Proclaiming January 2009 as "Poverty in America Awareness Month".

The City Council of Philadelphia designates the Month of January 2009 as “Poverty in America Awareness Month

.”

WHEREAS

, In 2006, the

Catholic Campaign for Human Development

launched a new national awareness campaign that calls attention to the 37 million Americans now living in poverty, according to the 2006 U.S. Census figures; and

WHEREAS

, At the same time,

Catholic Campaign for Human Development

focuses greater attention on the poor and low-income people who are doing something about breaking the cycle of poverty

;

and

WHEREAS

, This is the fifth year in a row that the poverty rate in America has risen; and

WHEREAS

, According to a report released by the U.S. Census Bureau in August 2005, the number of families in poverty increased from 10 percent and 7.6 million in 2003 to 10.2 percent and 7.8 million in 2003; and

WHEREAS

, The U.S. Census has not released the poverty rate for 2008, however we know much to vividly that it will be an alarming increase; and

WHEREAS

, The ad campaign offers a message of hope by showing children in Los Angeles who once walked in fear after school and now arrive safely home as they are protected from street violence by a dedicated group of volunteers; and

WHEREAS

, It also visits Wisconsin where a group of family dairy farmers joined together to start their own cooperative in order to pool production and get a better price for their milk; and

WHEREAS

, Finally, the new campaign features young people in New Orleans who are learning from experts in the food service industry the skills they need to find better jobs and build a better future; and

WHEREAS

, Established in 1970 by the U.S. Catholic Bishops, the

Catholic Campaign for Human Development

is one of the largest private funders of self-help programs initiated and led by poor people in the United States. Committed to the permanent elimination of poverty and injustice in the U.S., CCHD has supported more than 4,000 programs nationwide that know no racial or religious boundaries - projects that help create jobs, improve neighborhoods and allow people to find a way out of poverty not just for a day, but a lifetime.

Now Therefore, Be It Resolved, By the City Council of Philadelphia that the Month of January 2009, shall be declared “Poverty in America Awareness Month.”

End