Assistance from local Community Action Agencies.

What is a Community Action Agency (CAA)?

Community Action Agencies (CAA) were created to help those in need, assist people with paying bills and expenses, provide grants and other emergency short term financial aid, assist individuals with finding jobs, and most importantly to promote self-sufficiency. A Community Action Agency is a local private and/or public non-profit organization that is partially funded by the federal government and that is part of the nationwide Community Action Program (CAP) network. This program was founded in 1964 to help provide assistance and fight poverty by empowering the poor in the United States. Currently, there are over 1,000 of these agencies located in all states and counties across the United States.

Where can I find a community action agency for my area?

Most counties have an agency that provides assistance and access to various programs. They can also be a great resource to refer people to other programs as well.

• Click here to find community action agencies and programs for your state and county.
• Or, for a listing of the agencies that service the country’s most populated counties, click here.

 

What type of assistance can I get?

CAA provide many services to struggling families. Community Action Agencies provide numerous programs that offer a wide range of much needed resources and services to low-income people. For example, some local agencies :

• have created interest-free loans for people who need small loans for home repairs, paying rent, or other needs
• provide help with utility and heating bills
• debt and credit card assistance and counseling
• offer day care services

 

 

 

• dental clinics
• home repairs
• provide medical care and help with medical bills
• provide home weatherization to help save money on energy bills
• assist with job training
• refer families to other state and federal government assistance programs
• administration of Head Start pre-school programs
• provide food aid, groceries and operate food pantries
• clothing for work or school
• community action organizations can provide rent assistance to prevent evictions

Note that the exact programs and services offered by individual community action agencies will vary based upon funding and other criteria.

 

What has provided the basic funding for Community Action Agencies?

Most of the funds for the agencies come from the Community Service Block Grant which have provided the principal funding to these non-profits. The CSBG funding is essential to keep Community Action Agency operations running.

Community Action Agencies are great resources to contact. Their primary mission is to help with the improvement of low income families and individuals, and to assist them with becoming fully self-sufficient. Case managers will assist those who are struggling through a difficult period in their life. Even if for some reason the agency can’t help, they can be a great resource to provide you referrals or recommendations to other agencies or programs that can assist, such as credit card counselors or others.