Programs:
Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD)

What is the Catholic Campaign for Human Development?

CCHD is the National Catholic anti-poverty program established by the US Catholic Bishops in 1969.  Its mission is to protect the life and dignity of all people, including those living in poverty in our communities. This program helps those living on the margins to have a voice and receive a hand up, not a hand-out. CCHD works to break the cycle of poverty by helping low-income people organize themselves to address local issues and build better lives for themselves.  


“It is not enough to offer someone a sandwich unless it is accompanied by the possibility of learning how to stand on one’s own two feet.  Charity that leaves the poor person as he is, is not sufficient.  True mercy, the mercy God gives to us and teaches us, demands justice, it demands that the poor find the way to be poor no longer.”
                                                               -Pope Francis
The CCHD Process

In the Archdiocese of Hartford, CCHD seeks to:

  • Educate parishioners about poverty in Connecticut and in the U.S. and equip them to work for change.
  • Fund groups in the archdiocese who are working to end poverty. Funding comes from the donations parishioners make to the CCHD collection which takes place at parishes the weekend before Thanksgiving each year. Learn more about the truth on CCHD funding here.

CCHD operates out of the Office for Catholic Social Justice Ministry.  Parishioners from the Archdiocese, appointed by the Archbishop of Hartford to be part of the CCHD committee, participate in the evaluation of grant applications and visit Grantees to monitor projects. For a detailed summary of this year's funded groups in the Archdiocese of Hartford, click here.

To apply for a local grant click on the blue "CCHD Local Grant Application" button to the right

Information on how to apply for national grants can be found here.
CCHD Resources

CCHD's web site: Here you will find wonderful resources for your parish, including the following.
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Click on the image to view USCCB's Poverty Awareness Facebook page, Poverty USA.
Local CCHD Grant Information
CCHD Committee Members

Mrs. Lynn Campbell, Archdiocesan Director
Ms. Anna Eisen
​Sr. Mary Ellen Burns
Ms. Mary Lou Connors
Mr. Thomas McCabe
​Mr. Brian Stiltner
​Mrs. Tracey Clements
Mrs. Jennifer O'Neill
Mrs. Bailey Lavoie, CCHD Intern


CCHD Youth & Young Adult Opportunities

Click on the image above to learn more on how to live the gospel through catholic social justice.