Washington State Community Action Partnership works to build healthy communities and eliminate poverty through a unified network of Community Action Agencies across Washington State.

Community Action believes ending generational poverty and inequity is the right thing to do. Together, we can summon the moral and political will to invest in healthy, just, and sustainable communities that can stabilize and equip our neighbors living in poverty to exit poverty for good.

Washington State’s 30 Community Action Agencies believe every Washington resident has the right to enjoy: safe, affordable housing; quality, compassionate health care; early, K-12 and higher education opportunities; nutritious food; anti-racist, culturally-humble providers, teachers, and systems; sufficient income for basic needs; and a resilient environment and planet that can sustain community.

The Washington State Community Action Partnership (WSCAP), is a nonprofit organization created to provide a unified voice for Community Action Agencies in advocacy, policy, programmatic and legislative issues affecting families and communities in the State of Washington. WSCAP also provides training and technical assistance to each of our 30 agencies,ensuring high quality and professional services for those seeking our assistance.

Community Action is Washington’s safety net. Community Action Agencies play a key role in helping people get back to work and building a strong foundation for Washington’s future by creating and preserving jobs. In addition, Community Action Agencies invest in people to develop their competencies, support their education, and help them find work. Using flexible Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funding, Community Action Agencies focus on creating local solutions to local needs. Community Action Agencies are major employers, together spending more than $200 million each year in Washington cities and counties. About 90% of all funds are used for direct services to help families in need.

Hundreds of thousands of people facing challenges and barriers to prosperity have received help, obtained jobs, established safe homes, received education and are providing for their families because of the support offered by Community Action Agencies. Community Action is designed to respond to local needs that differ from community to community.

What Does Community Action Do?

Check out some of the ways we can help families in your community below:

Community Action believes ending generational poverty and inequity is the right thing to do. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing economic downturn, Washington State legislators must summon the moral and political will to invest in healthy, just, and sustainable communities that stabilize our neighbors living in poverty for recovery and equip them for long-term prosperity.

WSCAP 2021 State Policy Priorities

Protect Access to Vital Community Supports and Build Fair, Equitable, and Stable Revenue Streams

WSCAP believes advancing opportunity and economic justice requires us to consider how we collect taxes and distribute revenue to support the building blocks of healthy communities, including vital safety net programs. Washington’s uniquely regressive tax code costs the poorest Washingtonians six times more of their income than the richest Washingtonians and disproportionately impacts Washingtonians of Color. We support efforts to reduce the tax burden on the Working Poor and generate new revenue streams that reflect Washington’s aspirations of fairness for all. We can balance the budget without cutting people off from support when they need it most.

Stabilize Basic Needs and Equip All Washingtonians for an Equitable COVID-19 Recovery

WSCAP joins its coalition partners Washington Low Income Housing Alliance, Anti-Hunger and Nutrition Coalition, and Early Learning Action Alliance in proposing zero cuts to basic needs. We know the challenges facing Washington’s low-income residents have grown during the Pandemic. To weather this storm and keep these existing struggles from spiraling into a humanitarian crisis, recovery needs to target those that have been hit the hardest. In response to the crisis, we recommend starting with investments in basic needs.

Support Rural Washington Jobs & Housing Stability: Wx+H & HRLP is a Solid Return On Investment

Racial Equity and Social Justice: Building Equality and Belonging for All Washingtonians

Community Action’s roots in the Civil Rights Movement and the War on Poverty call us to respond to the extreme impact of COVID-19 on the health and economic security of Communities of Color in Washington State. Equitably investing in the health,safety, and prosperity of each of our neighbors allows all of us to thrive. Washington state legislators should:

WSCAP provides free and low-cost training and technical assistance to each of our 30 agencies, ensuring high quality and professional services for clients seeking our assistance. Check back regularly to view upcoming virtual training opportunities.

To see a list of past trainings, please visit our Vimeo site at https://vimeo.com/wscap. For any recent trainings, email Noal Alsharbini at [email protected] for password and further instructions.

WSCAP Stands with Black Lives Matter

The Washington State Community Action Partnership believes Black Lives Matter and stands with those taking that message to the streets against a racist system of policing. The endless cycle of violence in our country, rooted in our original sin of slavery, must end. Washingtonians, especially White Washingtonians, must commit to unlearning Racism and dismantling White Supremacy in service of Racial Equity. Justice and peace will only come through our commitment to these principles and by following the leadership of Communities of Color. If we fail to take action rooted in this reality, then unrest and the despair of poverty will continue to fill the vacuum of moral leadership.

Learn More

The National Community Action Partnership has drafted a short list of initial steps for each of us to take action against structural racism. While not an exhaustive list, NCAP believes these are important steps for us as individuals and for your Community Action Agency. Additionally, they’ve compiled a bibliography of resources for Community Action to understand, communicate, strategize and take action to eliminate structural racism.