About Catholic Urban Programs

Catholic Urban Programs (CUP) was founded in 1973 as a department of the Diocese of Belleville by Mr. Joe Hubbard. CUP serves people in need throughout the Diocese with a concentration on East St. Louis and surrounding communities. Our social service programs work in collaboration to help meet the needs of our community’s most vulnerable. As we build relationships with those we serve, we walk with Two Feet of Love in Action, helping to meet basic needs while empowering people to reach stability and self-sufficiency.

Who We Are

Our Mission
Guided by the principles of Catholic social teaching, we advance human dignity, remediate the effects of poverty, and empower people to become self-sufficient through crisis intervention, housing security, and out-of-school time programs.

Our Vision
To break the cycle of poverty and rekindle hope in those we serve.

Impact Statement
Most individuals and families served by Catholic Urban Programs have experienced the impacts of poverty in some way throughout their lives. People experiencing generational poverty often lack resources, tools, knowledge, and role models for building greater capacity for themselves and their children. Our social service programs work in collaboration to help meet the needs of our community’s most vulnerable while providing them with the necessary resources to “create new cycles.” We aim to grow our clients’ knowledge and skill, reduce barriers, address root causes, and foster positive and accountable relationships in hopes to break the cycle of poverty in our community.

Our Values
CUP focuses on people. Our faith-based foundations uphold us to the highest standards, and our actions are driven by our core values: