Society of St. Vincent de Paul VOICE OF THE POOR

1. Society of St. Vincent de Paul VOICE OF THE POOR VOICE OF THE POOR Serving as advocate for those living in poverty and representing them and their interests with local elected officials and with state and national legislators GG –June 2014

2. Society of St. Vincent de Paul VOICE OF THE POOR "You must not be content with tiding the poor over the poverty crisis; you must study their condition and the injustices which brought about such poverty, with the aim of long term improvement” Blessed Frederic Ozanam GG –June 2014

3. Society of St. Vincent de PaulVOICE OF THE POOR During Home Visits Vincentians seek to understand: • Needs of the family • Causes of family’s poverty • Resources needed GG –June 2014

4. Society of St. Vincent de PaulVOICE OF THE POOR Build a Plan with the family Tap into available resources But, resources do not exist…? ADVOCACY GG –June 2014

5. Society of St. Vincent de PaulVOICE OF THE POOR ADVOCACY Bottom-up advocacy from Home Visits - With landlord or utility company - With elected representatives GG –June 2014

6. Society of St. Vincent de PaulVOICE OF THE POOR ADVOCACY We represent people in poverty in the societal bargaining process: • At the City, County level • At the State level • At the Federal level GG –June 2014

7. Society of St. Vincent de PaulVOICE OF THE POOR SVdP’s VISION IS TO END POVERTY THROUGH SYSTEMIC CHANGE In Systemic Change, People in poverty themselves identify the root-causes of their poverty. Then, create strategies to change the structures and remove the obstacles, which keep them in poverty. Advocacy is one of those strategies. GG –June 2014

8. Society of St. Vincent de PaulVOICE OF THE POOR ADVOCACY Frank Monasterio, Vincentian from Mountain Home, ID testifying on Medicaid Expansion at the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee of the Idaho legislature- Feb. 2014 Voice of the Poor trains people in poverty to advocate for themselves When this is not possible, we represent them by sharing the stories heard during home visits with elected officials VOP leads both people in poverty and Vincentians to bring to public life our Catholic principles, instead of partisanship GG –June 2014

9. Society of St. Vincent de PaulVOICE OF THE POOR ADVOCACY Advocacy requires: • Knowledge of regulations/legislation • Compelling stories from Home Visits • Mention of our extensive work • Coordination with allies • Follow-up to pressure elected representatives GG –June 2014

10. Society of St. Vincent de PaulVOICE OF THE POOR ADVOCACY We do all we can for people in poverty; advocacy is asking the broader society to do their part Do not be shy! GG –June 2014

11. Society of St. Vincent de PaulVOICE OF THE POOR PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC LIFE "Politics is one of the highest forms of charity because it seeks the common good." -- Pope Francis "Responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation.“ -- Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship (USCCB) GG –June 2014

12. Society of St. Vincent de PaulVOICE OF THE POOR Voice of the Poor leads Vincentians to public life • In every Council • In every Conference Every Vincentian can be the Voice of the Poor GG –June 2014

13. In conclusion , Society of St. Vincent de PaulVOICE OF THE POOR You might hear people objecting: • “The Church should care for the poor, not the Government” Faith based efforts provide only 1 out of 24 bags of food, the government provides the rest • “People are poor because they are lazy” Many started off in a disadvantaged position, from which they cannot break-out. Others are kept in poverty by unfair structures. • “Helping the poor is extreme politics” “When I feed the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why they are poor, they call me a communist.”-- Dom Helder Camara, Archbishop of Recife • “I don't want to get political. Why is a non-profit engaged in politics?” Voice of the Poor engages in politics but never in partisanship. GG –June 2014

14. Society of St. Vincent de PaulVOICE OF THE POOR CHARITY AND JUSTICE • Charity eases the SYMPTOMS of a larger issue • Justice looks at WHYthose symptoms exist and solves the systemic problems causing them GG –June 2014

15. Society of St. Vincent de PaulVOICE OF THE POOR For information on Voice of the Poor, see the Western Region VOP website: http://www.wrvop.org/ To sign-up for CapWiz: http://www.capwiz.com/svdpusa/mlm/signup/ To receive newsletters and other information: http://www.wrvop.org/contact.html For information on Catholic participation in public life, see USCCB website: http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/faithful-citizenship/forming-consciences-for-faithful-citizenship-document.cfm GG –June 2014