Michigan's Poverty Fighting Network

Community Action Agencies (CAAs) originated in President Lyndon B. Johnson’s “War on Poverty” in the 1960s. Since then, CAAs in Michigan and across the country have led local efforts to reduce poverty and to increase self-sufficiency and economic stability among the thousands of clients and families they serve each year.

Each of Michigan's 30 CAAs is governed by a tri-partite board of directors comprised of representatives from local government, local business, and local CAA customers. This unique governance structure, along with regularly scheduled community assessments, ensures that agency programs focus on the areas of greatest local need and impact.

CAAs also play an important role in community economic development through programs such as affordable, mixed housing development projects, Individual Development Accounts to encourage savings for home purchases, education, and business startups, and collaborating with other agencies for even greater impact and effectiveness. The effects of such programs ripple through the local economies and create more stable communities and neighborhoods.

Because of their special niche in the nonprofit, human services field, Community Action Agencies have earned a reputation as being among the most responsive, creative, and trusted service providers to low income residents in Michigan. For neighbors in need, a call to their Community Action Agency can be the start of an economic turnaround for themselves and their families.

While each agency operates independently and according to local needs, most offer programs and services in the broad areas shown on the left. Click on the program to see a description; eligibility for some programs is based on household income and other factors; please contact the agency in your area for specific program information.

CAAs use a mixture of funding sources: federal, state, and local government, as well as private foundations and other private businesses and organizations. Click on the following link to see a flow chart illustrating our funding sources: MCA Funding Flowchart

The Community Action Promise:

“Community Action changes people’s lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community, and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.”