ROMEOVILLE—Catholic Charities remains steadfast in its commitment to provide assistance for close to 60,000 people in need within the seven counties of the Joliet Diocese, but the social service agency is forced to cut back due to financial limitations. Recent decisions affect 18 staff positions and terminate two programs—Refugee Resettlement Program and St. Elizabeth’s Residence, an affordable home for senior women in Joliet. It also trimmed 2.4 percent off the agency’s $20 million budget.

Kathleen McGowan, executive director for Catholic Charities, told the Catholic Explorer, “It’s very, very tough. Our dilemma, like any other organization, is that we just can’t continue to go on” without significant changes. “It’s been a difficult time for us, but we’re also trying to be as compassionate as possible,” she added.

In the fiscal year from July 1, 2007, to June 30, 2008, the operating budget was producing a shortage “that was so huge, we just had to take drastic action,” she explained. The estimated deficit was about $500,000. With these cuts, Catholic Charities anticipates that it will save about $425,000-$450,000.

Catholic Charities has tried to be considerate in the areas of change that affect employees, added McGowan. She said 14 positions have been eliminated, two staff members were transferred to other positions within the agency and four positions have been reduced from full-time to part-time status. The staff changes are scheduled to be effective March 3; it is expected to reduce the number of total Catholic Charities employees to 305. She added, “We’re hoping we’re not going to have to do any more layoffs at this time.”

McGowan’s heart goes out to the people affected by the eliminated programs. There are a handful of families that Catholic Charities has already committed itself to assisting through the Refugee Resettlement Program and plans to complete that process before shutting down the program. McGowan also said the agency is working with the 10 women currently residing at St. Elizabeth’s Residence to secure other housing by July 1. She said, “It’s a heartbreak.”

The financial shortfall is due to years of inadequate funding from state and federal government sources and a failure to compensate appropriately for increased costs, according to McGowan. She estimated about 75 percent of Catholic Charities programs receive funds from the government and “we don’t have the revenue to match what the costs are.” It would be impractical and immoral for Catholic Charities to increase the rates it charges clients for services, she added.

Private donations are welcomed and needed, but they are not enough to carry Catholic Charities through this crisis. McGowan said, “Our fundraising efforts have been very successful. We’ve been very blessed with the people of the Joliet Diocese.”

Looking toward the tough days ahead and expressing more gratitude to the people of the seven counties, McGowan concluded, “We appreciate their prayers.”