Successfully addressing the ongoing problems of generational poverty and systemic inequality are tasks that no institution can handle alone. People living in poverty struggle with various obstacles from low wages to drug addiction to insecure housing to domestic violence to problems with mental health. And, unfortunately, those problems barely scratch the surface.

Community Action Agencies

To that end, the federal government established the Community Action Program or CAP for short. Beginning in 1964 with the passage of the Economic Opportunity Act, CAP established the infrastructure necessary for creating Community Action Agencies, non-profits funded with federal dollars to help people in poverty move to self-sufficiency. Most states have established networks of Community Action Agencies. For instance, the Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies (OACAA) has over 1000 member agencies in its collaborative, all of which provide a variety of different services to their clients.

Community Action Agencies and AI

One such agency is Supports to Encourage Low-Income Families (SELF), located in Butler County, Ohio. SELF uses C3S to disburse emergency COVID-relief rent and utility payments to the landlords of eligible clients. Other programs on SELF’s service docket include household weatherization renovations, a small business microloan program, matching funds for individual savings accounts, basic job training, OHSA certification, and adult education programs that employ the various curricula the  Bridges Out of Poverty program.

Though organizations like SELF often tout an impressive array of services, most institutions understand that they can’t tackle the problem of poverty on their own. Instead, C3S uses its advanced AI to connect service organizations, whether they receive funds from CAP or not, into a single, cohesive service network. This allows institutions to easily communicate and coordinate care while also cutting out onerous registration processes. Clients can also use the C3S app to search for services within the network, making it an invaluable resource for someone who’s looking for help outside of their typical service providers.

Advancing the Health Equity and Well-Being in Marginalized Communities

Collaboration is an inextricable part of addressing systemic poverty, and AI gives organizations the tools they need to work efficiently and expeditiously. If you believe your organization would benefit from AI integration, use our online contact form to get in touch.

The C3S software is the product of a multi-year journey to apply artificial intelligence and cutting-edge software technology to advance the health and well-being of vulnerable and marginalized communities. As such, the platform optimizes the capacity of organizations and agencies to serve and empower the unempowered. Furthermore, the power of the AI platform to be customized to meet the needs and visions of organizations and communities and empower individual clients and families through the use of everyday smartphone technology ensures the relevance of the software today and into the future.

Collaboration is an inextricable part of addressing systemic poverty, and AI gives organizations the tools they need to work efficiently and expeditiously. If you believe your organization would benefit from AI integration, use our online contact form to get in touch.