Division of Housing and Community Development

Division Home (FloridaCommunityDevelopment.org)

Community Services Block Grant Program - About the Program

Program Home | About the Program | Related Links | Income Limits | Program Contacts

The Community Services Block Grant Program was created by the federal Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981. The program is designed to provide a range of services to assist low-income people in attaining the skills, knowledge and motivation necessary to achieve self sufficiency. Also, the program provides low-income people with immediate life necessities such as food, shelter, medicine, etc.  You may download the program's rule, Chapter 9B-22, Florida Administrative Code.

Community Services Block Grants to local governments and non-profit agencies provide a variety of antipoverty services such as emergency health, food, housing, day care, transportation assistance; housing counseling; financial management assistance; nutrition programs including federal surplus food distribution, community gardening projects, food banks, job counseling, placement and training services, and homeless prevention programs.

Client households must meet 125% of the United States Department of Health and Human Services' low-income poverty guidelines and allowable and unallowable sources of income.

Ninety percent (90%) of the Community Services Block Grant program funds are allocated to the state's existing network of community action agencies and other eligible entities. This is a formula based grant and is not competitive.