Food pantries are just one of the many services that community action agencies provide, which include everything from Head Start and child care to housing, energy conservation, employment, senior services and more. (File photo by Rosanne Skirble/Maryland Matters)
In Maryland, as mass layoffs ripple through a workforce heavily tied to government jobs, it is Community Action Agencies that stand ready to catch families before they fall into deeper hardship. They are the flexible thread that weaves together different funding sources, creating a collective impact that keeps communities stable and resilient.
In 1962, Michael Harrington’s “The Other America” revealed a hidden layer of poverty that many chose not to see. Today, we must not turn a blind eye to what it means for social safety net programs to fade away — risking yet another “Other America.”
Programs such as Community Action Agencies are the steady support Maryland’s hardworking families depend on when times are tough and it’s just not enough. These agencies are essential to Maryland’s resilience, especially during times of economic disruption.
Community Action Agencies don’t just provide temporary relief; they offer ongoing, adaptable emergency response that meets each new crisis. When other aid fades away, these agencies remain — helping people with employment support, energy conservation, childcare, senior services, and more.
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They are, in essence, a lifeline that has always been here, and one that must remain strong if we want our communities to thrive.
Maria, a single mother who lost her job during a round of mass layoffs, was helped by her local Community Action Agency. They stepped in, providing emergency energy assistance to lower her utility bills, enrolling her in workforce and entrepreneurship training programs, connecting her with food resources, and helping her secure child care services.
Within months, Maria was on a clear path to regaining financial stability. Her story is just one example of the thousands of Maryland families who turn hardship into hope with the support of Community Action Agencies.
Even if you have never needed the help of a Community Action Agency, you benefit from their work. When families regain stability, the whole community grows stronger. Parents can return to the workforce. Children can focus on succeeding in school. Seniors can remain in their homes with dignity.
Right now, proposed cuts to Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funding threaten to dismantle this safety net of Community Action Agencies. Imagine a community facing rising job losses while losing the very agencies that have held it together for decades.
This is why we cannot stand idly by. We must recognize these agencies for what they are — essential, enduring emergency responders.
Without stable CSBG funding, the strong support system for Maryland’s hardworking families will weaken — and the cost will be felt across communities.
In 2024, Maryland’s Community Action Agencies helped nearly 280,000 families bridge the gap from crisis to stability. These are parents juggling multiple jobs to keep a roof overhead, seniors stretching fixed incomes to cover rising costs and neighbors reentering the workforce after sudden layoffs.
History has already shown us the danger of ignoring what we cannot see — or choose not to. Just as Harrington brought to light the unseen struggles of the past, we must now shine a light on the critical impact of these agencies. Let’s not allow their vital work to be quietly erased from the budget.
Instead, let’s stand up, speak out, and ensure they remain the resilient foundation of our communities. Our call to action is simple: let’s not allow these emergency responders fade away.