Special to IFN
I-CARE Inc., the Community Action agency serving Iredell, Lincoln, Alexander, and Catawba counties, issued a warning Sunday that critical programs serving hundreds of local residents are at risk of disruption if the federal government shutdown continues.
Although I-CARE’s Head Start and Early Head Start programs will remain operational because of the timing of their federal grants, other Community Action agencies across North Carolina may soon face program closures. Many are already encountering halted payments or suspended contracts because federal staff within the Office of Community Services are unavailable to process funding during the shutdown.
I-CARE’s Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), LIHEAP, and Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) funds remain vulnerable if the shutdown persists, potentially delaying essential programs that support working families, seniors, and veterans with job training, utility assistance, and safe, energy-efficient housing.
“Our programs help families achieve independence, not dependency,” said Bryan Duncan, executive director of I-CARE Inc. “When federal staff are furloughed, funds can’t be processed. That means fewer people trained for jobs, fewer homes repaired before winter, and small businesses losing income from the work they do in partnership with us.”
Local Impact
During the 2023–2024 program year, I-CARE:
• Served 109 families through workforce development and self-sufficiency coaching.
• Helped 27 households raise their income above federal poverty thresholds.
• Supported 22 individuals in securing employment, including 14 with full-time jobs that provide benefits.
• Enabled 33 residents to complete specialized certification or vocational training.
• Provided 12 families with emergency assistance to prevent homelessness or utility loss.
• Weatherized and repaired 40 homes, improving energy efficiency and safety for low-income families, seniors, and veterans.
• Delivered early education to 143 children in Head Start and Early Head Start.
Beyond these numbers, shutdown impacts extend to local small businesses that contract with I-CARE to provide job training, HVAC repairs, and energy-efficiency upgrades. When funding is delayed or federal staff cannot approve projects, these contractors experience income losses that ripple through the local economy.
Why It Matters
The Community Services Block Grant is the backbone of I-CARE’s operations. It provides the core infrastructure that allows the agency to coordinate programs like LIHEAP, WAP, and Head Start effectively and efficiently. Without CSBG, these programs would lack the operational foundation to reach families in need.
“The Community Services Block Grant has long received bipartisan support,” Duncan added. “It’s one of the most efficient, locally driven federal programs in existence, and it represents a strong return on investment for taxpayers. But when Washington stops, progress in local communities stops, too.”
Call to Action
I-CARE, its Board of Directors, and the National Community Action Foundation (NCAF) urge Congress and the president to reach an agreement to end the shutdown and ensure that essential staff within the Office of Community Services can resume operations. Without timely federal processing, agencies like I-CARE face growing uncertainty that threatens both families and small businesses across North Carolina.
LEARN MORE
For updates on program services or potential changes, visit www.icare-inc.org.
About I-CARE Inc.
Founded in 1965, I-CARE Inc. empowers individuals and families with low incomes to
achieve self-sufficiency and economic stability. Through programs such as Head Start and
Early Head Start, the Community Services Block Grant, Weatherization Assistance, and workforce development initiatives, I-CARE provides local solutions that promote education, employment, housing, and energy efficiency. Learn more at icare-inc.org.