Quincy Community Action Programs

Specialties

Quincy Community Action Programs, Inc. (QCAP) is a leading private nonprofit organization in the Greater Quincy area dedicated to reducing poverty and helping low-​income people achieve self-​sufficiency. QCAP was incorporated in 1965 and is one of 24 Community Action Agencies in Massachusetts. QCAP serves approximately 19,000 unduplicated people annually. Our service area includes Quincy, Weymouth, Braintree, Milton, Hull and surrounding Norfolk County, Metro Boston, and South Shore Communities.

Services are delivered through eight main departments which include: Community Care for Kids, Education and Workforce Development, the Emergency Food Center, Energy Programs, Facilities and Properties, Financial Literacy and Asset Formation services, Head Start, and Housing Programs.

History

Established in 1965.

In 1964, Quincy Mayor Della Chiesa appointed 24 residents to form the Quincy Community Action Organization (QCAO) to «extend economic opportunities to the citizens of Quincy.» With funds from the Office of Economic Opportunity, created by President Johnson to fight the national «War on Poverty», two citizen committees in Quincy’s poorest neighborhoods — Southwest Quincy and Germantown — were established to involve low-​income residents in making decisions about programs and services, and to develop local solutions to poverty. Over time, and with extensive community outreach and leadership training, the residents of these neighborhoods identified health, nutrition and housing as priorities.

Today, Quincy Community Action Programs (QCAP) has expanded programs to reach a service area consisting of more than 80 communities.