As demand for basic assistance rises and public funding becomes less predictable, nonprofits providing essential services are filling the gaps. That was the clear message from leaders of four of Chicago’s largest social-service organizations at a panel hosted by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago. Their conversation reflected a broader reality playing out across the country: as more families turn to help with food, housing, healthcare, and childcare, the systems designed to catch people in crisis are under growing strain.
Sally Blount, CEO of Catholic Charities, moderated the Nov. 12 event, which coincided with Pope Leo XIV’s World Day of the Poor. Kate Maehr, Executive Director and CEO, Greater Chicago Food Depository, Ric Estrada, CEO, Metropolitan Family Services, and Josh Hale, President and CEO, Big Shoulders Fund, discussed the status of the safety net each of these organizations provides at a time when federal funding is declining, and the need is as high as ever. The panel also emphasized that now is the time to speak up, engage, advocate, volunteer, and donate to support our neighbors in need. More than 130 guests attended the event held at Loyola University’s Schreiber Center.
Watch a video of the full panel here:
Blount launched the discussion with some sobering statistics about poverty — 40% of U.S. households have an income of less than $48,000 and poverty in Chicago sits at 17%, compared to the national average of 12%. Poverty, she said, disproportionately impacts seniors who live alone, Black and Latino households, and households led by single mothers.
An estimated 100 million people in the U.S. — roughly one out of three people — participate in government safety net programs at some point, she said. These programs make up 90% of the safety net supporting these neighbors in need. The extended-family safety net of family and friends helps with temporary housing, finances, and childcare, while charitable safety nets — including these social service providers — work to address the gaps.
“Together, we serve more than 1.5 million people a year across these four organizations,” Blount said. “We distribute over $750 million in goods and services, we partner with over 1,000 community organizations not to mention each other, and most of us rely heavily on government funding — 20% of our combined spend is privately funded.”
All four social service providers recognized the importance of partnering with other organizations to fulfill their missions to serve those in need, and also to advocate for greater safety nets.
“We have to lift our voices — there is a huge set of collective societal costs if we don’t,” said Maehr. “Being advocates looking for solutions through policy and through investments in the safety net… will drive food security across the nation.”
How to Help
Supporting Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago helps ensure access to food, emergency assistance, and family support for neighbors in need, including seniors, veterans, mothers, and families facing housing instability and other challenges.
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