Pax Christi Long Beach Island Chapter NY

MICAH

The Long Island Council of Churches is feeding 53% more families this year than last, and last year was a record increase in numbers served. The most dramatic increases this year are in Nassau where we are seeing 60% more adults and an astounding 94% more seniors than the same time last year.  We’re also seeing a substantial increase in household size in both counties, meaning that more family members are moving in together so they can survive.   The rising needs resulting from the economic crisis are exacerbated by our region’s high cost of housing, lack of access to adequate health insurance, and the increasing number of working families who are poor.  In 2007 we launched MICAH (“Mobilized Interfaith Coalition Against Hunger”) to go beyond the “finger in the dike” approach to hunger and poverty. MICAH is an Advocacy for the Poor coalition of over 200 congregations and nearly 400 religious leaders. They are working locally to promote public policy reforms that will remove the systemic barriers keeping Long Islanders hungry, poor, and inadequately insured.  We are accomplishing this through training and mobilizing faith-based leaders to: 

• Write letters to their legislators and Town councils.
• Attend Town meetings to testify for more affordable housing choices.
• Advocate for expanding access to food stamps by keeping Departments of Social Services open one night a week.
• Get schools to rescue food and give it to food pantries instead of throwing it in dumpsters and landfills.
• Preserve and expand access to health care nationally through universal health insurance.

January is “Poverty in America Awareness Month” Today, 36.5 million Americans—and 1 in 6 children (that’s 17.4 percent of all American children)—are living below the poverty line.  They live in families who are of necessity making hard choices between food, health care, heat and rent. To bring attention to this national crisis, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) has designated January as “Poverty in America Awareness Month.” During this special month of observance, we devote our efforts to heightening the nation's understanding of the breadth and depth of the problems of poverty by: Releasing a powerful public service campaign to raise awareness of poverty in America. Encouraging the editorial media to focus on poverty. Educating the public to be sensitive to the needs of those in poverty and to treat poor people with respect. Holding events in Catholic schools and public settings to make sure poverty is top-of-mind for all Americans. What can you do to promote Poverty in America Awareness Month? Click here to use this graphic on your website! Visit our Media Center for public service messages. Get the facts about poverty. Learn how others have overcome poverty. Get involved in your community. Take the Poverty Tour. Email a friend with ideas, events to join or facts. Click on the images below to print a PIAAM poster to display. • Get the facts about this forgotten state • Read the latest news on poverty from CCHD • Learn how others have overcome poverty • Take a tour of this forgotten state • Get involved in your community • Email a friend about povertyusa.org Top of Page

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