www.oacaa.org

Our Mission: To improve the quality of life for individuals and families towards economic self-sufficiency.

The Community Action Organization of Delaware, Madison & Union Counties, Inc. is a private non-profit agency, with IRS 501 (c) (3) status, dedicated to planning, implementing, and coordinating programs designed to impact social and economic problems. The Agency was established in 1965 as a result of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. CAO is a collaborative partner in the tri-county area with local governments, churches, social service agencies, business and industry, civic and community groups, and interested individuals. Funding for CAO’s services and operations is solely derived from federal, state, local, and private grants. The CAO of DMU administers the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) for the tri-county area. This Block Grant provides administrative and planning functions; client outreach; information and referral services; and emergency services associated with the Agency’s programming.

Along with CSBG, other primary funding programs for the Agency are the Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP), Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), and Emergency Home Energy Assistance Program (E-HEAP). HWAP provides weatherization assistance to eligible individuals in the form of insulation and draft alleviation to reduce heating bills and safety concerns. The Emergency HEAP provides limited assistance to individuals who are, or are about to be, shut-off from their primary heating source or have insufficient funds to purchase bulk fuel to heat their home. In addition to these major programs, CAO administers Delaware Council for Older Adults, Columbia Gas Warm Choice Program, Housing Trust Fund, Elderly Home Repair Program and various other fund limited emergency assistance program through the administrative support of CSBG.