to the Catholic Charities administrative office in the diocesan chancery, the following provided information for the Catholic Charities USA report: Catholic Charities of Ashtabula County, Catholic Charities of Portage County, Catholic Charities Regional Agency that serves Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties, Catholic Charities of Stark County and Catholic Charities Housing Opportunities (CCHO).

In 2010, Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Youngstown served a total of 40,602 unduplicated clients. Eighty-three percent of those served reported receiving public assistance, including TANF, SSI, food stamps and Medicaid benefits. Ninety percent reported incomes below the poverty line, which was $22,050 for a family of four in 2010.

The Catholic Charities agencies serving the Diocese of Youngstown provided more than $1.5 million in direct assistance to clients last year. Twenty-eight percent of Catholic Charities’ total operating budget consisted of pass-through funds to clients from grants and contracts with government entities, and other direct assistance monies from the Bishop’s Annual Appeal for Catholic Charities and Church and other local sources.

Catholic Charities’ housing services experienced a 77 percent increase from 2009 to 2010.

This significant increase is attributed to the federal Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program offered at Catholic Charities Regional Agency and Catholic Charities of Ashtabula County.

Emergency shelter assistance rose by 40 percent, which includes the number of people receiving rental assistance to avoid eviction and potential homelessness.

Catholic Charities Housing Opportunities provided down-payment assistance to 16 qualifying households last year.

A priority for Catholic Charities remains emergency assistance.

Last year, 17,581 people received help with food, utilities, prescriptions, clothing and other basic needs. The number includes individuals receiving specific assistance at back-to-school and Christmas events.

A total of 1,036 people received financial literacy services, an increase of 33 percent from 2009. Financial literacy has emerged as an effective poverty-reduction tool, as it teaches clients how to prepare and adhere to realistic household budgets.

Surveys of those participating in Catholic Charities’ financial literacy services are producing positive results.

Ohio Benefit Bank is another service offered by Catholic Charities to help people living in poverty. OBB uses a computer program to help clients determine eligibility for public assistance, and then helps them to enroll in those benefit programs for which they qualify.

OBB also helps low-income families prepare their income tax returns.

Forty-four percent more clients accessed the OBB at Catholic Charities’ sites than the previous year.

In senior services, Catholic Charities provided 2,071 older adults with service.

Eighty-three people received guardianship services through Catholic Charities of Ashtabula County.

This program provides caring volunteer advocates and surrogate decision-makers to frail elderly and disabled adults who are deemed incompetent by the probate court, and have no other family members or friends to help them manage their affairs.

Catholic Charities of Stark County offered adult day services to 71 people. Adult day services offer a safe and secure environment for older adults in need of supervision or assistance with the activities of daily living while family caregivers are working or tending to other responsibilities.

Catholic Charities Regional Agency’s senior support program helped 254 older adults with such activities as grocery shopping, banking, medical appointments, referral to community resources, coordination of friendly visiting, and assistance with Medicaid forms.

Senior support also provides prescription medication assistance to those who qualify, particularly in cases of emergency medical need.

Catholic Charities Regional Agency also operates a senior multipurpose center in East Liverpool that served 26,259 on-site and home- delivered meals to 524 older adults.

Catholic Charities of Portage County’s innovative program, Caritas Caf , provided 681 low-income, at-risk adults with access to socialization services in a casual, friendly, intergenerational environment, while extending access to a food pantry and other material resources.

Of those served, 53 were adults older than 65.

Programs provided by Catholic Charities agencies in the diocese are delivered by a staff of 100 employees, 47 percent of which are part-time. Ninety-one percent of Catholic Charities’ work force consists of women.

Two hundred sixty-three people volunteered a total of 6,687 hours to Catholic Charities, and an additional 62 people served as directors on the various agency boards.

Catholic Charities considers Catholic institutions, particularly parishes, partners in ministry.

About 85 diocesan parishes maintained a relationship with either their local Catholic Charities agency or the diocesan Catholic Charities Office.

These parishes assisted with the implementation of the following priorities: coordinating Catholic Relief Services’ efforts and promoting global solidarity; coordinating Catholic Campaign for Human Development’s efforts and promoting community organizing and economic development; advocating for immigration reform; and promoting formation on the Catholic social mission.

For more information on the survey, call Rachel Hrbolich, associate director of social services for the diocese, at 330-744-8451, ext. 328, or visit www.ccdoy.org.