Community Action Partners

Community Action Agency for Tarrant County

CAP serves as your Tarrant County Community Action Agency (CAA). CAAs are local organizations that provide a wide range of services to support low-income individuals and families. Their primary goal is to reduce poverty, increase self-sufficiency and improve the quality of life for disadvantaged communities. 

• Energy assistance: Provide assistance with utility bills, provide weatherization services and offer programs to improve energy efficiency in homes.
• Housing assistance: CAAs assist with rental and mortgage payments.
• Employment services: They offer job training, resume writing, job search assistance and other services to help people find and maintain employment.
• Financial education: CAAs provide budgeting, credit counseling and financial literacy programs to help individuals manage their finances.
• Community development: CAAs work on broader community improvement projects, including infrastructure development, neighborhood revitalization and advocacy for social policies that benefit low-income populations.
• Emergency services: When the Texas governor declares a state of emergency, CAAs may be able to offer additional services.

Overall, Community Action Agencies are a vital resource for helping vulnerable populations achieve economic stability and improve their overall well-being.

For all household members provide:

• Benefit verification letters, such as Social Security award letters, TANF letters, SSI letters and other benefits received in the past year.   

• Proof of U.S. legal residency for all household members. This can include passports, birth certificates or green cards.

For head of household and all household members age 18 and above provide:

• A Texas driver’s license or a student ID issued by the government.

• Proof of income for all household members age 18 and above in the past 30 days. This can include recent pay stubs, award letters, SSI pension letters or any other relevant documents. If no income is available, use the Declaration of Income Form.

• A copy of your most recent utility bill, showing the company’s letterhead, account number and the payment due date

For in-person application sessions, bring copies of your documents. For online applications, be ready to upload your documents to the online portal.

CAP Centers

Questions & Answers

What is the Community Action Partners (CAP) program?

The CAP program serves as Tarrant County’s Community Action Agency, helping economically disadvantaged individuals, families and older adults. Services include energy, housing, financial and employment assistance.

What types of assistance does CAP offer? 

• Utility bills and weatherization.

• Rental/mortgage payments and housing counseling (on a case-by-case basis).

• Job training and employment services (on a case-by-case basis).

• Financial literacy and budgeting.

• Emergency resources such as food and shelter.

Who is eligible to apply for CAP services?

To qualify, applicants must:

• Live in Tarrant County.

• Meet income eligibility requirements.

• Be the account holder or authorized user for utility assistance or the leaseholder for rental/mortgage assistance.

• Additionally, proof of income is required for ALL household members over 18.

What documents do I need to apply? 

• A driver’s license or government-issued photo ID.

• Proof of income for household members over 18 (e.g., pay stubs, SSI letters).

• Benefit verification letters (e.g., Social Security, TANF).

• A recent utility bill.

• Proof of U.S. residency status for household members 18 and older.

How do I apply for assistance?

Pre-registration is now mandatory for applicants seeking assistance and ensures your appointment. You must show your pre-registration (Eventbrite) ticket on your smartphone or a printed version at the line. We are pleased to announce the availability of future intake session dates for CAP applications. Additionally, we anticipate the imminent release of our online application system. Please check this website as we post the dates and time schedule. 

What priority is given?

Services are provided on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given to vulnerable populations such as seniors, individuals with disabilities and families with young children.

Will there be community intake sessions in 2025?

CAP will organize scheduled outreach intake sessions throughout the year and will post the schedules closer to the event times on our website and social media platforms.

Where are CAP centers located?

CAP services are available at several community centers across Tarrant County:

• Como Community Center

• Worth Heights Community Center

• Northside Community Center

• Andrew "Doc" Session Community Center

• North-Tri Ethnic Community Center

• Fort Worth City Hall  

• Arlington CAP Center

• For directions, visit the CAP Center Locations page.

What happens after I submit my application?

Once submitted online, your application will be reviewed for eligibility, and you will be contacted if additional documentation or information is needed.

How can I stay updated on CAP services?

Subscribe to City News and follow CAP on social media platforms such as Facebook and YouTube.

Leadership

Michelle Doonkeen, LCSW

Assistant Director - Neighborhood Services

• MSW from Howard University
• BA from UT Austin

Doonkeen brings more than 20 years' experience working at ACH Child and Family Services in a variety of leadership positions. Her career focus has centered around community services, counseling/therapy, crisis intervention services, leadership, homelessness, trauma, research, and children and families. Prior to ACH, she held positions in research at a non-profit and a university.

Vision Statement

To change people’s lives, embody the spirit of hope, improve communities and make Tarrant County a better place to live.