Choanoke Area Development Association of NC, Inc. (CADA) is a Community Action Agency established to serve low-income families and seniors across Bertie, Halifax, Hertford, Northampton, and Martin Counties in eastern North Carolina. The organization operates as a non-profit funded through Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) programs and partners with state and federal agencies including the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency and Department of Health and Human Services.
CADA's mission centers on anti-poverty initiatives and self-sufficiency programs tailored to rural communities with limited access to financial services. CADA offers a comprehensive suite of free and low-cost services including HUD-approved housing counseling through their Foreclosure Prevention and Homeownership Programs, Head Start and Early Head Start early education services, emergency food and shelter assistance, weatherization programs to reduce utility costs, employment services, and parenting programs. The organization also administers Housing Choice Voucher Programs and recently received $162,000 in essential single-family rehabilitation loan funding per county for qualifying homeowners.
Their services target households below 80% of area median income, with specific support for elderly individuals, disabled residents, veterans, and families with young children. CADA distinguishes itself through direct community presence via five county-based service centers staffed with local coordinators who understand regional challenges. Rather than operating as a commercial lender, CADA provides counseling and grants—not loans requiring repayment—making services genuinely accessible to the poorest households.
The organization maintains listed public hearing processes for program planning and publishes annual reports demonstrating accountability to the communities it serves. The primary limitation is geographic scope: services are restricted to five rural North Carolina counties, making CADA unavailable to most consumers. Program capacity appears modest (3-6 housing rehabilitation loans per county annually), meaning waitlists or application windows are likely.
The organization functions as a safety-net provider rather than a comprehensive financial services institution, so consumers needing broader lending products must seek alternative sources.