Unmet Needs In Our Community

Homelessness

Caring for the unhoused

• No person should be forced to live in bodily fear or in substandard conditions. Every person needs access to minimum living conditions — safety, access to sanitation, food, clothing, shelter, medical assistance. • Particular attention must be given to those who are unable to care for themselves — children and youth, the elderly, sick, addicted, mentally ill. • There is no substitute for an involved, effective, and committed government. We believe local, state and federal governments must make poverty a priority and become involved in addressing solutions, including fully funding programs that tackle homelessness. • Every person deserves an education. Practical, hands-on job training that teaches a job proficiency and provides those with limited skills the opportunity to earn a decent income can go a long way to building self esteem and dignity. • Workers must earn enough to be able to provide shelter and a decent life for their families. Communities cannot be satisfied with a minimum wage that is lower than the cost of living. • Safe, reliable, affordable child care is critical. Welfare to work programs must include funding for quality child care. • It is shameful that any veteran need resort to homelessness. More attention and care must be given by the Federal government to meet the needs of veterans, particularly those with physical and mental health challenges, as they progress back to the community.

Fair Wages

Caring for he working poor

As Vincentians visit low-wage families, they see up close that these families cannot make ends meet. The dollars they are paid do not begin to cover the basics required for survival (i.e., food, clothing, shelter, utilities, child care, transportation, health care). Members experience first hand the cry of the poor. They witness families whose cupboards are bare, parents who have no money for medicine for sick children, a Mother’s cry in desperation because she cannot afford shoes for her children. Economic facts (1) based on cost of living and consumer price indexes, comparative living costs, as well as Bureau of Labor statistics, validate that the current federal minimum wage is set too low to meet basic needs.

Tools for Success

Answering the call to serve our new neighbors

In today’s communities, many families quietly face challenges that can make even basic necessities feel uncertain. As Catholics, we are called to respond to these realities with compassion, solidarity, and a commitment to human dignity. Through our parish pantry, we encounter families who strive every day to provide for their children despite financial hardship. In response, our work has grown to focus more intentionally on supporting these families—especially by helping ensure that children begin the school year equipped with the tools they need to succeed. Education is a cornerstone of opportunity, confidence, and hope for the future. Yet for many families served by our pantry, the cost of school supplies can be a heavy burden. Items such as backpacks, notebooks, pencils, and folders—often taken for granted—can be out of reach for households already making difficult choices about food, housing, and utilities. By providing school supplies, we help ease this burden and affirm the dignity of every child. Supporting Families with Compassion Our parish pantry is more than a place of material assistance; it is a ministry of accompaniment. We walk alongside families, recognizing their resilience and honoring their efforts to care for their children. Providing school supplies is one tangible way we express our commitment to the well-being of the whole family. When children arrive at school prepared on the first day, they are better able to participate fully, learn with confidence