8 of the 15 poorest counties in the State of Illinois are part of the 28 counties of Southern Illinois. Most organizations try to help the poor by providing them food, shelter and clothing to help the poor to survive the day. No doubt their mission of providing these resources to the poor is important and necessary. Basically these organizations “give fish to survive the day”. Unfortunately there are limited supplies of these resources, and these organizations cannot afford to provide these resources day in and day out, month after month year after year for the life of the poor. In fact recent studies indicate this kind of charity can be toxic to the poor, that the donations become “enabling” to the condition of the poor, and that these poor can begin to feel “entitled” to these resources rather than “responsible” to address their poverty.
In many cases the poverty in these very poor areas of southern Illinois are not the result of a local economic occurrence such as the closing of a factory or an unusual weather condition such as a rare drought or tornado. Rather the poverty in these counties tends to have gone on for generations. Parents or the local communities have been unable to address or need help to address “barriers” or obstacles that have impeded the poor from getting or maintaining gainful employment.
The mission of Poverty Services is to help the poor and imprisoned to address these barriers or obstacles and break these cycles of poverty to enable the poor access to and maintain gainful employment…and change their lives forever for the better. Basically Poverty Services volunteers endeavor to help the poor, imprisoned and disenfranchised “to learn to fish for themselves.”
Typical barriers or obstacles to gainful employment are illiteracy or reading impairment, access to affordable or reliable transportation, access to affordable or reliable child care, mental illness, substance abuse, or basic training or mentoring to successfully find and maintain employment.
Poverty Services volunteers assist the poor and imprisoned to address some of these barriers such as reading impairment, mentoring and transportation. We refer cases of mental illness, substance abuse and child care to other organizations more skilled to provide these services.
We also encourage agencies that provide these direct services of daily food, shelter and clothing to be aware of the dangers of “toxic charity to the poor”, and to use the limited resources they have as “carrots to encourage or incentivize” the poor to get the treatment or skills they need to break their cycle of poverty. If the poor do not endeavor to “help themselves”, then direct resources donated should be limited.
You personally can help break the cycle of poverty in your neighborhood. By enabling your neighbors to become financially independent, you empower the economy of your own county. You and other upstanding citizens in your neighborhood make a lasting difference right at home in your own community.
But even more beneficial than helping a neighbor break the cycle of poverty, and empowering your local economy, the greatest benefit from the efforts of Poverty Service volunteers goes to the volunteers themselves. Wonderful benefits cannot be simply explained, other than we guarantee that you will receive even more than you have given. If you haven't felt truly appreciated lately, you owe it to yourself to volunteer for just a little time with Poverty Services.
In many cases the poverty in these very poor areas of southern Illinois are not the result of a local economic occurrence such as the closing of a factory or an unusual weather condition such as a rare drought or tornado. Rather the poverty in these counties tends to have gone on for generations. Parents or the local communities have been unable to address or need help to address “barriers” or obstacles that have impeded the poor from getting or maintaining gainful employment.
The mission of Poverty Services is to help the poor and imprisoned to address these barriers or obstacles and break these cycles of poverty to enable the poor access to and maintain gainful employment…and change their lives forever for the better. Basically Poverty Services volunteers endeavor to help the poor, imprisoned and disenfranchised “to learn to fish for themselves.”
Typical barriers or obstacles to gainful employment are illiteracy or reading impairment, access to affordable or reliable transportation, access to affordable or reliable child care, mental illness, substance abuse, or basic training or mentoring to successfully find and maintain employment.
Poverty Services volunteers assist the poor and imprisoned to address some of these barriers such as reading impairment, mentoring and transportation. We refer cases of mental illness, substance abuse and child care to other organizations more skilled to provide these services.
We also encourage agencies that provide these direct services of daily food, shelter and clothing to be aware of the dangers of “toxic charity to the poor”, and to use the limited resources they have as “carrots to encourage or incentivize” the poor to get the treatment or skills they need to break their cycle of poverty. If the poor do not endeavor to “help themselves”, then direct resources donated should be limited.
You personally can help break the cycle of poverty in your neighborhood. By enabling your neighbors to become financially independent, you empower the economy of your own county. You and other upstanding citizens in your neighborhood make a lasting difference right at home in your own community.
But even more beneficial than helping a neighbor break the cycle of poverty, and empowering your local economy, the greatest benefit from the efforts of Poverty Service volunteers goes to the volunteers themselves. Wonderful benefits cannot be simply explained, other than we guarantee that you will receive even more than you have given. If you haven't felt truly appreciated lately, you owe it to yourself to volunteer for just a little time with Poverty Services.
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"Poor people must be empowered to take charge of their own futures and become responsible for their own economic advancement. Personal motivation and initiative, combined with social reform, are necessary elements to assist individuals in escaping poverty."
- #201-Economic Justice for All-NCCB
- #201-Economic Justice for All-NCCB
We are an Agency of Catholic Charities of Southern Illinois. One who has HOPE lives differently.
