New York State Department of State, Division of Community Services/CSBG. Under leadership of the Secretary of State, the Division of Community Services [DCS] administers the Community Services Block Grant [CSBG] program in New York State. The Governor, in accordance with current federal statute, designated DOS as lead agency for CSBG administration. DOS has held this responsibility since creation of this Block Grant in 1981.
CSBG is a federal program created by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act to ameliorate the causes of poverty in communities.
CSBG provides federal anti-poverty funding to a statewide network consisting of community action agencies [CAAs], community action programs [CAPs], and migrant and seasonal farmworker organizations, as designated by federal laws. CAAs and CAPs were created in 1964 under the Economic Opportunity Act [EOA]. CSBG was created as a successor to EOA. The New York State network is comprised of 52 CSBG grantees serving all 62 counties, and which provide a range of services to meet the needs of low-income New Yorkers. Funding is also provided to 4 Indian Tribes/Tribal organizations, for a total of 56 entities.
The CSBG program purposes are to provide assistance to states and local communities working through a network of CAAs and other neighborhood organizations for reduction of poverty, revitalization of low-income communities, and empowerment of low-income families and individuals in rural and urban areas to become fully self-sufficient.
