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 povertyCanterbury 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