"Helping People Help Themselves"

York County Community Action Corporation (YCCAC) was incorporated in 1965 by a group of York County residents as a result of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. Since then, the agency has been delivering a range of social service, health, and educational programs to York County individuals and families living in poverty. These programs are all designed to achieve the goal set forth in the Preamble to the Economic Opportunity Act: “to alleviate the paradox of poverty in the midst of plenty.” Every year, the YCCAC staff of nearly 200 will interact with 20,000-plus low income York County residents. Major programs include Head Start and Early Head Start, WIC (Women, Infants, Children), Energy/Fuel Assistance, Community Outreach, Transportation, Housing Services, and York County Community Health Care.

 The mission of York County Community Action Corporation is to alleviate the effects of poverty, attack its underlying causes and to promote the dignity and self-sufficiency of the people of York County, Maine.

Since the early 1990’s, the agency has paid particular attention to designing programs that help clients acquire or preserve assets, (e.g. home ownership, higher education, or business development) rather than simply helping them meet their immediate (crisis) needs. Assets grow in value over time, and as a result, can produce long-term financial security. We know that if we continue to combat poverty solely in terms of income, we deny families the benefits and strategies that have long been offered to millions of Americans for improving their lives. To quote the New America Foundation: “Lack of income means you don’t get by; lack of assets means you don’t get ahead.”

YCCAC is a nonprofit, tax exempt organization governed by an 18 member board of directors consisting of business owners, private citizens, public officials, and members of our programs’ target population.

York County Community Action Corporation 2010