COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT (CSBG)
On Tuesday, April 29, 2025, Matthew Frumin, Chairperson of the Committee on Human Services,
will convene a Public Oversight Roundtable on the District of Columbia’s Community Services
Block Grant program. The roundtable will be held in a hybrid format, in both Room 500 of the
John A. Wilson Building and on the Zoom virtual platform, beginning at 1:00 p.m.
The hearing page for this roundtable is located here. On the linked page, witnesses can sign up to testify virtually or in person.
Program Overview
The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) is a federal grant that funds the operations of a state-administered effort to reduce poverty, revitalize low-income communities, and empower low-income families and individuals to become self-sufficient. Funds are provided to states as pass-thru to designated community- and faith-based organizations for direct services that address the causes and consequences of poverty in the District of Columbia. The Department of Human Services/Family Services Administration/CSBG program serves as the State agency within the District of Columbia that is responsible for administering the CSBG. The United Planning Organization (UPO) is the designated Community Action Agency (CAA) that coordinates approaches that address poverty in the District of Columbia through its network of service providers.
Services Provided
CSBG funds target the coordination and delivery of services and activities to produce measurable outcomes in the following areas:
- Securing and Maintaining Employment;
- Securing Adequate Education;
- Promoting Healthy Living
- Better Income Management;
- Securing Adequate Housing;
- Providing Emergency Services;
- Improving Nutrition;
- Creating Linkages Among Anti-Poverty Programs; and
- Achieving Self-Sufficiency.
SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK GRANT (SSBG)
The Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) provides federal financial assistance to states for the provision of services that are directed towards:
- Assisting families and individuals in achieving economic self-sufficiency
- Preserving families and preventing institutionalization
- Preventing or remedying neglect, abuse, or exploitation of children or adults
Services
- Adult protective services
- Case management
- Child care
- Homemaker services
- Protective services and foster care for children
- Shelter services for individuals and families that are experiencing homelessness
- Teen parent assessment and teen pregnancy prevention
Eligibility
To qualify for the SSBG, you must be a resident of the District of Columbia. While eligibility criteria will be consistent with the requirements of each service or program, the primary criteria for participation in SSBG services or programs are based on each client’s level of need and residency.
For More Information
Call (202) 299-2153 or visit the Family Services Administration at 64 New York Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002.
