The goal of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) is the reduction of poverty, the revitalization of low-income communities and the empowerment of low-income families and individuals to become fully self-sufficient.
The Community Services Block Grant is designed to help low-income individuals and families: secure and retain meaningful employment; attain an adequate education; improve the use of available income, obtain adequate housing, obtain emergency assistance, including health and nutrition services; remove obstacles which block the achievement of self-sufficiency; and achieve greater participation in the affairs of the community.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides Community Services Block Grant funds to the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa and to Federally-recognized Tribes, State-recognized Tribes and Tribal organizations acting on behalf of eligible Tribes.
CSBG is not a competitive grant. Eligible applicants are Community Action Agencies that are designated by the Governor of West Virginia to administer the Community Services Block Grant. CSBG does not directly fund individuals but provides funding to Community Action Agencies throughout the state.
All recipients of CSBG funds submit community action plans and budgets detailing the programs, services, and activities to be conducted using CSBG funding. Based on monitoring results by this office’s Compliance Unit, recommendations are made to agencies for continued progress and improvement of existing conditions.
WV's Community Action Agencies are independent non-profit organizations each providing a unique mix of community services.
CSBG funding supports projects that:
-Lessen poverty in communities
-Address the needs of low-income individuals including the homeless, migrants and the elderly
-Provide services and activities addressing employment, education, better use of available income, housing, nutrition, emergency services and/or health
With the support of CSBG funding, states and CAAs work together to achieve the following goals for low-income individuals:
-Increased self-sufficiency
-Improved living conditions
-Ownership of and pride in their communities
-Strong family and support systems
Working together, agencies increase their capacity to achieve results. Partnerships among supporters and providers of services play a large role in the successful implementation of CSBG grants.
NOTICE:
The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) does not provide direct grants to individuals; CSBG does not charge a fee for receiving a grant. If you receive a message offering you a CSBG grant or requesting a fee, please contact the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Fraud Hotline at 1-800-447-8477.