City Vision Internship: Grace Resources, Inc.

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City Vision Internships is a Christian one-year, multi-year or summer internship program based on the AmeriCorps model. Interns serve at one of over 40 positions across the USA and Canada. In the past 10 years, we have placed over 500 full-time interns and 68,000 volunteers in hundreds of Christian ministries.

For more information or to apply visit cityvisioninternships.org.

The Lancaster Community Shelter is an emergency shelter located in the Antelope Valley of California. The Lancaster Community Shelter services single men, single women and families. We are the only year-round emergency shelter for at least 60 miles in any direction. We became an extension of the services of Grace Resource Center on July 1, 2011 and a member of the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions May, 2012. Grace Resources is a non-denominational Christian 501c3 non-profit organization. We still feel like the "new kids on the block" and are learning more and more every day about serving the homeless community. It has been an exciting journey. We want to be intentional about inviting growing leadership into our journey. We think we can do this through the development of a good internship program for individuals who are interested in pursuing ministry, working with the poor, managing non-profit organizations, counseling, etc. If you like being on the cutting edge of developing ministry and have a heart for the homeless, our internship program may be the opportunity for you.

Description: Internship dates can be flexible. The intern will serve in full range of opportunities that will allow one to experience many aspects of serving the homeless population.

• Food Services: The intern will have an opportunity to work in our food services department 8-12 hours a week and be exposed to the struggles, joys and necessities of providing meals for a large homeless population. No food experience will be required. You will be required to attain a food handler license when you come, but we will cover the cost.
• Singles Services: The intern will work with our services to singles who participate in the overnight emergency programs. Through serving alongside the resident attendant, the intern will learn the stories and the special needs and struggles of women and men who are homeless. Men would work with men, women with women.
• Family Services: Interns will work closely with the Family Case Manager, assisting her in expanding our services to the children.
• Programming: Interns will be encouraged to evaluate their own gifts, talents and personality and use those in away that creates reproducible programs and services that will assist in serving the homeless community in moving forward and encountering Christ.
• Education: The intern will be given defined periods of time to complete the necessary academic requirements of the college she/he attends.

For Interns without a Bachelors Degree: One Year Work Study Internship

• Provides a work study internship with free tuition in City Vision College for a full year paid by hosting ministry.
• Online courses providing accredited degrees in Nonprofit Management, Addiction Studies, and Urban Missions.
• Room and board is provided by hosting ministry.
• Any Pell grant or other federal financial aid paid as cash payment to student (up to $5,645).
• Expectation is typically 29 hours of volunteer work with 16 hours of class work per week (45 hours total).

For Interns with a Bachelors Degree: One Year Paid Internship

• Room and board is provided by hosting ministry.
• Volunteer Interns paid a living stipend of $200 a month.
• Free tuition in City Vision College for a full year paid by hosting ministry. (Optional)
• Expectation is typically 40 hours of volunteer work per week.

Site-specific Provisions

• Private room on the shelter campus. Up to 2 people can stay in each unit w/ a shared bathroom.
• 2 meals a day plus access to weekly groceries.
• Access to a computer and the internet.
• Access to use of the shelter van during non-service hours with an approved driving record.
• 5 days of vacation during the year and arrangement of the schedule that will allow the intern to enjoy the many beautiful and exciting opportunities provided by living in Southern California.
• Assistance in connecting to a healthy Bible church for the duration of the internship and "adoption" by a family in that church.

Requirements

• At least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or equivalent (GED)
• U.S. or Canadian citizen, U.S. or Canadian national or lawful permanent resident alien, or have a valid student or work visa
• Must be a Christian and in full agreement with the statement of faith and code of ethics of the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions.
• Active and faithful at a local church with a pastor or ministry leader that is willing to write a recommendation.
• Able to make at least a one year (or summer) commitment (may be extended by mutual agreement)
• Able to relocate at their own expense to Lancaster, California for one year.
• Able to financially live on just free room and board (and stipend if you opt for the One Year Paid Internship) and any outside income sources you have without a second job during the internship.
• Able to maintain good academic standing at the college.
• Single woman or man or couple with no more than one child.
• Able to read, write and speak English at the high school level or above.

For more information or to apply visit cityvisioninternships.org .

For more information about this site visit Lancaster Community Shelter .