ACAP :. Associated Community Action Program

ACAP logo The Alameda County Associated Community Action Program (ACAP) is one of over 1,000 Community Action Agencies (CAA) across the United States providing assistance to low-income families and individuals to help them become stable and self-sufficient. ACAP's service area is greater Alameda County outside of Berkeley and Oakland.

ACAP was formerly part of the Alameda County Training and Employment Board-Associated Community Action Program (ACTEB/ACAP), which was founded in 1965 following the passage of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. After the dissolution of ACTEB in 1974 due to changes in federal policy, ACAP has continued to serve the low-income residents of Alameda County for over 30 years.

ACAP is overseen by a Governing Board made up of public officials from the Alameda County Board of Supervisors and each of the 12 cities within its jurisdiction. The ACAP organization also includes a Community Action Board (CAB), a three-part or tripartite board required under the Equal Opportunity Act of 1964, which advises the Governing Board of elected officials on all policy matters and funding decisions.

ACAP operates with the assistance of a variety of public and private funding sources to administer its various programs and services for the low-income population. The primary grant is the Federal Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), which is administered through the State Department of Community Services and Development.

ACAP Grants now available for year 2007

What is a Community Action Agency?

Community Action Agencies (CAAs) are non-profit private and public organizations established under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 to fight America's War on Poverty. CAAs help people to help themselves in achieving self-sufficiency. Today there are approximately 1,000 CAAs services the poor in every state as well as Puerto Rico and the Trust Territories.

CAAs are a primary source of direct support for the more than 34.5 million people who live in poverty in the United States. The majority of CAA program participants are extremely poor with incomes below 75% of the federal poverty threshold, or $9,735 for a family of three (the average family size for the client population). Some examples of initiatives started by CAAs include Headstart and Americorps/Vista.

The Community Action Network serves approximately:

11 million individuals per year
3.3 million families per year

CAAs serve all regions and populations:

54% of CAAs serve rural areas
36% of CAAs serve areas considered both urban and rural
10% of CAAs serve urban areas

Jobs and Housing

ACAP's programs reflect its commitment to providing essential services to those living in poverty in Alameda County. Every two (2) years, ACAP administrates a comprehensive Request for Proposals (RFP) process through which it selects a strong group of programs within its primary focus area of jobs and housing to provide assistance to low-income families and individuals throughout its service area.

The programs selected for 2005-2006 are:

Alameda Point Collaborative
Provides supportive housing (239 housing units on the former Alameda Naval Base) to low-income and homeless families and adults.
Contact: Joseph Rodriguez 510-898-7836

Allied Housing, Inc.
Provides affordable housing linked to job training, employment opportunities, and supportive services for low-income families.
Contact: Judy Hui 510-881-7310 x314

Building Futures for Women and Children
Provides housing and supportive services to homeless and battered women.
Contact: Luz Varela 510-357-0205 x105

Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency
Provides families and individuals with broadly defined disabilities with vocational training support, employment workshops, housing assistance, and job search training.
Contact: Ms. Leana 510-265-8279

East Bay Vietnamese Association
Provides long-term case management, integration, and employment/housing counseling, for non- or limited-English speaking clients.
Contact: Lai Van Luu 510-533-4224

Family Emergency Shelter Coalition
Provides emergency shelter, counseling, and employment-focused case management to homeless families with children.
Contact: Nancy Schluntz 510-886-5473

Housing Authority of Alameda County
Addresses the needs of timed out foster youth by providing permanent, affordable housing and self-sufficiency skills through the Youth Self-Sufficiency Program (YSSP).
Contact: Tonya Powell 510-727-8585

Magnolia Women's Recovery Program
Magnolia Women's Recovery Program serves low-income pregnant and postpartum women with substance abuse issues.Contact: Linda Stewart 510-487-2910

Shelter Against Violent Environments
Provides victims of domestic violence with employment preparation, financial literacy, housing search workshops, counseling, and legal assistance.
Contact: Kate Hart 510-794-0346

Tri-City Homeless Coalition
Provides case management services combined with life-skills training and chemical dependency counseling for foster youth who are timing out.
Contact: Sarah Voit 510-252-0910 x119

Women on the Way to Recovery
A residential housing and recovery program for previously incarcerated women that provides a safe and sober environment to regroup from a life of alcohol and drug addiction.
Contact: Theresa Penn 510-677-7196

Economic Empowerment Initiative (EEI)

ACAP's scope of service also includes a powerful group of economic development programs known as the Economic Empowerment Initiative (EEI). These programs, which assist low-income and middle-income participants to realize their dreams of home or business ownership as well as job training/education, include Individual Development Accounts (IDAs). IDAs are unique incentive savings accounts that offer qualified participants $2 for every $1 they save. These accounts may be used in tandem with Individual Development and Empowerment Accounts (IDEA) offered by the Federal Home Loan Bank which offers $3 for every $1 they save. The IDA program is supported by federal Assets for Independence (AFI) funds. Other EEI services include: financial education, credit seminars, one-on-one credit repair, homeownership and business training, and free bank accounts in partnership with Citibank. For more information about the EEI call ACAP at (510) 259-3501.

Alameda County Associated Community Action Program (ACAP)
Eden Area Multiservice Center, 3rd Floor
24100 Amador Street
Hayward, CA 94544
(510) 259-3501
(510) 259-3820
PSDaniel@acgov.org