Living In Ohio

Community Services

The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) remains one of the major efforts of the War on Poverty that succeeded several federally administered programs. The State of Ohio administers the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) through the Ohio Department of Development(ODOD), Community Development Division (CDD), Office of Community Services (OCS). CSBG funds are granted to non-profit Community Action Agencies (CAAs).

The success of Community Action Programs flows from the historic mission of CAAs to coordinate and link public and private resources and to focus these resources on specific poverty issues at the community level.

As authorized by the CSBG Act, funds are expended for a broad range of services; some of which are: employment, education, income management, housing, emergency services, nutrition, and linkages (information and referral, counseling, outreach, senior services and family development).

Grantees establish priorities based on assessed needs, and determine what resources are available including the block grant. Although program activities are locally determined, the application work program is specifically designed to include programs that meet the requirements of the eligible activities contained in the CSBG Act. The work programs address the following seven (7) problems experienced by low-income individuals and families.

• Unemployment and underemployment;
• Inadequate education;
• Inefficient and/or ineffective use of available income;
• Inadequate housing;
• Inability to meet emergency needs;
• Incomplete use of available programs and services; and
• Starvation and malnutrition.