Our Mission

“To diminish poverty and enable self-sufficiency for all Howard County individuals, families, and children in need.”

Need Help?

We are here to support you! By layering our five critical services of early childhood education, energy assistance, food assistance, housing assistance, and weatherization assistance, we guide a family from crisis to stability and ultimately to self-sufficiency. Check out our programs to learn more.

Early Childhood Education (ECE)

Our ECE program is comprised of Head Start and MSDE Prekindergarten classrooms that serve children between the ages of three to five years old. Students are provided full-day, full-year programming designed to prepare them socially, emotionally, and academically for kindergarten.

Energy Assistance

CAC assists households in imminent danger of utility termination and provides income-eligible homeowners and renters with weatherization services resulting in energy efficiency and lower electric bills.

Food Assistance

CAC's Howard County Food Bank operates a client-choice model similar to a grocery store. The Food we provide is fresh, healthy, and varied: sourced from local farms and grocery stores, and our own community garden.

Weatherization Assistance

Our weatherization assistance program is the largest nonprofit weatherization program in the state of Maryland. We help homeowners and renters improve the comfort and quality of their home environment, lower their monthly energy bills, and reduce their environmental footprint at no cost to income eligible Maryland residents.

Housing Assistance

CAC offers housing assistance to income eligible Howard County families, including eviction prevention, first month's rent, and assistance with other housing emergencies.
About Us

HELPING PEOPLE. CHANGING LIVES.

The Community Action Council of Howard County (CAC), is Howard County’s designated anti-poverty organization for nearly 60 years. CAC is one of our nation’s 1,000+ Community Action Agencies (CAAs) dedicated to fighting poverty by helping people become economically self-sufficient. We are a dynamic organization that utilizes the Two-Generation (2Gen) approach to integrate our five core services of Early Childhood Education, Energy Assistance, Food Assistance, Housing Assistance, and Weatherization Assistance to create a holistic approach to empower families on their path to social and economic stability.

OUR IMPACT AT A GLANCE

FY2024 Stats
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STUDENTS EDUCATED
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FAMILIES SAVED FROM HOMELESSNESS
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MEALS DISTRIBUTED
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FAMILIES KEPT THEIR LIGHTS ON

GET INVOLVED!

For nearly 60 years, CAC has relied on upon the generosity of the community to meet the needs of the people it serves here in Howard County. We are incredibly grateful for those who invest in our community, offering a hand up to their neighbors in need. Donations of funds and food are needed year-round. CAC also has volunteer opportunities available. Click below to learn more.