BCMW is here to help!
We love our clients, so feel free to visit during normal business hours.
BCMW Community Services
909 East Rexford Street, Centralia, Illinois 62801, United States
Hours
Open today | 08:30 am – 03:30 pm |
Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Program
The CSBG program
was created by the federal Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981. The CSBG program is designed to provide a range of services which assist low-income people to attain skills, knowledge and motivation necessary to achieve self-sufficiency. The program also may provide low-income people immediate life necessities such as food, shelter, medicine, etc. The Illinois Department of Commerce administers the CSBG program in accordance with federal law and the Illinois Economic Opportunity Act. In its administration, the department places an equal emphasis on self-sufficiency efforts and providing relief for the immediate needs of low-income people. The state receives approximately $30 million annually in CSBG funding to provide employment, education, housing and emergency services to the eligible population. 2023-2024 Illinois CSBG State Plan
What services are provided under CSBG?
Illinois' Community Action Agencies (CAAs) serve approximately 1 million individuals annually with programs addressing the needs of low-income citizens. Typically, CSBG funds are being used for the following types of programs:
- Education - Specific examples include workplace orientation, vocational skills training, family planning education, cultural opportunities for disadvantaged children, energy conservation education, post-secondary education scholarships, GED assistance, along with literacy training
- Employment - The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity places a high CSBG priority on job creating economic development programs which result in the employment and self-sufficiency of low-income persons.
- Emergency Services - Some agencies provide redeemable vouchers or grants to clients that enable them to meet immediate and urgent family needs such as health services, nutritious food, housing, employment-related assistance, day care, medical services and transportation.
- Health - could include transportation to medical services, medical and dental screening, immunizations, drug and alcohol prevention and treatment assistance and medication/prescriptions and other related services.
- Housing - may include aid to renters seeking a residence, landlord/tenant rights education and arbitration, information about purchasing/financing a home, packaging housing and housing rehabilitation loans and providing for minor energy efficiency or health and safety related home repair.
- Income Management - Many CAAs offer programs to encourage better use of available income. A majority of this assistance is in the form of family budget counseling. Information also is provided through workshops or brochures on such topics as financial management, credit, income taxes and social security.
- Linkages - CSBG funding regularly supports extensive outreach, information and referral services.
- Nutrition - CSBG funding is a primary resource for leveraging and providing nutritional assistance. Typical programs include: federal surplus food distribution, community gardening projects, food banks, senior citizen and youth feeding projects, Christmas food packages and assistance in accessing food stamps, WIC, summer feed programs for children, and other nutrition-related programs.
- Self-Sufficiency - Most CAAs provide for comprehensive family case management programs that promote, empower and nurture family members toward self-sufficiency.
- Coordination of Services - CAAs partner with local governments, community-based organizations and the private sector to provide critical human services. This coordination is enhanced by the CAA's unique board structure.
Who is Eligible?
Client eligibility for the Illinois Community Services Block Grant program is based on a "poverty" income threshold that is established and annually adjusted (for changes in the Consumer Price Index) by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
In addition to the poverty income eligibility, citizens whose income is within 125 percent of the poverty threshold are determined to be "low-income" and are also eligible for CSBG services.
Illinois' CSBG regulations also make provision for CSBG services to citizens above these income levels who are victims of natural or man-made disasters which cause swift and temporary poverty.
