Fact Sheet

Type of Grant: Mandatory Block Grant
2011 Appropriation: $668,116,090

Legislative Authority:

The Community Services Block Grant Act of 1981 as amended by Section 680(a)(2) of the Community Opportunities, Accountability, and Training and Educational Services Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-285).

Purpose:

The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) provides States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth 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.

Block Grants:

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 State's and Indian Tribe’s poverty population. Grantees receiving funds under the CSBG program are required to provide services and activities addressing employment, education, better use of available income, housing, nutrition, emergency services and/or health.

Target Population:

Beneficiaries are low-income individuals that may be unemployed or receiving public assistance, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), at-risk youth, custodial and non-custodial parents, residents of public housing, persons with disabilities, persons who are homeless, and individuals transitioning from incarceration into the community. Individuals and families can find out about local service providers at http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/ocs/csbg/documents/8c.html.

Eligible Applicants:

Block Grants: States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, U.S. Territories, and Federal and State-recognized Indian Tribes and tribal organizations.

Discretionary Grants:

Statewide or local organizations, or associations with demonstrated expertise in providing training to individuals and organizations on methods of effectively addressing the needs of low-income families, and communities and organizations that are officially designated as a Community Action Agency (CAA) or a community action program under section 673(1) of the CSBG Act, as amended by the Human Service Amendments of 1994 (P.L. 103-252), and meets all requirements under section 673 (1) (A) and 676A of the CSBG Act, as amended by the COATES Human Services Reauthorization Act of 1998.

Federal Contact: Division of State Assistance
Office of Community Services
CSBG Staff Assignments by Region
Email: csbg@acf.hhs.gov