THE
HISTORY OF NORWESCAP AND THE STORY OF COMMUNITY ACTION
NORWESCAP is a private, non-profit corporation originally established
in 1965 under the Economic Opportunity Act to serve the low-income
population of Hunterdon, Sussex and Warren Counties.
The Community Action Agency, under “Johnson’s Great
Society” was the local vehicle to fight poverty. Elimination
of poverty was one of the issues in the forefront during the
years of 1964-1974. The Federal regional offices made grants
directly to Community Action Agencies; and the State’s
role was that of commenting and training.
President Johnson signing the Economic Opportunity Act
(Great Society War on Poverty)
August 25, 1964
The
Northwest New Jersey Community Action Program had great political
power in the community and the state, along with a $3 million
budget. The administrative staff consisted of the Executive
Director and three Assistant Directors. In 1966 there was a
budget totaling $3 million from 10 funding sources. We had one
dozen service centers (outreach offices) in the three counties
where staff also acted as ombudsman for low-income people.
In the years 1974 through August of 1981, the Community Service
Agency was the successor to the Office of Economic Opportunity.
This was the beginning of hard times for Community Action Programs.
In 1976, NORWESCAP had a budget totaling $1 million, and in
1977, a budget totaling $2 million. 1979 brought an increase
in both programs and additional funding sources with a $4 million
budget. The Onmibus Reconciliation Act dissolved the Community
Service Agency (CSA) in 1981. Many considered this the official
end to the war on poverty. About 800 of the community action
agencies across the nation dissolved, leaving approximately
1,000 agencies.
September 1981 was the start of the Community Services Block
Grant, the successor to the CSA. This new block grant is in
the Office of Community Services within the Department of Human
Services. Poverty under the Reagan Administration was a less
popular movement resulting in less dollars and diminishing concern.
Reagan wanted decisions to be closer to the people and lumped
funds into block grants, thus creating less federal bureaucracy.
With the closeout of all Community Services Administration contracts
and reduction in funds for various programs, staff had to be
let go. Our CSA funding of $1.5 million dollars became a block
grant of $154,000. Those staff that stayed had to increase their
workload in order to serve the same number of persons in Hunterdon,
Sussex and Warren Counties.
In 1985, we expanded to Somerset County for WIC and weatherization
services. We also expanded to Morris County, who was without
a community action program. NORWESCAP now services approximately
39,000 persons in its five county service area through 30 different
programs. There are also limited programs available in Passaic
County.
The Agency has a 25 member Board of Trustees and employs approximately
230 persons dedicated to housing development, energy conservation,
child care, Head Start, volunteerism, nutrition, child care
referral, alcohol counseling, outreach, information & referral,
food bank, subcontracted services, case management, economic
development, and utility assistance programs. These programs
are funded from over 47 different sources using over 80 different
contracts. We are administratively responsible to the New Jersey
Department of Community Affairs.
