The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) program provides States, the District of Columbia, the Common Wealth of Puerto Rico, U.S. Territories, and federal and state-recognized Indian Tribes and tribal organizations, Community Action Agencies, migrant and seasonal farmworkers or other organizations designated by the States, funds to alleviate the causes and conditions of poverty in communities.

Major Goal:
The CSBG program provides states and Indian Tribes with funds to lessen poverty in communities. The funds provide a range of services and activities to assist the needs of low-income individuals including the homeless, migrants and the elderly.

Grant amounts are determined by a formula based on each States' and Indian Tribes' poverty population. Grantees receiving funds under the CSBG program are required to provide services and activities addressing the following:

• employment
• education
• better use of available income
• housing
• nutrition
• emergency services
• health

In 2004 $642 million was available for CSBG
In 2005 $626 million was available for CSBG
In 2006, the President has requested no funds for CSBG

CSBG Highlights:

• 2,011,940 New service “opportunities” were created for low-income families as a result of community action work or advocacy, including affordable and expanded public and private transportation, medical care, child care and development, new community centers, youth programs, increased business opportunity, food and retain shopping in low-income neighborhoods

• 122,706 low-income families experienced improved housing as a result of community action assistance, including reduced homelessness, access to safe and affordable housing and homeownership
• 53,689 participants experienced an increase in annual income from earnings
• 109,127 participants successfully completed education (i.e., GED, high school or higher education) or job training as a result of community action assistance
• 133,431 low income individuals reported involvement in community advocacy, improvement, and governance activities as a result of community action encouragement and support
• 3,153,282 Low-income household s in crisis had their emergency needs met by community action
• 783,005 low-income senior citizens continued to live independently because of supportive services provided by community action
• 28,260 disabled or medically-challenged individuals continue to live independently with the help of community action
• 42.3 million hours of volunteer time were marshaled for anti-poverty work by community action, the equivalent of 18,750 full-time employees
• $9.6 billion in federal, state and local, public and private funds were mobilized by community action to help families and communities out of poverty--$1486 for every $1.00 of Community Services Block Grant funds.

CSBG Special Initiatives:

• ROMA—a management and evaluation strategy that measures and reports the outcomes of community action
• A 21^st Century Strategy to Poverty—a renewed strategy using community-based solutions, technology, assets building and new definitions to address poverty in the 21^st century.