Why We Do What We Do

Community Action is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3), serving homeless and low-income families and individuals.

Our vision is a community in which everyone works together to end poverty in Skagit County.

Our mission is to stabilize lives, equip people to meet their goals, and build a stronger, more equitable Skagit County.

Equity Statement:
We are guided by those we serve in our community. We believe that all of us can change values, beliefs, and policies to create a more equitable community. We recognize that the roots of poverty are embedded in trauma, oppression, and inequity. We support and encourage diverse leadership and representation. We have a lot to learn by listening to people with this lived experience in poverty, homelessness, and inequity based on race and other identities.

Community Action was established in Skagit County in 1979 and grew as the community needs and resources were identified. Currently we support eight major program areas with multiple and inter-related services that stabilize lives and equip people to move out of poverty. We also work in collaboration with the community to create ongoing pathways to prosperity.

We are governed by a Board of Directors consisting of twelve members representing the public, private and low-income sectors in equal proportion. With our excellent and engaged Board, tenured senior management team, dedicated staff of between 90-110, and a variety of programs designed to meet local needs, our agency is well positioned to facilitate positive change in our community.

Community Action is not merely a nonprofit social service agency. While many of our programs meet basic needs of people struggling to make ends meet, our purpose is to alleviate poverty and help people attain a level of self-sufficiency. As some would say, we are a trampoline, not just a safety net.

Imagine the uncertainty of not knowing how to provide your family their next meal, the limitations of not being able to read a job application, the despondence associated with losing your home, or the fear of having a sick child and no health insurance to enable you to see a doctor…..these are the faces of Community Action of Skagit County. Every year, Community Action provides the tools to over 30,000 people to move beyond crisis and onto the pathways of self-sufficiency.

Community Action focuses roughly two-thirds of its resources on goal-oriented interventions, as opposed to one-time help. Essentially, while we do assist those in need with gas or clothes vouchers, or help with paying a power bill, our true mission is to connect with families over an extended period of time – working to offer educational and goal-setting opportunities to help individuals and families achieve major life changes.

Because we provide a large array of diverse services, Community Action takes pride in saying that no other local social service organization provides the magnitude of anti-poverty services that we do!

Community Action measures our impact in stabilizing peoples’ lives and equipping families for success in these key areas:

  • Housing Affordability & Homelessness Prevention
  • Anti-Hunger & Nutrition
  • Resiliency & Achievement
  • Building Stronger Communities

To do that, we provide the following services:

  • Family Resource Centers (Mount Vernon, Concrete, Anacortes)
  • Housing Help
  • Street Outreach
  • Food, Nutrition, & WIC
  • Energy Assistance
  • Education & Job Skills
  • Volunteer Opportunities

Strategic Plan

Community Action’s strategic plan and its annual work plans are informed by a process of continuous quality improvement our agency engages in called Results Oriented Management and Accountability (ROMA). Community Action agencies use this process to measure, analyze, and communicate performance.

Title VI, ADA Customer Complaints

Any person who believes his/her Title VI protection has been violated may file a complaint with Community Action’s Human Resources Director. For additional information regarding Title VI and ADA complaint procedures and/or information regarding our non-discrimination obligations click the links below, or contact the Human Resources Director (360) 416-7585.