Vision
CoAction envisions the people of Northwest Indiana flourishing regardless of income, ability, or age.
Mission
People experiencing financial hardship find opportunities, resources, and respect at CoAction.
Values
We care about everybody.
We keep our commitments.
We believe people act with positive intentions.
We are committed to helping others succeed.
History
CoAction was founded in 1965 with a mission to help people be self-sufficient and to advocate for people who need to be supported and represented. As the designated Community Action Agency, the designated Area Agency on Aging, and the local WIC sponsor, CoAction assists approximately 38,000 individuals annually.
CoAction was incorporated as a Community Action Agency, a 501-C-3 private not-for-profit, in February, 1965.
As a Community Action Agency, CoAction plans and carries out a variety of programs that serve the unique needs of low-income families and disabled individuals in Northwest Indiana. The Community Action designation is specific to the counties of Jasper, Lake, Newton and Porter. Services through the Community Action Agency support households with incomes at or below 125% of Federal Poverty Guideline. Services include utility assistance, Housing Choice Voucher Program, Asset Building, Financial Literacy, Family Self-Sufficiency Program, Savings Match Programs, Weatherization of Homes (Lake Co.), Information and Referral Services.
The agency was designated as the Area I Agency on Aging in May, 1974, by the Indiana Commission on Aged and Aging. The focus is to carry out a Federal and State mandate for planning, development and coordination of services that benefit older adults and persons with disabilities that are at risk of institutionalization in the counties of Lake, Porter, Pulaski, Jasper, Newton and Starke. The purpose of the services is to help older adults and individuals with disabilities maintain independence and dignity in a home environment and to remove barriers to independence.
Services through the Area Agency on Aging may include Care Management, Nutrition and Meal Services, Preventative Health and Wellness initiatives, Caregiver Support, Ombudsman and Advocate services.
Although now centralized by the State of Indiana, the 2-1-1 Program was part of CoAction’s services from 2006 – 2018. During that time, callers who dialed 2-1-1 were connected to Information and Referral Specialists at CoAction for local and trusted information.
In October 2015, CoAction was designated to serve as the Sponsor for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in Jasper, Lake, La Porte, Newton, Porter and Pulaski Counties. The WIC Program is a federally funded program through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) with oversight through the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH). WIC is nationally recognized as an effective means for improving access to nutritious foods and promoting healthier eating and lifestyles.
On July 25, 2023, CoAction and Housing Opportunities, a designated Community Housing Development Organization, merged. The merger expanded services to address all of the financial and housing stability needs that clients face, offering them a more streamlined experience to overcome the barriers they encounter. The combined organization created opportunities to serve Northwest Indiana more efficiently, directing more of our resources to serving our neighbors in need.
