GENERAL INFORMATION
The starting point for the federal Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) program began with the federal Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 and Congress’s declaration of “war on poverty.” Legislation provided for the CSBG program in the federal Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 to help eliminate the causes and ameliorate the conditions of poverty. Currently each state receives an allocation of funds to distribute to community service providers who provide a variety of services to clients who meet eligibility guidelines.
In 2006, the Department of Community Services & Development, the state administrator of the CSBG program in California, distributed $55.9 million in grants to sixty three community entities, which include Community Action Agencies, Limited Purpose Agencies, Migrant and Seasonal Farm Workers Programs and the Native American Indian Programs.
ASSISTANCE TYPE
In all states, the Community Services Block Grant program is designed to provide a range of services to assist low-income people in attaining the skills, knowledge, and motivation necessary to achieve self-sufficiency. The program also provides low-income people with immediate life necessities such as food, shelter, and health care needs, etc. In addition, services are provided to local communities for the revitalization of low-income communities, the reduction of poverty and to help provider agencies to improve and increase their capacity at achieving results and to develop community resources with whom to link services and funding.
Services to eligible clients provided with CSBG funds must contribute to the achievement of one or more of the six goals developed by the National CSBG Monitoring and Assessment Task Force.
- Low-income people become more self-sufficient;
- The conditions in which low-income people live are improved;
- Low-income people own a stake in their community;
- Partnerships among supporters and providers of services to low-income people are achieved;
- Agencies increase their capacity to achieve results;
- Low-income people achieve their potential by strengthening family and other supportive systems.
ELIGIBILITY
Eligible client households must meet 100% of the United States Department of Health and Human Services' low-income poverty guidelines. Click this link to see a copy of the 2008 CSBG poverty income guidelines.
FUNDING SOURCE
The federal Department of Health and Human Services administers the Community Services Block Grant program funds which are allocated to states annually based on a formula-based grant set in federal law and which is not competitive. California’s designated CSBG administrator is the Department of Community Services & Development.
CSD in turn distributes allocations to the state's existing network of community action agencies and additional community partners. The California State Budget Act annually directs the percentage of distribution of CSBG funds in California to:
Community Action Agencies and Rural Community Services 76.1%
Migrant and Seasonal Farm Workers 10.0
Native American Indian Programs 3.9
ADDITIONAL PROGRAM INFORMATION
CONTACT
Check the CSD Provider Directories to find the other community service providers in your community or call the CSD toll-free phone center at 1-866-675-6623.