On August 20, 1964, President Lyndon B Johnson signed into law, Senate Bill 2642, better known as the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, declaring “unconditional war on poverty.” Title II of that law, provided for urban and rural communities to mobilize their resources to combat poverty through Community Action Programs (CAP’s). The most important provision of the Economic Opportunity Act was the requirement that Community Action Programs be developed, conducted, and administered with the maximum participation of the residents of the area. The Community Action Agencies (CAA's) were established the following year. Since that time, the Montgomery County CAA and its Board have been charged with the organization of low-income communities, the development of leaders within low-income communities, and the development of systems to increase their self-sufficiency, self-esteem and gain more control over their own lives.
