Community Action Helps People and Changes Lives

Over the past 50 years, Community Action Agencies across the country have worked tirelessly to leverage resources, develop local programs, and administer grants to help low-income families and individuals achieve self-sufficiency to fight the war on poverty. Over the past year, in honor of the 50^th anniversary of the signing of the Economic Opportunity Action of 1964, we have celebrated the 50 best things about Community Action. Though our anniversary celebration is winding down, our successes and stories of hope, achievement and movement toward our mission, will continue.

The Community Action Promise states: “Community Action changes people’s lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community, and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.”

For the over 6,000 staff serving all of Ohio’s 88 counties through 48 locally controlled Community Action Agencies, this is truly the case. From emergency services and job training and placement programs to weatherization and housing development, people all across the state are moving toward that mission and helping low-income Ohioans help themselves by narrowing gaps and creating bridges and opportunities to move out of poverty.

The Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies is proud of the work in our network and across America. There is still work to do and we look forward to celebrating the new and innovative programs that are created by Ohio’s agencies to help people and change lives. 

Community Action Keeps Kids Warm

For the second consecutive year, Jackson-Vinton County Community Action, Inc. (JVCAI) has provided hundreds of brand new coats to low-income children to keep them warm. The program, which was made possible by the Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives in partnership with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and the Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies (OACAA), has already provided 290 coats to area children with more still available.

Community Action Provides Training

Fred had a liberal arts degree from Kent State University and struggled to find employment. Both he and his wife were working part-time jobs and struggling financially. They were the definition of the working poor. They were first referred to the Community Action Council of Portage County (CAC) by a board member who told them about a program that utilized Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to assist homeowners with repairs to their heating systems. The couple, who had two small children, had recently purchased a home in Kent through a first-time home buyers program and the furnace wasn’t functioning properly.