PA Community Action Agencies Work to Eradicate Poverty

by Danielle Smith, Keystone State News Connection

Tuesday marks the 60th anniversary of the Economic Opportunity Act, enacted in the 1960s as part of a national “War on Poverty.” It has made a big impact in Pennsylvania and nationwide, with more to be done.

The law created the country’s network of Community Action Agencies.

Beck Moore, CEO of the Community Action Association of Pennsylvania, said his organization supports 43 agencies across 67 counties, using innovative ways to help lift people out of poverty.

“Collectively, Community Action has served last year alone, over 475,000 people,” Moore pointed out. “When you put that in some context, we have about 1.2 million people living at or below the federal poverty guidelines within the state. And so, we’ve served a significant number of those folks, collectively.”

Moore’s organization coordinates the block-grant funding the agencies receive. It also partners with other statewide nonprofits and the Department of Community and Economic Development to expand their reach.

Megan Shreve, CEO of South Central Community Action Programs, which serves Adams and Franklin counties, said they also work with partners to assess local needs and offer programs and services to meet them, from food pantries and shelters to housing and rental assistance for families.

“We serve about 17,000 people across our counties, and we do that in a variety of ways,” Shreve outlined. “We run the Women, Infants, and Children’s ‘WIC’ program; weatherization; we run the Early Learning Resource Centers, which is child care subsidy, resource, and referral.”

They also have a “Gleaning Project,” connecting farmers with volunteers, who harvest surplus produce and distribute it to those in need — more than a million pounds last year alone.

Denise Harlow, CEO of the National Community Action Partnership, which is commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Economic Opportunity Act. She noted every community has different needs and resources, and agencies have had to adapt and pivot over time to address them.

“Community action in 1964 is not the same network that is today in 2024. No system is,” Harlow emphasized. “We know that Head Start, for instance, has really good returns on investment. Foster grandparent programs have benefits, both to the children as well as to the adults and to the communities being served.”

The most recent Census Bureau data from 2022 lists the poverty rate nationally at 11.5%, or more than 37 million people.

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Source: bctv