OCS Mission

The mission of the Office of Community Services is to work in partnership with states, communities, and other agencies to provide a range of human and economic development services and activities which ameliorate the causes and characteristics of poverty and otherwise assist persons in need. The aim of these services and activities is to increase the capacity of individuals and families to become self-sufficient, to revitalize communities, and to build the stability and capacity of children, youth, and families so that they become able to create their own opportunities.

OCS Goals

The Office of Community Services strives to:

• Serve the economic and social needs of welfare recipients and other low-income individuals and families that reside in urban, rural and tribal areas;
• Provide employment and entrepreneurial opportunities through industrial, business, physical or commercial development;
• Promote individual self-sufficiency through the creation of new, full-time, permanent jobs;
• Assist community development corporations and community action agencies in leveraging existing federal, state and local resources for neighborhood revitalization activities;
• Provide financial and technical resources to state, local, public and private agencies for economic development and related social service support activities;
• Provide energy assistance to low income households; and
• Assist communities in protecting the victims of domestic violence as well as preventing the occurrence of domestic violence.