Jefferson County Community Action Council Inc.

Jefferson County Community Action Council Inc. is a tax-exempt nonprofit community development corporation headquartered in Steubenville, Ohio, that acts as a recipient of federal grants focused on homeless services, energy assistance, and community economic development. The organization does not hold federal prime contracts; rather, it receives direct HUD grants and serves as a subrecipient on federal grant programs administered through Ohio state agencies.

The organization's federal footprint centers on the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Continuum of Care (CoC) Program (CFDA 14.267) and community development block grants flowing through Ohio state intermediaries. Jefferson County received five consecutive annual CoC Project Grants from HUD's Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development, most recently a $197,979 award effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. Under the CoC program, the organization delivers permanent supportive housing, rapid rehousing, transitional housing, supportive services only, and Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS) support to homeless individuals and families, including persons with disabilities, youth, and those fleeing domestic violence. The organization also receives subgrants from the Ohio Department of Development (operating Community Services Block Grants and Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funds), the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services (Pathway Home homelessness prevention funding), and the Ohio State University (in partnership with Jefferson County Prevention and Recovery Board, opioid-overdose reduction evidence-based practices funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse).

Customer concentration is extremely high. The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families accounts for 33 awards (56% of the portfolio), followed by HUD's Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development with 18 awards (31%), and the Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration with 3 awards. The Department of HHS National Institutes of Health National Institute on Drug Abuse represents one award. These five agencies account for 97% of recent awards. Combined obligated dollars across all awards total $23.2 million, accumulated since 2003. Award activity peaked in 2023 with 22 awards, declined to 9 in 2024, and dropped to 2 in both 2025 and 2026 to date, reflecting the annual cycle of CoC and state-pass-through grant programs. Only one award faces completion within the next twenty-four months.

The organization operates almost exclusively as a subrecipient (66% of all awards), receiving federal funds through state intermediaries rather than as a direct federal prime grantee. Its direct prime position is limited to the annual HUD CoC awards. Sub-award activity flows through the Ohio Department of Development (Community Services Block Grants, Home Energy Assistance Program, Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program), Ohio Department of Job & Family Services (Pathway Home homelessness prevention), and Ohio State University (NIDA-funded opioid-reduction initiatives). The consistent year-to-year renewal of CoC and state pass-through awards demonstrates stable capacity to serve low-income and homeless populations in Jefferson County's geographic footprint.