Our Mission

SEICAA is dedicated to providing opportunity and support for individuals and communities to thrive and reach their fullest potential, promoting self-sufficiency and greater economic independence through services, education, affordable housing and training.

SEICAA & The Community Action Partnership

What is a Community Action Agency?

We, the Southeastern Idaho Community Action Agency, Inc. (or SEICAA), are a Community Action Agency (CAA) – a private non-profit organization created by the federal government to pursue solutions to and combat the causes of poverty. To be a CAA, an organization must:

  • Meet provisions of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 and/or the Community Services Block Grant Act of 1982.
  • Receive Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funds.
  • Form a tripartite Board of Directors, consisting of:
    • 1/3 Low-Income Residents or Their Representatives
    • 1/3 Publicly Elected Officials or Their Designees
    • 1/3 Private Sector Representatives
  • Belong to a national network of similar agencies.

In our case, we belong to the National Community Action Partnership.

There are eight CAAs in Idaho:

What Sets Us Apart

We pursue solutions to the causes of poverty. For over 50 years now, we have helped Idahoans obtain basic needs and learn and develop individual strategies to overcome the disadvantages holding them back. Thanks to the flexibility of our funding and our teams’ experience, we not only address various needs but also launch new programs to meet arising challenges.

But how do we know where to start? The causes and conditions of poverty vary wildly, even from county to county in Southeast Idaho. They may also change over time, due to – among other things – fluctuations in Idaho’s economic growth, government policies, and ease of access to education and training. Well, we involve you – our community – in our administration. With your feedback, and through partnerships with other local community-based organizations, we can identify a starting point.

Our Community

We service all seven counties in Southeast Idaho, catering towards impoverished Idahoans – specifically, households from 100% to 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL). What does that mean? In 2024, an individual who earned $15,060/yr. or less lived below the FPL. That’s $1,255/mo. or, assuming an individual is paid biweekly, $627.50 per paycheck. How many Idahoans in Southeast Idaho do you think live below the FPL?

In 2024:

  • 183,000 Residents lived in our service area.
  • An estimated 19,981 residents (11%) live in poverty.
  • In 2019, 38,583 (16%) of Idaho residents with disabilities lived in poverty.
  • In 2022, an estimated 7.2% of veterans in Idaho lived in poverty.
Sources Include: US Department of Health & Human Services, 2024 Poverty Guidelines: 48 Contiguous States: 2024 United States Census Bureau; US Census Bureau, American Community Survey: 2019-23; US Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates: 2023.

Our Impact

For more information about our impact, view our publications.