Government Shutdown Halts Key Community Services in Davidson County
By Antionette Kerr
The ripple effects of the federal government shutdown have reached Davidson County. Davidson County Community Action, Inc. (DCCA) has been ordered to temporarily suspend all Community Services Block Grant (CSBG)-funded programs, following a directive from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO).
The order, effective immediately, stems from Congress’s failure to pass a federal appropriations bill or continuing resolution for the fiscal year that began October 1. Without congressional action, federal CSBG funds that support anti-poverty programs across the nation have been frozen.
Locally, that means:
All DCCA programs and services funded by CSBG are paused until further notice.
The agency cannot spend or commit additional CSBG funds.
Assistance and outreach programs serving low-income residents will be temporarily interrupted.
One county resident who recently received help through DCCA’s utility assistance program. He called to ask how the shutdown would affect others.
“They helped me with my gas bill when I needed it,” he said. “A lot of people are going to be impacted.”
DCCA Executive Director Derrick Horton said the impact will be felt far beyond Davidson County.
“This affects all 33 community action agencies across North Carolina that together serve all 100 counties,” Horton wrote. “We’re waiting for federal funding to be restored so that we can continue providing the critical services our communities depend on.”
The agency emphasized that the suspension is not related to its performance or compliance, but rather a direct consequence of the ongoing funding lapse in Washington.
“We remain steadfast in our mission to support and empower low-income individuals and families in Davidson County,” the organization said in a statement. “Our team will continue to communicate with program participants, partners, and the community as new information becomes available.”
The pause affects essential services that help local families with housing, utilities, and employment assistance—programs often considered lifelines for those facing financial hardship.
Community members with questions can contact dcca@dccainc.org or call (336) 249-0234. Updates will be posted on the agency’s website as more guidance becomes available from the state and federal government.
