Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) is more than funding

The Elimination of CSBG Would Devastate Anti-Poverty Work in Northeast Michigan

The potential elimination of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) would deal a catastrophic blow to the ability of NEMCSA and other Community Action Agencies to fight poverty in Northeast Michigan.

At NEMCSA, CSBG is the flexible backbone that allows us to identify local needs and act quickly. Without it:

Numerous families could lose access to life-changing programs like BOSS (Bridges of Self-Sufficiency), which helps individuals overcome barriers to employment, housing, and financial stability. CSBG funds support critical case management, emergency shelter, and mentoring, all of which help people move from crisis to independence.

Local jobs would be lost. CSBG supports essential staff at NEMCSA and other community agencies. These are not just jobs—they are trusted professionals embedded in rural communities, helping neighbors access services and navigate complex systems.

Our ability to address long-term poverty would be crippled. CSBG is often the only funding source that can be used to launch innovative solutions tailored to local needs—like community education, poverty simulations, and partnerships with schools, health systems, and employers.

Eliminating CSBG would not just cut funding. It would erase opportunities, limit hope, and abandon our most vulnerable neighbors in a time of rising costs and deepening need.

Take Action Now:
Contact your elected officials and urge them to protect CSBG. Tell them how these programs have impacted you, your family, or your community.
Let them know: Northeast Michigan can’t afford to lose this critical support.

Download the links below:

Find your representatives at https://www.congress.gov/members or call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121.

Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) is more than funding—it's a lifeline