Human lives full of potential and meaning are worn away through the trials of life without sufficient food, clothing, shelter, and without a living wage and meaningful work. Reliance upon the government and social service agencies diminishes the self esteem and sense of dignity of a person of low income.
Poverty is cyclic.
The system designed to help the poor survive prevents them from becoming self-reliant through convoluted regulations and demeaning practices. The NOC is founded upon the belief that it is possible to recover from poverty. Improving the mental and spiritual health of a low income person is crucial to his or her ability to become physically and economically healthy. Two critical means for improving mental and spiritual health are counseling and education. Women living in poverty face many challenges to becoming independent and self-reliant.