“The Schenectady Community Action Program (SCAP) is Schenectady County’s Community Action
Agency (CAA). Incorporated in 1965, with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status granted in 1966, SCAP was
established to provide services and operate programs that address the causes and effects of poverty.
Community Action Agencies are federally designated as the frontline resource for people living in
poverty, providing direct services and support for low-income individuals and families. In addition to the
direct services they provide, Community Action Agencies (CAAs) promote community economic
development through partnerships and inter-agency collaborations.
Community Action Promise
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.
Regular assessment of needs and resources at the community level continues to be the foundation of
Community Action and a vital management tool used to set the course for agency resources, confirming
the need for existing programs and services, predicting future needs and guiding strategic initiatives.
SCAP conducts an extensive Community Needs Assessment every three years, with annual updates in
between. Results of the assessment are utilized to inform SCAP’s Community Action Plan. The
Community Needs Assessment is also utilized by multiple community-based organizations and groups,
as well as local government entities, to guide program and planning efforts.”
read the entire report
Schenectady Community Action Program November 2021.