cchd-annual-report

THE BISHOPS OF THE UNITED STATES ESTABLISHED CCHD IN 1969 as a living expression of what Jesus and all of Scripture tell us about God’s love for the poor and marginalized. CCHD grants empower destitute people to break out of poverty by helping them identify its causes in their communities and then work for changes that create jobs and opportunities. Below are four examples of CCHD grants at work. Two support organizations that offer job skills training and work opportunities that benefit workers, their communities, and the environment. Another grant upholds the long tradition of Catholic support for trade unions that advocate for workers’ rights to living wages and safe working conditions. And the fourth grantee honors Jesus’ command to care for strangers as it helps immigrants adapt to life in the United States.

NORTHWEST HUB Northwest Hub, a bicycle repair service in Salem, Oregon, also repairs broken lives. Launched in a church basement in 2013, it is making an impact on the streets of the state capital. Disadvantaged people—who might be homeless, mentally ill, ex-convicts, or new immigrants—receive bicycles to use for transportation, while also learning to maintain and repair them. Bicycle repair becomes an important job skill, and refurbished bikes are sold in Northwest Hub’s shop to support this ministry. Some paid staff members began as repair trainees without permanent housing. As the program repairs old bikes, every year Northwest Hub recycles and reuses more than 45,000 pounds of metal that would otherwise

go to landfills. This business model is largely self-sustaining, but CCHD has helped Northwest Hub establish solid business management during its rapid growth. While Northwest Hub serves people of all faiths, it is inspired by Catholic social teaching and collaborates with local Catholic social services. In its own words, Northwest Hub works with CCHD “to serve, enable and empower people at the periphery, expressing the message of Pope Francis and core Catholic priorities.” STRANGERS NO LONGER Strangers No Longer, named for a pastoral letter issued jointly by the Catholic bishops of Mexico