2024 Community Services Block Grant Program Application Overview
Authority and Scope: This program is funded and regulated at the federal level by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and administered locally by the Cobb County CDBG Program Office. It is authorized by the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1981, P.L. 97-35, and Community Service Block Grant Act, as amended in 1998 by the “Coates Human Services Reauthorization Act of 1998, P.L. 105-285.
Background and Purpose: Since its inception, the CSBG program has provided funds to states and local agencies to support efforts that reduce poverty, revitalize low-income communities, and lead to self-sufficiency among low-income families and individuals.
Income Eligibility Requirements for Direct Client Services: Eligible entities should use the most current HHS poverty guidelines when assessing income eligibility. The current guidelines are published in the Federal Register and are available on the HHS website www.hhs.gov. The federal poverty line is determined by the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) based on the most recent federal Census data and is revised annually (or more frequently) by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (the HHS poverty guidelines). An eligible entity may, consistent with its most recent community needs assessment, give priority in providing CSBG services/benefits to clients of lower income levels within the CSBG income eligibility limit established by the County.
Funding: The Cobb County CDBG Program Office requests proposals from local non-profit organizations and government entities to carry out eligible activities in the County. This funding application is for the period beginning September 30, 2023 through September 29, 2024. Applications will be reviewed by a Grant Review Selection Committee assembled for the purpose of reviewing and scoring the applications that will be received. The Applications Rating Committee may consist of CDBG Program Office personnel, County personnel and typically independent representative selected from one of the cities or a non-profit not submitting an application. Funding recommendations for grant awards will be provided to the Cobb County Commissioners on or before August 30, 2023.
CSBG Contract Period: CSBG 2024 Funding will cover the period of September 30, 2023 through September 29, 2024.
CSBG PROGRAM GOALS:
Since 1994, the Community Services Network has been guided by six broad anti-poverty goals established by the Monitoring and Assessment Task Force (MATF):
Goal 1: Low-income people become more self-sufficient.
Goal 2: The conditions in which low-income people live are improved.
Goal 3: Low-income people own a stake in their community.
Goal 4: Partnerships among supporters and providers of service to low- income people are achieved.
Goal 5: Agencies increase their capacity to achieve results.
Goal 6: Low-income people, especially vulnerable populations, achieve their potential by strengthening family and other supportive systems.
CSBG SERVICE ACTIVITIES:
- Education - Activities/services in this category are designed to assist low-income participants in attaining an adequate education. Examples of services are: Counseling and mentoring for at-risk students; Scholarships for college or technical school; Adult basic education with flexible schedules; Providing funds for educational testing; Computer based courses to train participants for the contemporary work place including tutoring, GED Literacy, and Parent Education.
- Emergency Assistance - Activities/services in this category provide emergency assistance through loans or grants to meet immediate and urgent individual and family needs, including the need for health services, nutritious food, housing, utilities and employment related services. Examples include: Provision of emergency financial assistance; Crisis intervention in emergencies such as making referrals to battered women shelters; Provision of disaster relief; Provision of clothing, personal care items and furniture.
- Health - Activities/services in this category are designed to ensure access to primary health care services, including both mental and physical health. Examples are: Provision of prescription assistance vouchers; Partnering with physicians and pharmaceutical companies; Sponsoring health fairs.
- Nutrition - Services/activities in this category are designed to assist low-income participants maintain adequate nutrition. Examples include: Special feeding activities such as home delivered meals, conjugate meals; Pantry vouchers; Referrals to State nutrition programs; Financial assistance.
- Income Management - Activities/services in this category are conducted for the purpose of assisting low-income families with effectively managing and using their available resources. Examples include: Conducting financial literacy workshops; Assisting with receiving benefits such as SSI and EIC (earned income credit); Assisting with establishing banking services.
- Housing Assistance - Services/activities in this category are designed to assist low-income participants to obtain and maintain adequate housing and a suitable living environment. Examples are: Provision of assistance with home repair and rehabilitation; Provision of homeownership and mortgage counseling; Provision of rental or mortgage assistance to prevent eviction.
- Employment - Job counseling, skill assessments, job placement, career development, resume preparation; Referrals to training, educational assistance, subsidized childcare; Provision of transportation vouchers.
- Self Sufficiency - Activities or services in this category may include long term comprehensive supports or short term temporary assistance that removes barriers and promotes progress toward self-sufficiency such as: Written case management plans that outline specific goals with benchmarks to move families from vulnerable to stable; Employment supports such as career counseling, free clothing; and Financial assistance with required receipts and/or State provided Affidavit which includes:
- Third party or direct payments to vendors
- Stipends
- Gift card for gas, food or clothing goods
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
- The Application must be submitted by or on behalf of a non-profit organization or governmental entity.
- All proposed projects must serve families with incomes at or below 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
- Applicant must use EasyTrak for data collection and submit monthly programmatic reports.
- Monthly Expenditure Reports by the 5th of each month.
2022 FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES -125%
Effective March 1, 2022
HOUSEHOLD SIZE | 125% of HHS Poverty Guidelines |
1 | $16,988 |
2 | $22,888 |
3 | $28,788 |
4 | $34,688 |
5 | $40,588 |
6 | $46,588 |
7 | $52,388 |
8 | $58,288 |
Add $5,900 for each additional person |
Source: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ocs/CED-HHS-Poverty-Guidelines-2022.pdf
REIMBURSABLE GRANT:
CSBG funds are reimbursable to the receiving organization based on actual receipts submitted for direct serviced provided to eligible CSBG beneficiaries. Reimbursement payments may be received within 30 to 60 days of processing.
2024 Community Services Block Grant Application
2024 Community Services Block Grant Program Application Overview
Authority and Scope: This program is funded and regulated at the federal level by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and administered locally by the Cobb County CDBG Program Office. It is authorized by the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1981, P.L. 97-35, and Community Service Block Grant Act, as amended in 1998 by the “Coates Human Services Reauthorization Act of 1998, P.L. 105-285.
Background and Purpose: Since its inception, the CSBG program has provided funds to states and local agencies to support efforts that reduce poverty, revitalize low-income communities, and lead to self-sufficiency among low-income families and individuals.
Income Eligibility Requirements for Direct Client Services: Eligible entities should use the most current HHS poverty guidelines when assessing income eligibility. The current guidelines are published in the Federal Register and are available on the HHS website www.hhs.gov. The federal poverty line is determined by the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) based on the most recent federal Census data and is revised annually (or more frequently) by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (the HHS poverty guidelines). An eligible entity may, consistent with its most recent community needs assessment, give priority in providing CSBG services/benefits to clients of lower income levels within the CSBG income eligibility limit established by the County.
Funding: The Cobb County CDBG Program Office requests proposals from local non-profit organizations and government entities to carry out eligible activities in the County. This funding application is for the period beginning September 30, 2023 through September 29, 2024. Applications will be reviewed by a Grant Review Selection Committee assembled for the purpose of reviewing and scoring the applications that will be received. The Applications Rating Committee may consist of CDBG Program Office personnel, County personnel and typically independent representative selected from one of the cities or a non-profit not submitting an application. Funding recommendations for grant awards will be provided to the Cobb County Commissioners on or before August 30, 2023.
CSBG Contract Period: CSBG 2024 Funding will cover the period of September 30, 2023 through September 29, 2024.
CSBG PROGRAM GOALS:
Since 1994, the Community Services Network has been guided by six broad anti-poverty goals established by the Monitoring and Assessment Task Force (MATF):
Goal 1: Low-income people become more self-sufficient.
Goal 2: The conditions in which low-income people live are improved.
Goal 3: Low-income people own a stake in their community.
Goal 4: Partnerships among supporters and providers of service to low- income people are achieved.
Goal 5: Agencies increase their capacity to achieve results.
Goal 6: Low-income people, especially vulnerable populations, achieve their potential by strengthening family and other supportive systems.
CSBG SERVICE ACTIVITIES:
- Education - Activities/services in this category are designed to assist low-income participants in attaining an adequate education. Examples of services are: Counseling and mentoring for at-risk students; Scholarships for college or technical school; Adult basic education with flexible schedules; Providing funds for educational testing; Computer based courses to train participants for the contemporary work place including tutoring, GED Literacy, and Parent Education.
- Emergency Assistance - Activities/services in this category provide emergency assistance through loans or grants to meet immediate and urgent individual and family needs, including the need for health services, nutritious food, housing, utilities and employment related services. Examples include: Provision of emergency financial assistance; Crisis intervention in emergencies such as making referrals to battered women shelters; Provision of disaster relief; Provision of clothing, personal care items and furniture.
- Health - Activities/services in this category are designed to ensure access to primary health care services, including both mental and physical health. Examples are: Provision of prescription assistance vouchers; Partnering with physicians and pharmaceutical companies; Sponsoring health fairs.
- Nutrition - Services/activities in this category are designed to assist low-income participants maintain adequate nutrition. Examples include: Special feeding activities such as home delivered meals, conjugate meals; Pantry vouchers; Referrals to State nutrition programs; Financial assistance.
- Income Management - Activities/services in this category are conducted for the purpose of assisting low-income families with effectively managing and using their available resources. Examples include: Conducting financial literacy workshops; Assisting with receiving benefits such as SSI and EIC (earned income credit); Assisting with establishing banking services.
- Housing Assistance - Services/activities in this category are designed to assist low-income participants to obtain and maintain adequate housing and a suitable living environment. Examples are: Provision of assistance with home repair and rehabilitation; Provision of homeownership and mortgage counseling; Provision of rental or mortgage assistance to prevent eviction.
- Employment - Job counseling, skill assessments, job placement, career development, resume preparation; Referrals to training, educational assistance, subsidized childcare; Provision of transportation vouchers.
- Self Sufficiency - Activities or services in this category may include long term comprehensive supports or short term temporary assistance that removes barriers and promotes progress toward self-sufficiency such as: Written case management plans that outline specific goals with benchmarks to move families from vulnerable to stable; Employment supports such as career counseling, free clothing; and Financial assistance with required receipts and/or State provided Affidavit which includes:
- Third party or direct payments to vendors
- Stipends
- Gift card for gas, food or clothing goods
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
- The Application must be submitted by or on behalf of a non-profit organization or governmental entity.
- All proposed projects must serve families with incomes at or below 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
- Applicant must use EasyTrak for data collection and submit monthly programmatic reports.
- Monthly Expenditure Reports by the 5th of each month.
2022 FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES -125%
Effective March 1, 2022
HOUSEHOLD SIZE | 125% of HHS Poverty Guidelines |
1 | $16,988 |
2 | $22,888 |
3 | $28,788 |
4 | $34,688 |
5 | $40,588 |
6 | $46,588 |
7 | $52,388 |
8 | $58,288 |
Add $5,900 for each additional person |
Source: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ocs/CED-HHS-Poverty-Guidelines-2022.pdf
REIMBURSABLE GRANT:
CSBG funds are reimbursable to the receiving organization based on actual receipts submitted for direct serviced provided to eligible CSBG beneficiaries. Reimbursement payments may be received within 30 to 60 days of processing.