The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) is the domestic anti-poverty program of the Catholic Church that was started in 1969 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. CCHD has two objectives: empowering the poor, and educating others about the root causes of poverty.
The CCHD works to carry out the mission of Jesus Christ "... to bring glad tidings to the poor ... liberty to captives ... sight to the blind, and let the oppressed go free." (Luke 4:18)
The belief that those who are directly affected by unjust systems and structures have the best insight into knowing how to change them is central to CCHD. CCHD works to break the cycle of poverty by helping low-income people participate in decisions that affect their lives, families and communities. CCHD offers a hand up, not a hand out.