In these difficult economic times, many hard-working families are facing unemployment or under-employment. Despite their willingness to work, many people are struggling to make ends meet, to pay for health care, and to keep food on their tables and a roof over their heads.
The Catholic Campaign for Human Development is attempting to address the problem of poverty by providing grants to self-help programs initiated and led by people under financial hardship.
These groups help create sustainable jobs, preserve affordable housing, improve neighborhoods and enhance opportunities for people so they can find a dignified way out of poverty.
CCHD is funded by Catholics who generously give in a once-a-year collection at their parishes.
The Catholic Diocese of Joliet has CCHD grants available for qualified low-income, grassroots organizations. Eligible groups must be working to empower living in poverty, education for justice, and solidarity between poor and non-poor in the community. Organizations that receive CCHD funds must not participate in or promote activities that contradict the moral and social teachings of the Catholic Church.
More information about the grants and about groups funded in previous years can be obtained from the Diocese’s website, www.dioceseofjoliet.org/cchd.
Applications will be accepted from groups in DuPage, Ford, Grundy, Kankakee, Kendall, Iroquois and Will counties through March 1. Grants will be awarded regardless of race or religious affiliation.
Applications can be obtained online at the above website or you can contact Steve Jackson at 815-221-6253 or email cchd@dioceseofjoliet.org.