Who we are
Building Stronger Communities in Eastern Iowa
HACAP is a diverse, community-focused nonprofit dedicated to the improvement of families and individuals in our communities. We provide a diverse array of programs and services that work toward removing the barriers of poverty. We collaborate among for-profit, nonprofit, faith-based, service groups and community members in order to make stronger, healthier communities.
As a community action agency, HACAP is 1 of 16 agencies in the state of Iowa that makes up over 1,000 Community Action Agencies in the United States. These agencies band together to connect our low-income neighbors in need with valuable services that aim at reducing poverty in our country.
HACAP serves the following counties in Iowa: Benton, Dubuque, Delaware, Iowa, Jackson, Johnson, Jones, Linn and Washington. If you are outside of our service area, please find your local Community Action Program by visiting: iowacommunityaction.org.
Our Mission
Helping people develop skills to become successful and build strong communities.
Our Guiding Principles
We are innovative, we are partners, we are responsive, we are leaders, we are HACAP.
Our Vision
A thriving community where all people have the opportunities for success.
Promise of Community Action
Community Action changes people’s lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.
Our History
1965: HACAP was first formed following the enactment of the Economic Opportunity Act.
1964: Began services in Linn County. The Economic Opportunity Act would provide for the development of community action programs that would supply: "services, assistance, and other activities...to give promise of progress toward elimination of poverty." (EOA of 1964, Sec. 202a). This federal law laid out to minimize the negative impacts of low-wage incomes upon families and the community overall.
1974: Weatherization program is added by the Department of Energy (DOE) to help improve the energy efficiency of the homes of low-income families.
1981: The Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) program is created to support the efforts of Iowa’s community action agencies in alleviating the causes and conditions of poverty in their communities.
1983: HACAP joins Second Harvest (now Feeding America) an organization that is a nationwide network of more than 200 food banks that feed more than 46 million people through food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and other community-based agencies.
2020: Dubuque, Delaware and Jackson counties are added bringing HACAP's current total service area to nine Eastern Iowa counties.
