Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a Community Action Agency?

   Community Action’s historic purpose was "to effect a permanent increase in the capacity of individuals, groups, and communities afflicted by poverty to deal effectively with their own problems so that they need no further assistance." While CAA's often provide services to ease the burden of those in poverty, they are not about ameliorating the conditions of poverty, but about enabling people to find and create opportunities to become economically self-sufficient.

2. What is Skyline CAP’s service area?

   Skyline CAP serves clients in the Counties of Greene, Madison, and Orange. Skyline CAP's Head Start Program services the counties of Greene, Madison, Rappahannock, Warren, Shenandoah and Page.

3. Community Action Agencies are federally funded. Why should I donate to Skyline CAP?

   Skyline CAP receives federal Community Services Block Grant funds and is the grantee for federal Head Start monies. CSBG money is insufficient to meet the funding needs of the agency. CSBG and Head Start funds come with a requirement that we match 20% of the grant locally. In order to meet a bare bones budget, in fiscal year 2007/08 the agency needs to raise additional funds. Your donations help us meet the needs of many people.

4. Hasn’t the War on Poverty failed?

   No. Has every anti-poverty program been successful? Absolutely not. There are as many reasons for being poor as there are poor people. Thus, there are as many solutions as individuals. We are succeeding one person, one family at a time. Investing in anti-poverty programs is like a health prevention program. It's expensive in the short term, but pays off in the long run. The people who walk in the doors of Skyline CAP don't want to be poor. They come to us because they want to become self-sufficient, productive members of our community. Some of our client's problems can be solved with one time assistance. However, for most families the issues they face are complex and could take years to resolve. But the common factor among our clients is a desire to be independent and part of the American dream.

5. What Programs and Services does Skyline CAP offer?
   Please select a program below if you wish to learn more about it.

   Educational Programs

   • Head Start
   • Project Discovery

   Housing Programs

   • Housing Choice Voucher Rental Assistance (Formerly Section 8 Rental ssistance)
   • HUD Housing Counseling
   • 1st time Homebuyer Club
   • Skyline CAP HOME Rehabilitation
   • Emergency Home Repair

   Emergency Assistance and Outreach Programs

   • Emergency Crisis Assistance
   • Emergency Assistance Referrals
   • Energy Share Program
   • Outreach and Job Readiness Program
6. Who do we help?

   During Fiscal Year 2006/07 Skyline CAP served 2,012 individuals and families. Fifty-two percent of Skyline CAP’s client families reported an income below the poverty level. Another 40% were below 125% of the poverty level.

   Of those families, the following statistics were reported:
   
   • 70.23% of clients were female
   • 46% of client households were headed by single parents
   • 43% of families reporting are working and 10% reported being on disability
   • 33% of clients reporting did not graduate high school/ 50% received their diploma or GED/ and 8% reporting had trade school or more