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CCHD Overview
The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) is the
domestic anti-poverty, social justice program of the U.S. Catholic bishops.
The CCHD philosophy emphasizes empowerment and participation
for the poor. By helping the poor to participate in the decisions and actions
that affect their lives, CCHD empowers them to move beyond poverty.
During its 35-year history, CCHD has funded more than 4,000
self-help projects developed by grassroots groups of poor persons. Each year
CCHD distributes national grants to more than 300 projects based in local
communities. Additional projects are funded by a share of the CCHD money
collected that is retained by the diocese.
From the Pro-Life Office of the U.S. Conference of
Catholic Bishops:
CCHD does not fund proposals or organizations who take actions in conflict with
the fundamentals of Catholic teaching. The Catholic bishops would never
knowingly fund such groups.
Read More
Archbishop Vlazny has described CCHD this way:
"We are deeply committed to the vision and hope of the Catholic Campaign for
Human Development, which plays a vital role in the Archdiocese of Portland by
helping all of us put Catholic social teaching into practice. In this
Campaign, we help people organize and develop effective approaches to realizing
the dignity of the human person in community. Because of your wonderful
generosity, hundreds of our brothers and sisters throughout western Oregon are
discovering their voice, gifts, and talents, and they are getting at the roots
of poverty and powerlessness, building communities of effective hope."
Archbishop Vlazny on CCHD
CCHD Basics
Collections
Current Grants
Local Grants
National Grants
Collection
Catholic parishioners are the principal source of CCHD’s
funds. The CCHD collection is held annually on the weekend before Thanksgiving.
To ensure the successful collection of funds in the
Archdiocese, you can help by doing the following:
- Explain CCHD to members of your parish and by urging
them to give generously.
- Make sure the promotion materials and envelopes are
distributed.
- Invite a member of the parish social justice committee
or a representative of a funded group to speak for 3-5 minutes at the Sunday
masses in order to tell the story of CCHD.
- The local CCHD office can assist you in promoting the
collection in your parish or answer any questions about CCHD. Call
503-233-8361 for more information.
Current Grants:
Catholic Campaign for Human Development 2009-2010
Catholic
Sentinel Article on the Spring 2010 Local Grantees
NEW!
Catholic Sentinel Article on Adelante Mujeres and Huerto de la Familia
NEW!
The local Spring Catholic Campaign for Human Development Grants are
awarded to community organizations. The purpose of a Community Organizing
Grant is to fund efforts to challenge--and alter--systems, laws,
institutions, cultures that cause poverty and injustices. This is the
essence of social justice!
CCHD also requires that the poor and
low-income participate in the decisions that affect them-- money given not
just to help the poor but to the poor to help themselves--and that they have
a predominant voice in the decisions that matter. This is a good example of
the principle of Catholic social teaching:
Option for the Poor and Vulnerable.
CCHD asks the organization to
develop the leadership skills of its low-income members because having these
skills makes future success more likely for an individual.
Finally,
CCHD asks the organization to adhere to a few basic moral and social justice
principles that are central to the Catholic mission; primarily Respect for
the Dignity of the Human Person--from abortion to racism to
discrimination--and A Preferential Option for the Poor and Vulnerable.
The first of the Spring 2010 grants went to
OPAL (Organizing People, Activating Leaders). OPAL is a young
Environmental Justice program organizing East Portland, a low-income
community, who is directly affected by transit-related, mostly bus,
decisions. CCHD awarded a grant to the project East Portland Bus Riders
Unite!, which operates on the premise that low-income communities rely on a
robust, safe bus system--not light rail--and they bear the burden of cuts to
bus service.
The
Oregon New Sanctuary Movement is also a new organization that
began shortly after the Del Monte raids. It is run primarily by low-income
immigrants. This interfaith coalition of more than 20 congregations responds
publicly and actively to the suffering
of immigrants. CCHD awarded a grant to the project Love Has No Borders
Campaign, which organizes people of faith through awareness, education, and
relationship building, to work for immigration reform.
The
Community Alliance of Tenants is an established community
organization that works for the rights of tenants. Formed in 1996 and
overwhelmingly controlled by low-income renters, the Community Alliance of
Tenants educates and empowers renters to advocate for safe and affordable
housing. The Housing Justice program, which this CCHD grant supports,
organizes low-income renters to challenge unsafe housing conditions and
implement needed, often neglected, repairs.
Casa Latinos Unidos de Benton County
(no website), the newest of the Spring 2010-funded
organizations, facilitates the integration of Latinos into the broader
community English classes, community forums, advocacy and social services.
Through its community forums Casa Latinos Unidos learned of the difficulties
Latino immigrant parents have with their children's education systems. The
local CCHD grant funds its efforts to train Latino immigrant parents to
understand the Benton County education system and the basics of advocacy.
This will empower them to advocate for their school-age children at their
schools.
Catholic
Sentinel Article on the Fall 2009 Local Grantees
Organization:
Huerto de la Familia (The Family Garden)
Project: Small
Farmers
The Small Farmers Project of Lane
County is comprised of ten low-income Latino families who have worked together
since the spring of 2007 to plan and develop their own organic farm business.
Families participating in Huerto de la Familia’s garden
program learned of an opportunity to start their own agricultural business with
the financial support of Heifer International.
Over six months the families created their farm
plan and budget with the guidance of a facilitator. This plan was submitted to
Heifer International, and received a three-year grant from Heifer in July 2008.
As a result of the three-year project the participants will manage and
demonstrate a profitable farm business.
Organization: Verde
Project: Verde Energy
The Mission of Verde is to improve the economic health of
disadvantaged communities by creating environmental job training, employment,
and entrepreneurial opportunities, fostering the connection between economic
vitality and environmental protection and restoration.
Verde and the
Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) are creating a new social
enterprise, Verde Energy,
to hire, train and employ low-income Latinos and Native Americans to provide
residential and commercial weatherization services. Because of significant
public and private investments in weatherization training and in weatherization
projects, we believe Verde Energy will be able to: hire, train, and put to work
a significant number (20+) of low-income people; connect additional low-income
people to placement opportunities with for-profit contractors; and support
employees in starting their own small businesses.
Organization: Street Roots
Project: Eastside
Expansion for Vendors
Street Roots is a grassroots nonprofit newspaper that assists
people experiencing homelessness and poverty by creating flexible income
opportunities. Through education, advocacy and personal expression, we are a
catalyst for individual and social change. It does this by publishing the
essays, opinions and poetry of people experiencing extreme poverty and
homelessness, and producing a newspaper with their work to be sold by low-income
and homeless vendors. The only product of its kind in Portland, Street Roots is
sold by vendors for $1 on the streets of Portland, generating approximately
$160,000 annually directly for people in need. The
newspaper advocates for the homeless, raises social awareness, creates
community, and furnishes jobs that lead to professional opportunities for the
homeless. This CCHD Grant
supports
the Street Roots Eastside Expansion--
NE Killingsworth to SE Woodstock to 33rd Avenue to I-205—to
bring the
organization’s programs to East Portland residents, including individuals
experiencing homelessness. The project will help create flexible income
opportunities for homeless and low-income individuals and serve as a model for
future Street Roots locations.
Organization: Adelante Mujeres
Project:
Forest Grove Farmer’s Market
The Forest Grove Farmers Market is a non-profit
corporation established in 2005 with Adelante Mujeres as sole member. This EDI
is the first in Oregon that combines marketing opportunities with the delivery
of an intensive, practical training program to new farmers. First-time vendors
learn not only the skills to manage their booth, but also participate in the
Market's planning and implementation. The market also brings new immigrants
together with the established Forest Grove community which promotes cultural
understanding. We will help approximately 65 Spanish-speaking immigrant families
over three years develop the knowledge and skills necessary to operate a
sustainable farming business through 22-week classes and trainings. Families
will then operate their own farming business, access for a minimal fee, land for
growing, irrigation and a greenhouse; 30% of families will also participate in
our Individual Development Account Program to enhance their business with
savings at a 3 to 1 match. Participants will have access to the Forest Grove
Farmer's Market to sell their products and learn about other marketplaces. They
also receive ongoing mentorship, support and access networking opportunities.
Organization: VOZ Workers’ Rights Education Project
Project: Leadership Training
and Operating Expenses
VOZ is a worker-led organization of day laborers that
works to develop leadership and empower members to build constructive
relationships with employers and the community by conducting educational
workshops and dispelling stereotypes about day laborers. VOZ established a
living wage of $9/hour, recovered over $80,000 in unpaid wages, and trained
workers in computer use and the English language. The CCHD grant will help fund
Strengthening Day Labor Leadership & Political Power Initiative
(“The Leadership Initiative”).
The Leadership Initiative will be composed of 5 activities/programs that develop
organizational leadership for VOZ while also engaging the broader community in
the struggle for immigrant and workers rights. The five activities and programs
are Monthly Leadership Workshops; Day Laborers Advocacy and Educational
Campaign; Day Labor Leadership School; Day Labor Committee and Action for
Immigration Reform.
See the
video of VOZ in its 10th Year
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