Community Action; People Helping People Harford Community Action Agency, Inc.
1321 - B Woodbridge Station Way
Edgewood, MD 21040
Phone: 410.612.9909
jmason@harfordcaa.org
 

About Harford Community Action Agency, Inc.

  

Harford Community Action Agency, Inc. (HCAA) was organized and incorporated in 1982 as Harford Interfaith Community Services by a group of local clergy and community leaders who identified the need for an organization to help County residents meet basic needs for food and shelter.  In 1989, the Harford County Council officially designated the organization as the Community Action Agency to provide antipoverty programs and services to low-income individuals, families, and communities in Harford County, and its name was changed to reflect the expansion of its focus.

HCAA is one of more than 1,100 Community Action Agencies nationwide that continue to carry out the mission of meeting the needs of low-income Americans and addressing the causes and conditions of poverty.  The agency is a member of the Maryland Community Action Partnership and the national Community Action Partnership. 

HCAA’s Mission Statement: 

The Harford Community Action Agency, Inc. is dedicated to providing assistance to help Harford County individuals and families who are experiencing temporary financial hardships meet their housing, food, energy/heating, and /or lifestyle counseling directed and support them on their path back to self-sufficiency. 

What is Community Action?

Community Action Agencies were established by the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 to fight the federal government’s War on Poverty.  CAAs differ from other poverty-related organizations that focus on a specific area of need, such as job training, health care, housing, or economic development.  CAAs reach out to low-income individuals in their communities and work to address their needs through a comprehensive approach.  They develop partnerships with other community organizations, involve low-income clients in the agencies’ operations, and administer a wide range of coordinated programs designed to have a measurable impact on poverty. 

The Promise of Community Action:

Community Action changes people’s lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities and makes America a better place to live.  We care about the entire community, and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.