Priority 1
Administer High Quality Programs that Reach Those Most in Need
We are committed to ensuring OCS programs are of the highest quality and are reaching our target populations — individuals and families with low incomes and underserved communities. In FY22, Congress appropriated $6.4B to OCS programs and reached over 37 million individuals.
Launching the first federal diaper assistance program
OCS launched the Diaper Distribution Demonstration and Research Pilot (DDDRP) in September of 2022, during National Diaper Need Awareness Week. Diapers can be a concrete obstacle to financial mobility. Not only are diapers a major expense, they can also negatively impact parents’ ability to earn more if the parent is unable to obtain childcare, which often requires parents to provide diapers as a condition of providing service. This can lead to lost wages and lost jobs and undermine the financial stability and long-term mobility of the whole family. DDDRP not only provides diapers to families who need them but also connects families to wraparound services through the network of community action agencies that address the causes and consequences of poverty. These wraparound services were intentionally built into this program to ensure it is of the highest quality, providing holistic support to families and caregivers. In its inaugural cohort, DDDRP funded seven grant recipients and disbursed $8 million in funding.
To learn more about DDDRP and diaper need, read the FY22 DDDRP Fact Sheet.
Implementing the first federal water assistance program
Through FY21 funding for the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), OCS grant recipients stood up programs across the country and started serving beneficiaries. LIHWAP provided funding to states, territories, and tribes to assist households with low incomes in paying arrearages (past due bills) and rates charged to the household (current bills) for water and wastewater services. By the end of FY22, 106 grant recipients opened their programs and served beneficiaries, preventing over 289,000 disconnections. 53% of households served had very low incomes, defined as incomes less than 75% of the federal poverty level. Additionally, 54% of households served had at least one older adult, young child, or individual with a disability.
To learn more about LIHWAP, visit the LIHWAP Data Dashboard.
Increasing Access Through Innovative Outreach
This year marked a significant advancement in our outreach and educational efforts. We launched a series of animated videos designed to explain OCS programs. These visually engaging and informative videos provided a clear and accessible explanation of program services, making it easier for community members to understand and access the support available to them. These videos attempted to reach those most in need and people who might benefit from hearing about OCS funded programs and services in a different way.
We also took steps to improve access to OCS programs for people with limited English proficiency. We started translating our beneficiary-facing materials into Spanish, Mandarin (Simplified Chinese), and Cantonese (Traditional Chinese). These languages were selected after careful consideration of the needs of our grant recipients and potential beneficiaries.
Both the animated videos and our language access initiatives reflected our ongoing commitment to enhancing communication and ensuring that our programs are accessible to individuals with limited English proficiency.
To see the OCS videos, please visit the OCS Video Hub.
Bolstering Training and Technical Assistance
To provide the best programs possible, we guide and support our grant recipients as they administer programs and identify new ways to reach those most in need. In FY22, CSBG conducted its first-ever training and technical assistance (TTA) needs assessment survey. The survey was designed to elicit feedback on TTA needs from everyone who receives OCS-funded TTA in the CSBG network. We are deeply committed to ensuring that everyone has an opportunity to share their training needs and help determine how we utilize our federal TTA resources. We know that for our TTA to be effective, it must be relevant, timely, anticipatory of grant recipient needs, and driven by the CSBG network.
Read the survey overview report here.
Extreme Heat Dashboard
As temperatures continue to rise year-over-year, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) launched a new LIHEAP and Extreme Heat Dashboard that shows the impact of energy and extreme heat burdens in communities with low incomes. This dashboard uses data from the Centers for Disease Control to show the progression of extreme heat over time, the health impacts of extreme heat, and the impact of LIHEAP to alleviate extreme heat stress for vulnerable populations, including older adults, young children, and people with disabilities. With recent supplemental funding for LIHEAP, some grant recipients expanded or implemented new cooling programs. The Extreme Heat Dashboard offers grant recipients data to guide decision-making and help beneficiaries prepare for and combat heat stress.
Priority 2
Lift Up Voices from the Field
We are committed to re-examining how OCS programs work with individuals, families, communities, grant recipients, and stakeholders to lift up voices from the field and incorporate their expertise and experiences in our approach.
Telling Stories of Impact
In FY22, OCS released multiple spotlight videos. These spotlights feature innovative programs from grant recipients across the country and highlight the unique ways that OCS-funded programs are tailored to the needs of different communities. These impact stories lift up the voices of our grant recipients and center the needs of individuals, families, and communities in how our programs are administered. These videos are a valuable tool in helping other grant recipients understand how their colleagues across the country execute programs to meet concrete needs and address and alleviate the causes and consequences of poverty.
Watch a few of these impact stories below.
Confirming Allowability of Funding for Mortgage Assistance
Spurred by conversations with local partners during a site visit, the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) released policy guidance to grant recipients and state, territory, and tribal CSBG lead agencies clarifying that CSBG funding can be used to help pay mortgage costs for an eligible beneficiary. This guidance provided additional flexibility to the CSBG network, indicating that it is allowable to use program funds to help sustain home ownership, prevent foreclosures, and protect families from unsafe living situations.
Priority 3
Leverage Resources within OCS and Across Key Programs
Breaking down silos in the human services field is essential for fostering collaboration and improving service delivery. Enhanced interagency cooperation leads to more efficient resource utilization, streamlined processes, and ultimately, better outcomes for those we serve.
Joint Guidance with Treasury
OCS worked with the U.S. Department of the Treasury to release policy guidance to grant recipients on braiding and blending LIHEAP with Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) funding in order to help states and localities prevent winter utility shut offs and maximize utility assistance to households in need. This collaboration included webinars that shared best practices from state, territory, and tribal grant recipients, which attracted over 500 administrators — collectively representing 47 states, the District of Columbia, and 72 tribal governments. By December 2021, more than 50% of these administrators reported they were coordinating across these
White House Winter Heating Summit
LIHEAP was featured at the White House Summit on Winter Readiness that convened governors and federal and state officials on the frontlines of helping families address home heating costs in the winter of 2022. Read the White House fact sheet about the summit and its call on utility companies to prevent winter shut-offs.
Priority 4
Amplify OCS Connections to HHS’ and ACF’s top priorities to better support families and communities
The Office of Community Services remains committed to its mission to reduce the causes of poverty, increase economic security of individuals and families, and revitalize communities. By implementing programs aimed at reducing poverty and promoting self-sufficiency, OCS continues to build upon its four decades of service.
CSBG Freedom From Hunger Initiative
CSBG launched the Freedom from Hunger Initiative to highlight the impact of CSBG-funded anti-hunger programs and support the White House National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. OCS released eight case studies showcasing different CSBG-funded programs that made a significant impact on food insecurity in their communities. Read the case studies as well as infographics and spotlight videos on the Freedom from Hunger Initiative landing page.
Disaster Flexibilities Hub
In FY22, OCS launched the OCS Disaster Flexibilities Hub, a one-stop resource site to support communities in preparing for and recovering from natural disasters and other emergencies. The Disaster Flexibilities Hub is an information management tool that visually tracks and displays key data, guidance, and resources on declared disasters, disaster preparedness efforts, and the flexibilities built into OCS’ block grant programs. The hub includes spotlight videos showcasing how OCS grant recipients have utilized program flexibilities during water crises, heat waves, hurricanes, floods, and wildfires. It also includes a section to help individuals and families find help and resources in their communities.
CED Energy Communities
CED launched a new grant supporting energy communities that have experienced job loss due to declines in the fossil fuel industry. This new grant helped create and sustain jobs for families while boosting local economic growth. This CED grant was also featured in a report from the Department of Energy, “Initial Report to the President on Empowering Workers Through Revitalizing Energy Communities”