Our History
Click here for our in depth history.
1960-1964 The Economic Opportunity
Act of 1964 The Great Society
1965-1966 The Nixon Administration
1965-1974 CAA Adaptation
1973-1980 Energy crisis
makes an impact
1974 Community Services Block Grant
1981-1989 National Dialogue on Poverty
1996
Click on each event in LACAP's history to read more about it.
The War on Poverty (1960-1964)
President Kennedy establishes a committee to design a federal program to alleviate the problems of economically depressed areas.
Economic Opportunity Act of 1964
States that it is "the policy of the United States to eliminate the paradox of poverty in the midst of plenty in this Nation by opening to everyone the opportunity for education and training, the opportunity to work, and the opportunity to live in decency and dignity." This Act contains youth programs, urban and rural community action programs, special programs to combat poverty in rural areas, employment and investment opportunities, work experience programs, administration and coordination, and treatment of income for certain public assistance purposes.
The Great Society (1965-1966)
Community Action is defined according to three basic components-a national network of CAAs which use their local initiatives funding to design and administer local programs, a smaller group of limited purpose agencies that receive funding for specific missions, and a series of national emphasis programs that most often are operated locally through the Office of Economic Opportunity to CAAs. Most CAAs during this time were located in metropolitan cities. Emphasis was slowing turning towards rural areas.
The Nixon Administration (1965-1974)
Nixon revamps the Office of Economic Opportunity, and redefines the definition and roles of Community Action Agencies, saying "the purpose of a community action agency was to stimulate a better focusing of all available resources on behalf of the poor. The effectiveness of a community action agency, therefore, is measured not by the services it provides directly but by the improvements and changes it achieves in the community's attitudes and practices toward the poor."
CAA Adaptation (1973-1980)
Congress extends the Community Services Act for three years through fiscal year 1981. Community action agencies are named as the preferred sponsors of the Summer Youth Recreation Program which is returned to the Community Services Administration. Also, a new special emphasis program called Demonstration Employment and Training Opportunities is added to CAA responsibilities-community action agencies and other public or nonprofit groups can receive grants under this program, in order to set up experimental jobs and job training projects for low-income persons.
1974 Energy Crisis makes an impact
During the 1970s, OPEC oil embargo reduced the supply and increased the price of gasoline and home heating fuels. Several community action agencies recognize that low-income households face special energy-related needs. Using their local initiative funds, some CAA's develop the first weatherization programs. The success of these local projects attracts the attention within the Community Services Administration, and an Energy Task Force is created to look closely at the impact of the 1973 energy crisis on the poor. In 1974, Congress authorizes the Community Services Administration to fund services that would ease the burden of high energy costs on low-income households.
Community Services Block Grant (1981-1989)
Community Services Administration is abolished under the Reagan Administration. Congress created two grants to replace it-Social Services Block Grant and the Community Services Block Grant, 90 percent of which would go to entities that core elements of community action. CSBG funding would be administered through the Office of Community Services, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
National Dialogue on Poverty (1996)
The National Association of Community Action Agencies initiates a National Dialogue on Poverty with local dialogues hosted by CAAs and two national policy forums. Local dialogues occurred in 48 states, and the District of Columbia. More than 150,000 people met to examine poverty in their communities and develop local, state, and national solutions.
