An effective model for fighting poverty

I volunteer for a local group called Circles of Hope. Its motto is, "Working to end poverty one family at a time." I've written about this before, but I want to point out some information we received this week from the National Circles Campaign.

Circles USA keeps data on Circle leaders, which, the report explains, "are low-income individuals who have made a commitment to build social capital with middle- and upper-income Allies, attend community meetings and work toward goal attainment for greater economic stability." These Circle leaders report their progress in these areas:
• income
• public assistance
• assets
• debts
• employment
• education
• insurance.
In data collected from July 2008 to December 2012 from 518 people who completed at least a six-month survey, Circle leaders showed improvement in the following areas:
• increased social capital: 69.3%
• has volunteered in community: 71.5%
• has safe housing: 92.3%
• has health insurance: 34.2%
• has reliable transportation: 73.6% 
• has a valid driver's license: 36%
• obtained a car: 34.6%
• paid off credit: 29.9%
• opened a savings account: 38.1%
• enrolled in education:32.1%
• employed: 33%.
 Further data shows the following improvements:
• income after 18 months of involvement: 27% increase
• public benefits after 18 months of involvement: 27% decrease
• assets after 18 months of involvement: 88% increase.
The reports notes that "poverty creates severe financial hardship for communities, states and our nation. According to a report from  the Center for American Progress, our nation spends $500 billin a year on the fallout from children raised in poverty."
 OK, enough numbers, even though these are important. What I've witnessed in my three years of involvement with Circles of Hope is the building of community. Last week, five groups finished their 18-month commitment as a circle, and every one talked about the Circles community being a family.
This past Tuesday, the Allies got together, and the Circle leaders got together. We do this every time there's a fifth Tuesday in a month. We Allies heard that a Circle leader had said that we shouldn't be discouraged if we're not seeing a big improvement in their meeting their goals because the experience of having people around them who care about them is worth more than we'll ever know.
So the numbers above are good, and they're important. But those results are more a byproduct of what Circles is about. At its core, Circles builds community and thereby builds hope. And the community that is built is not just for their good but for the good of us all. The more we work together to end poverty, the better off we all are. 
For more information on those numbers, check out www.circlesusa.org.
And for anyone in the Newton, Kan., area, there is a training for Allies on May 11. To learn more, call 316-284-0000.