Who We Are

For over 30 years, the Florida Association for Community Action (FACA) has been on the front lines of fighting poverty — supporting Community Action Agencies across Florida with the tools, resources, and connections they need to serve their communities effectively.

  • FACA serves as the backbone of Florida's Community Action Network. We provide member agencies with training, technical assistance, advocacy, and information sharing — and we keep those agencies connected to each other, to government departments, social service providers, and the citizens they serve.

    Through the FACA network, member agencies can engage in statewide conversations on public policy and the issues that matter most to their communities.

  • FACA works at the state, regional, and national level — exchanging information and advocating for policies that reduce poverty and expand opportunity. We are proud members of the National Community Action Partnership (NCAP), National Community Action Foundation (NCAF), and Community Action Program Legal Services, Inc. (CAPLAW).

  • FACA is a private nonprofit 501(c)(3) association headquartered in Tampa, Florida. We regularly review and update our strategic plan to ensure our work stays focused, relevant, and effective.

Our Mission

Our mission is to build a stronger, more effective Community Action Network across Florida — working hand in hand with public and private partners to provide training, technical assistance, and advocacy that help communities rise out of poverty.

We believe that poverty is not inevitable. By equipping Community Action Agencies with the knowledge, resources, and support they need, we strengthen the entire network's ability to deliver real, lasting change. From the neighborhoods of Tampa to the rural communities across the state, FACA is committed to ensuring that every Floridian has access to the opportunities and services that make a better life possible.

Through collaboration, education, and a relentless commitment to those we serve, we work every day to build a Florida where all communities can thrive.

History of Community Action

The story of Community Action begins in 1964, when the Economic Opportunity Act declared an "unconditional War on Poverty in America" — and created Community Action Agencies to lead the charge.

In Florida, three organizations took up that mission: the Community Action Agencies Association, Florida Concern for Children (Head Start), and the Equal Opportunity Officers Association. Though separate, they shared a common purpose — protecting low-income and disadvantaged Floridians.

Over time, it became clear that together they could do more. On November 30, 1979, representatives from all three groups voted to unite under one roof. Two years later, in 1981, the Florida Association for Community Action (FACA) was officially incorporated — bringing together Community Action Agencies, Head Start programs, Weatherization programs, and concerned citizens into a single, unified force for change.

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