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Phone (419) 784-5136 | Address: 1933 E 2nd Street Defiance, Ohio 43512

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Proudly Serving Northwestern Ohio

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The MISSION of Northwestern Ohio
Community Action Commission, Inc.

Northwestern Ohio Community Action Commission is dedicated to minimizing effects of poverty
by connecting individuals to opportunities and resources that support a secure future.

Meals are Provided

Meals are provided at our Head Start Centers and
Summer Food Service Program sites to help meet
nutritional needs.

Publicly Funded Child Care providers

NOCAC recruits, trains and monitors Publicly Funded
Child Care providers.

Head Start and Early Childhood Education Programs

The agency operates Head Start and Early Childhood
Education programs to prepare children and their
families for kindergarten success.

Partnership Assistance to the Homeless Center

Our PATH (Partnership Assistance to the Homeless)
Center provides free nutritious meals,
socialization, and educational programs with a
focus on serving area homeless persons.

Weatherization & Home Repair Programs

Weatherization & Home Repair programs make homes
safe, comfortable, and energy efficient while reducing
the heating and cooling costs.

Financial Empowerment Program

The Financial Empowerment Program is designed to
assist low-to-moderate income families and
individuals to achieve their financial goals.

Our PATH Soup Kitchen/Drop-In Center

Daily meals are provided and commodities are
distributed monthly at our PATH Soup Kitchen/Drop-In Center.

CONSUMER & COMMUNITY SERVICES

Child Care

The NOCAC Publicly Funded Child Care Program, funded through the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, assists eligible families from Auglaize, Defiance, Fulton, Hancock, Hardin, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert, or Williams counties in locating and/or paying for child care for their children ages birth to 13 years of age. Services are also available in Henry County. Interested individuals can also become licensed child care providers.

Early Childhood Education – Preschool
Preschool services are provided for children age three to five and their families in Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Paulding and Williams counties. Services are also available in Van Wert county. These services include education, parent involvement, nutrition and health to promote school readiness and success.

Emergency Assistance
NOCAC has a variety of funding sources and programs available to assist low-income households with the high costs of utilities and help avoid the disconnection of utility services. Our knowledgeable staff can also educate customers about available budget plans and local resources.

 

Schedule Appointments Online or call our 24 hour appointment hotline at 1-419-219-4641
Financial Empowerment
The Financial Opportunity Center (FOC) is designed to assist low-to-moderate income families and individuals to achieve their financial goals.

 

Health & Nutrition
NOCAC encourages good nutrition by connecting families to available resources. Programs promote food security and teach healthy eating choices.

Housing
Programs provide housing services for individuals and/or families to obtain stable housing and supportive services.

Homelessness
If you are in need of emergency shelter or homelessness assistance, please call 419-990-5135 to access available services.

Weatherization & Home Repair
Northwestern Ohio Community Action Commission operates programs to increase the safety and energy efficiency of homes for low-income individuals and families. These services are provided free of charge to eligible participants.

Background Webchecks - Fingerprinting
NOCAC is registered with the State of Ohio as a WebCheck® Community provider. Appointments are necessary, please call 419-784-2150, ext 1100 to schedule. Staff are normally available from 8:00 am  – 11:00 am and 1:00 pm – 3:20 pm Monday through Thursday.

 

News & Events

Summer Crisis Program

The Summer Cooling Program will run 07/01/2025 through 9/30/2025.   The program will offer the following assistance: Payment towards your electric bill. Air conditioner and/or fan Central air unit repair (up to $1500) Who is Eligible: Those 60 or over OR Those with a...

Child Care Providers Needed

The NOCAC Publicly Funded Childcare Program, funded through the Ohio Department of Children and Youth, assists eligible families from Auglaize, Defiance, Fulton, Hancock, Hardin, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert, and Williams counties in locating and/or paying for childcare...

Summer Food Service Program 2025

Nutritious lunches and fun activities will be available through NOCAC’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) again this year. The program will run June 2nd and end July 24th.  (No lunches will be served on June 19th, June 20th, July 3rd or July 4th.) Locations: Defiance...

Head Start Enrollment

Now Enrolling for the 2025–2026 School Year! NOCAC Head Start is currently accepting applications. Head Start is a free, comprehensive early childhood program designed to support pregnant women and children from birth to age 5 in low-income families. Our services are...

PATH Center Services

NOCAC’s PATH Center is a soup kitchen/drop-in center that focuses on serving homeless persons, those with mental disabilities, or those who have food or nutritional needs – but all are welcome!  A hot nutritious meal is served each weekday between 12:00 and 1:00 pm. ...

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Open Positions (2025/2026 school year)

Teacher Assistant – Head Start Program

What is a Living Wage in Ohio?

Need To Schedule An Appointment For Emergency Assistance?

24 Hour Appointment Hotline

HEAP, PIPP, Utility Assistance & Other Emergency Needs

1-419-219-4641 or Schedule Online

Applications

Volunteering with NOCAC

Employment Application

HEAP Application – English

HEAP Application – Spanish

Head Start Application – English

Head Start Application – Spanish

PFCC Application for Child Care Benefits

Volunteering with NOCAC

Resource Guide

The Community Resource Guide is a comprehensive inventory of programs and services available to the residents of Northwest Ohio.

View Resource Guide

What Our Consumers Are Saying

Choices That Shouldn’t Have To Be Made – My husband has experienced serious health problems over the last few years. If it weren’t for the HEAP program, we would have had to choose between electricity or medicine. It’s one thing to get help; however, it’s another thing to get help and not to be made to feel like a number or even more depressing and worthless. NOCAC staff was warm and friendly when I needed it. Thanks!

-Direct Consumer Quote

What Our Consumers Are Saying

The Work is a Blessing – Everyone was super helpful with all my questions.  Each employee walked me through each step.  They came out and fixed our furnace and windows and sealed doors and fixed the insulation in our attic.  Your program gave us a little ease off our stress and our heating bills dropped since repairs.  The work is a blessing and is amazing…

– Direct Consumer Quote

What Our Consumers Are Saying

You Made It Great – For those of us that find ourselves in a position of need, especially since I used to be able to just work and meet my own needs, it is hard to ask for help and also hard to be looked at as if somehow we are “less” because we are not able to provide for ourselves all of the time. But at no time have I felt that way with anyone I have come across in the weatherization program so to simply say “THANK YOU” sounds so small compared to what I feel inside. The crew will always be in my thoughts because to me they went above and beyond what was asked of them and they did it with such kindness!

– Direct Consumer Quote

What Our Consumers Are Saying

A Family Support System – The Head Start Program gave me free education for my child. We would be struggling to pay preschool tuition without the program. Head Start has been such a god-send to our family. We have been through a lot in our lives. I had some bad family times and Head Start always helped me when needed. They always understood my needs and my children’s. The teachers are absolutely amazing and so supportive of the family. We love and cherish the program and the effort behind it.

– Direct Consumer Quote

What Our Consumers Are Saying

A Hand Up – I would be going without the basics of life without this program. Maybe forced to use a payday advance system which would make matters worse. I am middle aged with a disabled spouse. I lost a full-time job of 28 years that paid $18/hour and now work a part-time minimum wage job. The CAC has been a godsend to help us through the tough times of our lives. They have provided information and direction on outside resources. The staff are professional and friendly. They’re a HAND UP not a HAND OUT. Thank you for your services.

– Direct Consumer Quote

Serving Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Paulding, Van Wert and Williams Counties

NOCAC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations.

 

This website is supported by Grant Number 05CH012998 from the Office of Head Start within the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Neither the Administration for Children and Families nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided).  The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of Northwestern Ohio Community Action Commission, Inc. and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Administration for Children and Families and the Office of Head Start.