Since 1987, NCRCAP has partnered with more than 200 low-income communities in more than 70 counties to address water, wastewater, and housing needs. NCRCAP has helped to bring more than $40 million in funding into rural communities to finance affordable and environmentally sound water and wastewater facilities and improved housing infrastructure.

NCRCAP provides organizing, technical, and administrative assistance in communities where residents do not have safe or adequate drinking water and/or live with numerous risks posed by inadequate wastewater treatment. When addressing these problems, rural, low wealth communities often face a combination of challenges - political, technical, and economic. NCRCAP will work with residents, community groups, and local officials to better define the severity and extent of the problems, prioritize next steps, and devise strategies to work toward a solution.

The range of activities NCRCAP staff members undertake with a community can include: conducting special needs assessments, helping to form and sustain grassroots community improvement organizations; coordinating community meetings; presenting at public hearings; identifying and procuring assistance of engineers and other professionals; helping with the process of forming a legal entity such as water district; identifying appropriate grant and loan resources and preparing applications; fostering new intergovernmental cooperation when necessary; and acting as a liaison between residents, local governments, and funding agencies.