Poverty in America Affects Millions(2/2)

The charity's "Campaign to Reduce Poverty" will lobby Congress and the White House to keep four priorities high in their future legislative plans: health care, hunger, housing and nutrition, and family economic security. As Congress looks for ways to cut the federal government's spending, advocates for the poor say, there should be no reduction in the government's support for programs that combat poverty.

Here at Washington's Central Union Mission, a shelter for the homeless, special projects manager Julia Smith says housing costs in the nation's capital have tripled over the past five years -- creating wealth for a few, but forcing many below the poverty line. "Generally, across the city what you are seeing is the poor being pushed further out of the city. And so you have the working poor that are holding jobs, but no longer can afford to live in the city."

There is no simple solution to ending poverty in America, but Catholic Charities U.S.A. says that task is a moral obligation for everyone. The resources and knowledge about how to end poverty are available, Catholic Charities says, but what is often lacking is political leaders' willingness to take action.