ABSTRACT
Community Action agencies have been viewed as one of the most innovative, comprehensive, and, at times, controversial components of the War on Poverty. The Community Action approach differs from prior federal government attempts at addressing poverty in that it is locally based, comprehensive in nature, and includes a requirement for the "maximum feasible participation" of the people it serves. This chapter begins with an overview of the origins and evolution of Community Action. It then describes key features of Community Action agencies, followed by a discussion of the Community Action network and what makes Community Action unique. The agencies were created to engage and mobilize local communities in addressing the conditions of poverty and the needs of low-income people. In looking to the future, Community Action agency leaders identified challenges related to funding, staffing, and leadership. Funding issues include concerns lack of sufficient funding, increased competition for existing revenue sources, and the need to identify new revenue sources.
