CCC and the 12 local Catholic Charities organizations throughout California are dedicated to reducing poverty and human suffering and increasing self-sufficiency among at-risk populations. Our Catholic values, teachings, and traditions provide the foundation for the work we do at the local, state, and federal levels.

State Office
CCC is the state office for local Catholic Charities organizations in California. Founded in 1986, CCC provides strong leadership and support to enhance the work of local organizations to reduce poverty, promote self- sufficiency, and strengthen communities across the state. CCC supports and furthers the work of local organizations in several ways, including:

• Applying for and administering government grants on behalf of local organizations, reducing the administrative burden on organizations and allowing them to focus on providing direct services;

• Facilitating collaboration and networking opportunities among member organizations;

• Maintaining relationships with other organizations that are committed to social justice;

• Providing training, technical assistance, research, and leadership to member organizations in developing model programs;

• Representing Catholic Charities organizations and their clients at the State Capitol (through a 501 c 4 organization called Catholic Charities of California United); and

• Promoting the work of local Catholic Charities organizations to the media and the general public.

Local Catholic Charities organizations
Catholic Charities of California’s twelve local organizations provide direct services to more than 1.5 million people each year.  On a daily basis, organizations deliver crucial services to California's poorest and most vulnerable populations. These services include shelter and housing, education and training, social services, financial literacy, refugee and immigrant assistance, food-related services, clothing and utility assistance, job training and more.

Current Endeavors / Areas of Focus 
Currently, our largest statewide program includes 10 organizations, providing USDA-funded CalFresh (food stamp) Application Assistance services in over 20 counties. California has the second lowest participation rate in the country: Only 48% of eligible households are enrolled in the program. We are actively working to expand this program into more counties and particularly to identify strategies for increasing assistance to at-risk seniors. Only 5% percent of California seniors who receive Social Security and are eligible for CalFresh actually participate in CalFresh!

For several years, CCC has acted as administrator and held a seat on the State Set Aside Committee for California for the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board. This Committee allocates Emergency Food and Shelter National Board funds to counties to provide emergency services.

Catholic Charities of California is in the process of launching a statewide program to provide volunteer income tax assistance (VITA) services to low-income households to help increase the number of eligible taxpayers to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).  An estimated 800,000 working Californians left $1.2 billion in tax credits unclaimed in 2009.  The EITC is designed to lower the tax burden on low-income families and is widely known as being one of the most successful anti-poverty programs in the nation.

Catholic Charities of California United (CCCU):  Advocates for the Poor
For Catholic Charities of California, serving impoverished and vulnerable Californians means going beyond providing direct services.  Action is needed to change structures and policies that keep people in poverty. Catholic Charities created Catholic Charities of California United (CCCU), a 501 c 4 organization, for that purpose. 

CCCU advocates on behalf of Catholic Charities organizations and clients at the state and federal levels of government.  CCCU is the co-founder of Step Up California, a nonpartisan coalition of organizations dedicated to reducing poverty and promoting self-sufficiency in California.  CCCU serves on the Advisory Committee for Senator Liu’s Pathways to Economic Security.  CCCU also sits on the planning committees for the Alliance to Transform CalFresh and the California Earned Income Tax Credit and Asset Building Coalition.

Staff

• Shannon M. Lahey, Executive Director

• Emily Battaglia, Programs Director

• Andy Reid, Director of Anti-Poverty Programs

• Julie Reif, Executive Assistant/CalFresh Assistant

Executive Committee

• Ken Sawa, President

• Solomon Belette, Vice President

• Reverend Monsignor Cox, Treasurer, Secretary

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Be sure to visit Catholic Charities of California United

© 1999–2011 Catholic Charities of California
1119 K Street 2nd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814

Phone: 916 313-4005    FAX: 916 443-4731