Poverty in Omaha and GOCA

            Poverty is a problem in our Omaha community.  It needs to be addressed, and the one program trying to be of help is loosing their financial support.  GOCA stands for Greater Omaha Community Action Program.  They help those in need by offering several services.  They supply basic and immediate needs, and they also empower people living in poverty so they may be self-sufficient in the long run.  In my paper I will discuss the mission statement of GOCA, and the services they provide, my interview with Alex Gray on the issue of poverty, the financial battle, and how the GOCA program is fulfilling Catholic Social Teaching.

GOCA’s Mission

            The mission of Greater Omaha Community Action is to eliminate the causes of poverty by strengthening individuals, families and communities in Douglas and Sarpy counties. (Strategic Plan)

GOCA offers several services to those living in poverty.  Their process of helping others begins with a case manager using interviewing techniques to find out the strengths and weaknesses of individuals in several areas including, transportation, family relations, parenting, alcohol and drug use, children’s education, income, career development, health care, housing, and nutrition. (Greater Omaha Community Action)  From this interview plans of action are created to help the individuals, and families.  The plan of action may use one or several of GOCA’s services which includes meeting emergency needs like food, and funds for rent and utilities, parent training, income tax assistance, youth programs, family budgeting, and several more.  In many instances the individuals that receive help through GOCA will end up working for GOCA. 

I interviewed Alex Gray of GOCA.  He is the director of GOCA’s Community Building Project, he is also an outpatient therapist for GOCA’s Behavior Health Program, and he works in administration.  Alex had much to say about the problem of poverty in Omaha.  He believes GOCA helps protect the vulnerable, which he considers children and elderly.  “Twenty percent of Omaha households have a yearly income of below 18,000 dollars.  5,741 children age five and under, live below poverty status here in Omaha.  3,222 Omaha citizens that are over the age of 65 are also living in poverty.” (Omaha Poverty, General)  As you can see it is clear that something needs to be done.  Our children and our elderly are vulnerable.  They can’t go out and get jobs to support themselves.  Alex believes that a common opinion of people living in poverty is that they are experiencing personal failure.  The true failure in our country is our social structure.  A young child does not ask to live in poverty, so why aren’t more of us helping? 

When I asked Alex why he has chosen this career he answered, ‘because I believe.’  Then he proceeded to share some success stories with me.   Alex has done therapy with several individuals who have come through GOCA.  He used to meet with inmates to give them encouragement and help them to employ themselves.  There was one felon he met with on several occasions that now works for GOCA’s youth services, and has completely turned his life around.  He also worked with a prostitute who was addicted to drugs, with GOCA’s help she also turned her life around and now has a full time job, and is a leader in her AA class.  Alex believes these people have found success because human beings have a great potential to change.  He also believes that GOCA successful because those who work there keep themselves healthy, and they care about each other.  He says, in order to help the people he does, he needs to first gain their trust. 

Alex opened my eyes to the reality of poverty in Omaha.  Though I only visited their office in North Omaha, Alex explained the other areas in Omaha that are a concern for poverty.  He proceeded to tell me they serve several families in many areas of Omaha.  Though the majority of their clients are located in North and South Omaha there is also a need for services in Valley.  He spoke of the wealthy homes and mansions in Valley that are just across the street from a severely poverty stricken community.  This community is a place where people are living in unstable housing, which would be compared to ‘shacks.’  There are outhouses for bathrooms, and there is suspected drug production there. This explains Alex’s comment about our country.  Alex calls our poverty problem a phenomenon.  “We are the wealthiest country yet we have the greatest disparity between our rich and poor.” 

GOCA is financially supported by a grant called CSPG funding.  This grant was designed for community action programs.  (Community Action of NE)   The government is not convinced that these community action programs are doing their jobs on fighting the poverty war.  Therefore their funding is on the verge of being cut.  I can’t imagine what our community would be like with out GOCA.  This cut would affect GOCA by a 30% drop in their finances and Alex said they are already scraping to get by.  There is evidence that GOCA and other community action programs have been successful in helping individuals and families fight poverty.  Something needs to be done so these programs do not loose their support.  There are ways we can help.  I have attached a sample letter that we can rewrite in our own words and send to congress.  There are politicians on our side and they are helping to fight this issue, but we can help them too.  Senator Clinton, and Senator Kennedy have both written letters to help support the CSPG grant. 

Catholic Social Teaching

GOCA

Direct Service- GOCA supports those living in poverty by responding to individuals and families immediate needs.  They do this through their Emergency Assistance Program.  This program helps individuals by supplying them with immediate funding for rent or utility bills.  This program is referred to as the ‘Safety Net.’  Individuals make an appointment and apply for financial assistance.  This Emergency Assistance Program also offers free bus vouchers, and transportation to work for those who need it.  They also direct individuals to other services and programs in Omaha if needed.   Each month individuals and families living in poverty may apply for the emergency USDA food program.  If individuals and families fall under an identified income then they are able to receive groceries each month for free.  These services reflect Catholic Social Teaching because they are pouring out their love and assistance to those who are able to have their basic needs met.  They are feeding those who are hungry, and offering emergency money so that individuals will not be left with out housing and utilities.  People need these things in order to survive.  GOCA does not house individuals who have lost shelter, but they do have services that find housing for these individuals by reaching out to other community organizations.  GOCA also has a program directed toward Income Tax Assistance.  This program offers free income tax services to individuals.  (class discussion on direct service for immediate needs)

Empowerment- GOCA empowers individuals and families in the Omaha community.  They do this with their Case Management program.  This program is designed to help families set goals and to help families reach those goals. Participants are given points in return for attending regular meetings, and completing goals.  These points can be used to purchase household supplies.  Case managers will work with individuals and families to find out what they need in order to become self-sufficient.  They supply emotional support and therapy sessions.  This program reflects Catholic Social Teaching because it helps families get back on their feet and learn what they need in order to take care of themselves. They don’t want families to rely on direct services.  GOCA helps to empower individuals by offering mental health and substance abuse therapy.  If they are aware of their current state, they can work toward a healthy lifestyle so that they may better care for themselves.  GOCA also offers financial educational programs, which educate individuals to be financially stable by budgeting and Money Smart.  GOCA also encourages individuals to receive training for employment positions available with in GOCA.  This is a great way for people who have benefited from GOCA to help others.  By GOCA providing employment opportunities, they are empowering individuals to make a steady income and be more financially secure. (Class discussion on empowering the poor)

Economic Justice- GOCA reflects catholic Social Teaching through economic justice because it offers employment to those who need jobs, and economic justice tells us that everyone has a right to productive work and to fair wages.  GOCA also provides emergency assistance to those in need of rent money because economic justice tells us that we all have a right to private property.  GOCA believes that it is the government’s job to protect it’s less fortunate by offering funding to help empower those in poverty to take care of themselves.  It is also our job as a wealthy country to care for those who are not wealthy.  We need to share the wealth.  GOCA has proven that it is the task of the state to intervene when there are people living in poverty because they were created and are supported through the Community Action of Nebraska.  GOCA is asking us to help fight for their funding from the government.  GOCA believes that it is a failing social structure which has produced so much poverty it is not due to personal failings.  ( Mich, 313-333)

Communitarianism- GOCA supports Catholic Social Teachings through communitarianism.  GOCA is a community and its mission is to help our community.  They work together as a community to fight the war on poverty.  Several of the individuals who were helped by the GOCA organization have also become employees there.  They all care for each other and encourage a communitarian atmosphere.  GOCA encourages others to be a community through their Parent Training Program.  Parents come together and learn more about each other.  They learn new tips on parenting and they support one another.  GOCA also provides a mentor program.  This program signifies a community by brining people together who can learn and benefit from each other.  GOCA offers support groups for those individuals suffering from alcohol and drug addiction.  These individuals can lean on each other when in need.  They also offer a Young Men in Development group.  This service provides tutoring, fellowship, and encouragement to Omaha’s at risk youth.  GOCA also provides opportunities for seniors to socialize with a senior breakfast, knitting, and card making classes.  All of these services offered are a way for individuals to meet others, and be supportive.  They help to teach us that we cannot fight poverty alone. We must work together to provide support, and encouragement. (class discussion on Communitarianism vs Individualism)

Human Dignity- GOCA supports the Catholic Social Teachings on human dignity.  Human Dignity is the belief that there is an inherent and intrinsic value in each person.  This value is not based on a person’s accomplishments, but it is based on humans being good like God, and made in his own image.  When I interviewed Alex, I envisioned human dignity as he spoke of the success stories he had encountered.  He believed that every person he had worked with, could change and become the person they wanted to be.  He also said that he choose his career because he believes.  He believes that underneath people are really and truly good.  From a prostitute to a AA leader, and from a felon to a youth leader.  We each have true potential because of human dignity.  Alex goes to his job valuing people every day.  GOCA values all people living in poverty, and that is why they help them set and accomplish goals.  They believe that individuals can change regardless of their past.  Human dignity tells us our value is not placed on our accomplishments.  Individuals living in poverty come into GOCA to forget their past and move on to a brighter future.  Not only does GOCA serve immediate needs, they also help individuals by improving their mental health.  They do this through therapy sessions, and support groups.  These individuals receive a brand new start, which we all deserve. (Class discussion on human dignity and the common good)

I would like to end by a comment from Alex Gray.  When asked what the one thing is that Omaha’s citizens can do to stop our war on poverty he responded by saying, “we need to be aware of the research.”  Poverty does affect us.  We are in decay.  People are so comfortable, and they think it must be personal failings that create poverty, but it’s structural and it needs to be changed.  Alex is also asking for our help to support the CSPG grant.  We can do this by writing to our congress.  I have included some resources, given to me by Alex that we may use to research the problem of poverty in America, Nebraska, and In Omaha. 

Bibliography

Community Action of Nebraska, http://www.canhelp.org April, 10, 2005.

Gray, Alex.Greater Omaha Community Action interviewed on April 19, 2005.

Greater Omaha Community Action, www.gocaomaha.com. April, 10, 2005.

Mich, Marvin. Catholic Social Teaching and Movements. Mystic, CT:Twenty-Third
            Publications, 1998.

Omaha Poverty, General, Omaha Statistics ‘White Yellow Pages.’

            http://omaha.whiteyellowpages.com/poverty_general. April, 10, 2005. 

Strategic Plan 2002-2003, Greater Omaha Community Action, Inc. Pamphlet received

            April 19, 2005.

Resources

One Nation Underprivileged

by Mark Robert Rank

http://www.ncaf.org   

www.roma1.org

http://www.canhelp.org

www.gocaomaha.com

 
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