Section
Breadcrumbs
Community Services Block Grant (CSBG)
- Community Services Block Grant (CSBG)
The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) is a federally funded investment that provides funds to States, territories, tribes, and local agencies to support services and activities that reduce poverty and empower low-income families and individuals to achieve self-sufficiency. To help Hoosiers in need, IHCDA is mandated to disseminate CSBG funding to selected community action agencies statewide. Nationally, more than 1000 local community action agencies fight poverty and build self-sufficiency for strong families and communities. To learn more about CSBG, click on the “CSBG” box below, and to find a community action agency close to your home, click on the “Find your community action agency” box.
- Introduction to CSBG
The Community Services Block Grant Act (CSBG) (49 U.S.C. 9901 et seq.) is a noncompetitive federally funded block grant offered through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The program is meant to support the national network of Community Action Agencies (CAAs) and their work to alleviate the causes and conditions of poverty.
The federal Community Action Program was founded in 1964 by the Economic Opportunity Act (EOA), as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty. Originally, federal Community Action Program funds flowed directly to local public and private CAAs. In 1981, Congress repealed the federal Community Action Program and replaced it with CSBG, a state-administered block grant.
Community action's mission is to address the issues of poverty and to increase the self-sufficiency of low-income families. They offer a broad range of anti-poverty programs and work collaboratively with other agencies to build a network of support for Indiana’s most vulnerable populations. CSBG programs include:
- Housing and related services.
- Reduction of Poverty.
- Revitalization of low-income communities.
- Empowering low-income families and individuals in rural and urban areas to become self-sufficient.
Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA)
Pursuant to Indiana Code 4-4-33-1-(2), in 2007, Indiana Governor Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr., designated IHCDA as the Lead Agency for the purposes of carrying out State activities for CSBG. IHCDA has continued to be designated the lead agency with each new governor, most recently in July 2017 by Governor Eric Holcomb. As the lead agency, IHCDA has the following responsibilities:
- Accept CSBG funds from HHS and distribute at least 90% directly to all 22 CAAs in Indiana.
- Disseminate, interpret, and build on federal regulations and guidance.
- Monitor CAA use of CSBG funds as well as compliance with federal and state rules and regulations.
- Provide opportunities for training and technical assistance to CAA Executive Directors, staff, and board members.
- Collect and submit performance-based data from CAAs and submit to HHS.
- CSBG Manual
- 2024 CSBG Manual
- 2024 CSBG Policy Manual Appendix 1: CSBG Service Map
- 2024 CSBG Policy Manual Appendix 2: Allowability and Reasonable Cost
- 2024 CSBG Policy Manual Appendix 3: Guide to Budgets and Amendments
- 2024 CSBG Policy Manual Appendix 4: Guide to Carryover and Closeout
- 2024 CSBG Policy Manual Appendix 5: Typical Annual Timeline
- 2024 CSBG Policy Manual Appendix 6: CSBG Claims Requirements Sheet
- 2024 CSBG Policy Manual Appendix 7: CSBG Claims Cover Sheet
- 2024 CSBG Policy Manual Appendix 8: Monitoring Preparation and Visit Information
- 2024 CSBG Policy Manual Appendix 9: Guide Requesting Monitoring T/TA Awards
- 2024 CSBG Policy Manual Appendix 10: Budget Form
- 2024 CSBG Policy Manual Appendix 11: Carryover Form
- 2024 CSBG Policy Manual Appendix 12: Closeout Forms
- 2024 CSBG Policy Manual Appendix 13: CSBG Resources
- 2024 CSBG Policy Manual Appendix 14: Blank Award Agreement
- 2024 CSBG Policy Manual Appendix 15: Indiana Code CAAs
- 2024 CSBG Policy Manual Appendix 16: Commonly Used Acronyms
- 2025 Community Action Plan
- CSBG Program Guidance
CSBG-2020-03 - Charging Other Programs to CSBG
- Monitoring
- Pre-Onsite Monitoring Matrix
- Monitoring Resource Bundle
- Appendix A - Common CAA Acronyms
- Appendix B - Common CAA Operational Definitions
- Appendix C - CSBG Monitoring Standards Matrix
- Appendix D - Governing Board CSBG Action Chart
- Appendix E - Fiscal Segregation of Duties Chart
- Appendix F - Self Assessment Quick Check
- Appendix G - National Business Calendar
- CSBG Monitoring Toolkit - Introduction
- CSBG Monitoring Toolkit - Part One (Organizational Standards)
- CSBG Monitoring Toolkit - Part Two (Programmatic Standards)
- CSBG Monitoring Toolkit - Part Three (Attestation Standards)
- CSBG Monitoring Toolkit - Part Four (Beyond Compliance)
- Indiana CSBG Monitoring Toolkit
- Indiana CAA Board Governance Management Tool 3.0
- Other Resources
- Impact-Success Stories
- Contact Us
For more information about CSBG, please contact:
Tina Darling
Community Programs Manager - CSBG