Brief History of Community Action Agencies

With Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson solidified his commitment to forging new opportunities for the poor in the United States by mobilizing financial and human resources to eliminate poverty. To assist in fighting LBJ's "War on Poverty", local Community Action Agencies were created to provide a wide range of human services at the community level to help individuals build self-sufficiency and rise out of poverty. The Webb County Community Action Agency (WCCAA) has been in existence since the War on Poverty began in 1965. It's mission of trying to help our elderly, disabled, and disadvantaged families attain a better education, and self-sufficiency is the same one the agency has today. The WCCAA became a department of Webb County in October 1, 1996 with the Commissioner's Court as the Governing Board and a Tripartide Advisory Board.

What is Community Action Agency?

Web County Community Action Agency is an agency within the Webb County organization that was created by the Federal Government in 1964 to combat poverty in geographically designated areas. It's purpose is to seek and involve the community, including elected officials, private sector representatives, and low income residents, in assessing local needs and attacking the causes and conditions of poverty all within the service area of Webb County.

Purpose and Mission

In order to reduce poverty within the community, Webb County CAA works to better focus available local, state, private, and federal resources to assist low-income individuals and families to acquire useful skills and knowledge, gain access to new opportunities and achieve economic self-sufficiency. Through the support and assistance of the programs administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, the main focus and mission of Webb County CAA is to help citizens attain and achieve an improved quality of life through the development of better communities.