Lincoln County commissioners approve letter backing Community Action Partnership CSBG work plan

The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners voted to approve a letter of support for the Community Action Partnership’s (CAP) Community Services Block Grant work plan after hearing a presentation on local needs and program performance.

A CAP representative told the board that roughly 9% of Lincoln County residents receive services through the agency and that LIHEAP (heating assistance) is the largest single program. "We don't do handouts. We do tools for self-sufficiency," the presenter said, describing CAP’s employment-and-training work that the agency says is intended to help participants move toward living-wage jobs and greater financial stability.

The presenter said CAP has seen demographic shifts in demand—more homeowners and older adults seeking help with monthly bills—and reported increased use of the Energy Share emergency fund when federal LEAP (Low Income Energy Assistance Program) payments were temporarily paused during a recent government shutdown. The presenter said Energy Share requests spiked, noting a tally of 46 requests at a single meeting while LEAP disbursements were on hold.

CAP staff also warned of proposed changes at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that, they said, could reduce the share of funding available for permanent housing programs to 30%. CAP staff estimated that change could affect about "60–70" people the agency currently serves through permanent housing contracts, and said the county’s HUD-funded programs operate under direct contracts that might be jeopardized by new distribution rules.

Commissioners asked for clarifications about the budget and award timing. CAP staff said the final CSBG award amount will not be known until federal allocations are confirmed; they noted the previous regional award was about $490,000 covering four counties (Blake, Lincoln, Sanders and Flathead) and that CAP typically projects budgets based on historical awards until federal figures are finalized.

The board’s motion to sign a letter endorsing CAP’s FY2026–27 CSBG work plan and budget was made by the meeting’s presiding commissioner and seconded (the transcript does not identify the second). The motion passed; the vote was recorded with one commissioner opposing but the transcript did not name the dissenting commissioner.

During follow-up items, commissioners and CAP staff discussed a new behavioral-health specialist position at the public health department that could provide referral capacity, plans for life-skills and credit-building classes at CAP’s new facility, and a correction to contact information for a new drop-in center that CAP said it would address.

The board asked CAP to keep commissioners updated as federal funding decisions are finalized; CAP staff said they will circulate further budget information when it is available. The meeting then adjourned.