ABOUT OCS
The Office of Community Services (OCS), within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families partners with states, territories, tribes, and community agencies to address the causes and consequences of poverty, increase self-sufficiency of individuals and families, and revitalize communities. Through six distinct, yet interrelated social service and community development programs, OCS works to improve the lives of low-income children, individuals, families, and communities.
Programs for Families and Individuals
Social Services Block Grant Program
The Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) is a flexible funding source that allows states and territories to tailor social service programming to their population’s needs. Through SSBG, states provide essential social services that help achieve a myriad of goals to reduce dependency and promote self-sufficiency; protect children and adults from neglect, abuse, and exploitation; and help individuals who are unable to take care of themselves to stay in their homes or find the best institutional arrangements.
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federal block grant program that provides funding to states, territories, and tribes to help households with low incomes meet their home energy needs. LIHEAP provides funding to reduce the costs associated with home energy bills, address energy crises, weatherize homes, and/or make minor energy-related home repairs. LIHEAP helps reduce the risk of health and safety problems that arise from unsafe heating and cooling situations and practices, particularly for vulnerable households with very young children, individuals with disabilities, and older adults.
Low Income Household Water Assistance Program
The Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) is a federal program that provides funding to states, territories, and tribes to assist households with low incomes in paying arrearages (past due bills) and rates charged to the household for drinking water and/or wastewater services. LIHWAP prioritizes providing assistance to households whose services have been disconnected due to non-payment, or are about to be disconnected, and to have their services restored as quickly as possible.
Programs for Communities
Community Services Block Grant Program
The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) is a flexible funding source that provides funds to states, tribes, and territories to implement community-based services to reduce poverty, revitalize low-income communities, and help families and individuals with low incomes become fully self-sufficient. Tribes and over 1,000 local eligible entities provide CSBG-funded services and activities including housing, nutrition, utility, and transportation assistance; crisis and emergency assistance; employment, education, and other wealth building services; and community asset building initiatives, among other community-based services aimed at creating pathways out of poverty and revitalizing underserved communities.
Community Economic Development Program
The Community Economic Development (CED) program is a discretionary grant program that improves the economic self-sufficiency of individuals with low-incomes and revitalizes underserved communities by creating and expanding businesses and job opportunities in areas with high unemployment and poverty rates. Seventy-five percent of all CED-funded jobs have to be filled by individuals with low incomes, and employers are required to provide critical wraparound support services to help remove barriers to long-term employment for individuals served.
Rural Community Development Program
The Rural Community Development (RCD) program is a discretionary grant program that works with regional and tribal organizations to manage safe water systems in rural communities. RCD funds are used to provide training and technical assistance to help community members identify and address water and wastewater related issues, including infrastructure and accessibility needs; increase access for families with low incomes to affordable water and waste disposal services; train water operators to ensure water systems comply with federal regulations; and help communities establish financial stability and financial reserves to maintain water delivery and wastewater disposal systems.