COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT (CSBG)

Purpose:
To support services and activities for individuals and families with low incomes that alleviate the causes and conditions of poverty in communities.

Legislative Authority:
Community Opportunities, Accountability, and Training and Educational Services Human Services Reauthorization Act of 1998, P.L. 105-285

Appropriations:

In FY 2024, $770 million
In FY 2023, $770 million
In FY 2022, $755 million

Eligible Applicants:
States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, U.S. territories (America Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and Virgin Islands), and federally recognized tribes and tribal organizations.

Target Population:
Individuals and families with low incomes as well as low-income communities.

Uses:
Block Grants — States receive funds according to a statutory formula. In turn, states fund a network of local eligible entities with 90 percent of their CSBG grant award. These local eligible entities include, but are not limited to, local governments, migrant and seasonal farm worker organizations, tribes and tribal organizations, and Community Action Agencies (CAAs). The local entities provide services and activities addressing employment, education, income and asset building services, housing, nutrition, emergency services, and/or healthcare based on community needs assessments conducted by the local entities. Examples of services provided include child/young adult education programs (such as Summer Education Programs and College-Readiness Preparation/Support), adult education programs (such as adult literacy classes and financial literacy education), transportation services, utility payments, and emergency hygiene assistance (such as kits and boxes).

Discretionary Grants — A small portion of funds are reserved to support technical assistance and monitoring efforts of CSBG. Eligible applicants include statewide or local organizations, or associations with demonstrated expertise in providing training to individuals and organizations on methods of effectively addressing the needs of families and individuals with low income and low-income communities.

Type of Grant:
Block and Discretionary Grants

Program Requirements:
States must pass through no less than 90 percent of the CSBG grant award. Of the remaining 10 percent, states can use up to five percent for administrative costs and the remaining funds for projects that support the statutory goals of CSBG. States are also required to conduct a full on-site review of each local entity at least once every three years.

FY23 Program Highlights*

• $770 Appropriated by Congress
• $758M Total CSBG funding released 
• 10M Individuals served   
• 5M Households served  
• 94K Multigenerational households served  
• 437K Individuals who avoided eviction or obtained safe affordable housing  
• 4M Individuals whose energy burden was reduced or whose homes were made more energy efficient

CSBG eligible entities supported 4.4 million vulnerable individuals:

• 1M Children ages 0 to 5 served  
• 1.5M Individuals with disabilities served  
• 1.3M Older adults (ages 65 and older) served  

CSBG eligible entities also helped vulnerable residents stay in their homes and in their communities: 

• 555K Older adults who maintained an independent living situation

*FY23 data does not include American Samoa, Florida, New Hampshire, and New Jersey.

Program Contact:
Community Services Block Grant
Office of Community Services
Phone: (202) 401-9380
CSBGStates@acf.hhs.gov
www.acf.hhs.gov/ocs/programs/community-services-block-grant-csbg