A Permanent Home for Rural Progress
We are building a lasting commons at 407 North Main Street — where mutual aid, civic healing, and collective action have a roof over their heads for generations to come.
WHAT IS THIS PLACE?
A space where local skills and stories meet community needs. We ensure every resident has a seat at the table and access to tools for self-sufficiency.
We act as a navigation point for Washington County — connecting residents to food assistance, housing resources, and emergency relief without duplicating existing services.
A permanent, inclusive sanctuary for organizing, civic healing, and rapid response. Our doors are open to everyone who dreams of a more just Southern Indiana.
✦
COLLABORATION
✦
COMMUNITY
✦
EMPOWERMENT
✦
SUSTAINABILITY
✦
JUSTICE
✦
ACCOUNTABILITY
✦ COLLABORATION ✦ COMMUNITY ✦ EMPOWERMENT ✦ SUSTAINABILITY ✦ JUSTICE ✦ ACCOUNTABILITY
Our Resiliency Hub requires about $2,000 in monthly building infrastructure to maintain its emergency beds, community kitchen, and meeting spaces. Securing our 'Operational Floor' allows our leadership to focus 100% on expanding our programs and securing our permanent home.
Who are we?
OUR DUAL STRUCTURE:
Our 501(c)(3) Coalition handles community support and mutual aid, while our 501(c)(4) Network focuses on systemic advocacy and shifting local power.
The Washington County Community Action Coalition 501(c)3 serves as a hub for social causes, civic engagement, education, and community support. We're not just talking about change—we're building it, together, right here in Washington County.
The Coalition works alongside the Washington County Community Action Network (our 501(c)(4) advocacy arm) to create comprehensive change—from direct community support to systemic advocacy. Together, we're building power from the ground up.
We believe everyone deserves a seat at the table. Whether you're passionate about education, justice, sustainability, or simply want to connect with neighbors who care, this is your space. We're creating a collaborative force that empowers community-led initiatives and builds long-term capacity for real, lasting progress.
How We Serve
Washington County Pride QSA
Weekly meetings, annual celebration
A safe, affirming space for LGBTQ+ individuals and allies. We meet weekly for community building, support, and advocacy work, and host Washington County's annual Pride celebration.
Visit Website →
Community Action Office
Mutual aid, civic engagement, rapid response
A place where people can build the community they want to live in.
Equipped with emergency sleeping quarters and a community kitchen, we serve as a Tier 1 responder during climate and domestic crises.
Indiana Community Action Network (ICAN)
County-to-county collaboration
Building bridges between rural communities across Southern Indiana. We share resources, strategies, and solidarity with organizers in neighboring counties, strengthening our collective power to create change beyond Washington County lines.
Visit Website →
Healing Gallery
Art, storytelling, community ritual
A space where creativity meets healing. We host rotating art exhibitions from local artists, storytelling circles, and community rituals that honor grief, celebrate resilience, and process the work of change together.
OUR VALUES
Collaboration
We unite across causes and identities
Community
Every voice matters, every person counts
Empowerment
We provide space, support, and resources for local leaders
Sustainability
Long-term solutions for people and planet
Accountability
Transparency, integrity, responsibility
Justice
Advancing dignity and human rights for all
Building Permanence
We've found our place at 407 North Main Street—right off the square, visible, accessible. This isn't just a building. It's a commons. And we need your help to make it permanent.
The Coalition (501(c)(3)) rose to serve Washington County by creating a space where social causes, civic engagement, and community support converge. As our community grows, a clear path forward emerges: build permanent infrastructure that ensures this work continues for generations to come.
The Building
Secure the Deed.
Eliminating our monthly mortgage establishes this hub as a permanent community asset.
Community Crossroads
Secure the Corner. A prominent downtown lot at 401–405 N. Main St. is at risk of industrial redevelopment. We're acquiring it to create a permanent public commons—a creative campus for art festivals, music nights, farmers' markets, and a waystation for the Monon South Trail. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to protect Salem's historic heart.