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Blessed are the poorWhere are the poor today?
Society of St Vincent de Paul
Founded in 1833 by Frédéric Ozanam
Now has nearly one million members all over the world.
Visiting the poor where they are
“No work of charity is foreign to the Society”
Jesus says: “As often as you do it to the least of one of these, you do it to me”.
(Mt. 25, 31-46)SVP members hear this message, and the instruction given by Ozanam: “Go to the poor”, and act on it.In the letter of James, we hear, “Faith without good works is dead”.
Gospel values
In Syria, Sudan, Haiti
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, in Afghanistan
Anywhere in the world suffering from violence or natural disasters
Where are the poor?
There are 3.6 million children living in poverty in the UK today. That’s 27 per cent of children, or more than one in four.
There are even more serious concentrations of child poverty at a local level: in 100 local wards, for example, between 50 and 70 per cent of children are growing up in poverty.
CPAG figures, 2012-2013
Where are the poor
Where are the poor?
All around us Canterbury District
population: 135,278 Children: 28,340 Number of children in
poverty: 4,192
1 child in 7 is living in poverty
Canterbury City Council figures 2012-2013
Types of poverty and need
Being unemployed can be poverty Having a disability, or living with someone
who has a disability can be poverty Inability to organise a home is poverty Inability to cope with a problem is poverty Being a leader or member of a single-parent
family can be poverty Being unable to read or write is poverty
HomelessnessLow income, erratic
employmentSingle parents raising
children aloneRedundancy or bankruptcyIllness, especially sudden
sickness or serious injuryDebtBecoming a refugeeAddiction
Immediate causes of poverty
Deserving poor / undeserving poor
Shirkers / strivers Fraud, wastage,
large families, all widespread among the poor
Stigmatisation of the poor
Most people unemployed find jobs again within a year
60% of households in poverty have an adult member in paid work
Only 3% of welfare benefits go to people who are unemployed
Alcohol consumption is low among the unemployed, rises greatly up the income scale
The proportion of tax going on welfare has not risen in the past decade
Myth-busting
We also seek to identify the causes of poverty and work with the Vincentian Family, the Catholic Church, other Christians and all people of good will, to shape a more just and compassionate society, which promotes the rights, responsibilities and development of all people, a culture of life and a civilization of love reflecting the Kingdom of God.
SVP Mission statement
Justice brings peace