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28 IRISH AMERICAN NEWS January 2006AWord WithFather BolandThe Voice of Catholic Charities of the Archdioceseof Chicago Administrator, CatholicCharities of the Archdiocese of ChicagoWinter is always a tough timefor people who are struggling tomake ends meet—and this winter,with its early onset of bitter coldand lots of snow, is already compoundingthe perpetual problemsfaced by people at the lower endof the earning scale, or living ona fixed income.This year, unusually highheating bills and other factorsare making life harder for morepeople who can least affordit. Here are some “signs of thetimes” that Catholic Charitiesis seeing this winter that affectseniors in particular.While many seniors managecomfortably on pensions, socialsecurity and investment income,most live on fixed incomes withoutother resources. Joan McConnell,Catholic Charities’ SeniorSpecialist, who also oversees allphone requests for help cominginto Catholic Charities Informationand Referral Departmentfrom callers of all ages, tells methat we now average 300 calls aday from Chicago alone! The majorityof calls are for emergencyassistance: food, clothing, shelter,rent, utilities. Normally, throughthe excellent efforts of CatholicCharities’ Emergency AssistanceDepartment, we can meet theneeds of most of our callers. Butin the winter, hard as we try, wecan help only about 150 peoplea day, because more requests forutilities payments take up moreof our available funds. We referpeople we can’t help to otheragencies and sources of fundingfor which they may be qualified.Joan herself takes all the callsfrom seniors over 60 years of age.In December, Joan noticed twoalarming trends: seniors’ requestsswitched to rent and mortgage;and she has received “an enormousnumber of calls this yearversus last year for heat!” Sheexpects this number to go up. Thereasons are simple: most seniorswho call us are on fixed incomes;they have to pay rent, eat and payutilities; and some receive only$500 per month to live on.Catholic Charities caseworkerswork hard to help poor seniors obtainhelp from a variety of sourcesfor a variety of problems such as:Commodity Supplemental FoodPrograms for nutrition; IllinoisCares RX and Medicaid for pharmaceuticalassistance; HomesteadExemptions and Circuit Breakersfor tax relief. These are just a fewways we try to help our seniors’dollars “stretch” further.In addition, we help them accessLiHeap, Homeless Preventionand other grants and stronglyencourage them to make “goodfaith payments” to the utilitiescompanies. Despite all these conscientiousefforts, however, seniorsand others on fixed incomessink deeper and deeper into debtevery year. Their income is sosmall and their gas heating debtsare so large that they live in constantdanger of having their heatshut off. Government, industry,businesses, utility companiesand non-profit agencies must allwork together to redouble effortsto assist and protect our neediestlow-income elderly.A similar pattern of greaterneeds and growing numbers of seniorshas emerged in the suburbs.For example, Catholic Charities’North and Northwest suburbanregions recently launched a TuesdayEvening Supper in additionto their Thursday meal, whichhosted 80 people. Now 50-60guests enjoy each hot, sit-downmeal served at Catholic CharitiesFamily Services Center at 1717Rand Road in Des Plaines. Lastyear, a clothing room was added.Homeless guests compriseabout a third of our diners, a thirdare low-income families whosebreadwinner is usually underemployedor underpaid; and thefinal third of our guests are over65 years of age. While the elderlyare not homeless, they do live onrigid, fixed incomes. But manymore seniors now patronize theNorthwest region’s food pantryas they try to balance their budgetsbetween medication, rent,food, clothing and utilities; andtake advantage of the commodityfoods that are part of CatholicCharities’ Mother and ChildFood and Nutrition program.Although this winter promisesto be difficult, particularlyfor low- or fixed-income seniors,Catholic Charities is determinedto make this New Year warmerand brighter for seniors in need.If you can help, visit our website at www.catholiccharities.net, and click on “Donate,” ormail to Catholic Charities ofthe Archdiocese of Chicago, c/oEmergency Assistance, 721 N.LaSalle St., 4th Floor, Chicago,IL 60610. If you need help,please call (312) 655-7717.Bridget McLaughlin with candidate for State Treasurer AlexiGiannoulias at The Irish Fellowship Christmas LuncheonYOU WOULDN’T TRUST JUSTANYONE TO DRIVE YOUR CAR,So why trust anycompany to insure it?Don’t trust just anyone to insureyour car, see me:Like a good neighbor,State Farm is there. ®Tom Ryan17256 Oak Park Ave.Tinley Park, IL 60477(708)532-5040State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (Not in NJ)State Farm Indemnity Company (NJ) • Home Offices, Bloomington, Illinois
January 2006 IRISH AMERICAN NEWS 29An Immigrant’sMusingsFr. Michael LeonardConflicting Views onImmigration ReformOn November 17, the House HomelandSecurity Committee, under theleadership of Peter King (R-NY)passed a Border Enforcement only bill,which was supported by Republicansand Democrats. The new legislationauthorizes more funding for BorderPatrol agents, funds physical barriersand surveillance technology, andpromotes cross-border internationalagreements. The legislation’s nextstop is the House Judiciary Committee,whose chair, Rep. James Sensenbrenner(R-Wis.), has been working onhis own border security legislation.But members who favor a comprehensiveimmigration bill -- one thatincludes a guestworker plan -- arecomplaining that House leaders aretaking too narrow an approach byfocusing only on the borders andnot on other changes in immigrationpolicies.Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., is cosponsoringlegislation that includesa guestworker program that wouldallow workers to ultimately apply forpermanent citizenship. “Everyoneknows if you’re going to have enforcement,you have to have laws you canenforce,” Flake said. “I think [leaders]want to make a statement that we’redoing something because we haven’tgotten off the dime; they just want astatement bill.”In the Senate…The next day (November 18), abipartisan group of Senators officiallyintroduced S. 2075, the DREAM Actof 2005, giving new life to legislationthat has been in a holding pattern sincethe beginning of the year.The sponsors of the DREAM Actof 2005 are Richard Durbin (D-IL),Chuck Hagel (R-NE) and RichardLugar (R-IN). The DREAM Actpermits undocumented high schoolgraduates who immigrated to the U. S.as minors and who have lived in theU.S. for at least five years, to apply forlegal status, pursue a college educationor join the military and becomeU.S. citizens. It will become law ifpassed by both houses of Congressand signed by the President beforethe end of 2006.Meanwhile,The Chairman of the Senate JudiciaryCommittee, Senator ArlenSpecter, has circulated a draft of acompromise immigration bill thatdoes not include guest worker provisionsfavored by President Bush,but does favor dramatic increases inlegal immigration limits in the UnitedStates.In a letter to colleagues, Mr. Spectercalled his document “a discussiondraft intended to move the debate forwardin anticipation of the Senate takingup immigration reform early nextyear.” He added, “I do not necessarilyendorse every provision included.”Specter has agreed with a numberof his colleagues’ proposals (Cornyn/Kyl) including one to allow illegalaliens to return home and then re-enterthe U.S. on a path to citizenship.Senator Specter would increase thecap on family preference immigrantsby 254,000 a year, raise the cap onemployment-based visa by 150,000a year, “recapture” unused visas andexempt family members from caps aswell, thereby greatly increasing thenumber of green cards available.Senate aides said Mr. Specter’s draftserved as a marker to ensure that hiscommittee would play a role in shapingany legislation. By starting the debate,EXECUTIVE CLASS TOURSCO. GALWAY, IRELANDIrish Vacation SpecialistsPrivate Group Specials (FREE PLACES)Chauffeur Drive SpecialsGolf Specialswww.executivetours.iehe has made it harder for Senateleaders to take up on the floor a morerestrictive immigration bill that mightbe passed by the House, where conservativeopponents of the president’sproposal have a stronger hand.And, finally…At the end of November PresidentBush visited several Southwest statesto publicize his plan to solve the immigrationcrisis. He promoted whathe called a three-point plan, with thefirst point being the “prompt returnof every illegal entrant we catch onthe border, with no exceptions.” Thesecond, he said, is to correct “weakand unnecessary provisions in our immigrationlaws.” And the third: he saidhe and Congress would create a newtemporary guest-worker plan to matchwilling employers with workers whowill do jobs “Americans will not do.”Best WishesOn behalf of all at C.I.I.S I takethis opportunity to wish our readersand supporters a blessed New Year.It is our fervent prayer that 2006 willbring one and all every success. Wehope and pray especially that all ourundocumented brothers and sistersmay receive the long awaited anddesperately needed immigration lawchanges that would permit them toexperience all the benefits that thisgreat country has to offer.Should you have any comments,questions etc. please feel free tocontact me at 312-337-8445 Cell.773-677-5341 or E-mail: siochan@catholic.orgTheDooleybrothersfrom Irish Favorites to50’s & 60’s Rock N’ RollSolo to 5 PiecesParties • Festivals • WeddingsWe wish you the best in 2006from Joe, Jim, Mike and BillCome join us by a cozy turffire with a friend & a favoritebeverage at theFifth Province,IAHC, 4626 N. Knox,Chicago 9:15 pm-12:30amJAN 28 (SAT) & FEB. 10 (FRI)Road to Lisdoonvarna CDis available at Irish Import storesthroughout ChicagolandComplete listing on our Website:dooleybrothers.comLog on today for a “Dooleyized”musical experience! Vintagephotos - Venue schedule - Music708-366-9458dooleyinfo@dooleybrothers.comJack Hartman; the new president of the Irish Fellowship Club, andTerrence O’Brien; president of the Metropolitan Water ReclamationDistrict, enjoying the Irish Fellowship Club Christmas Luncheon.
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