AmeriCorps

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Michigan’s Campaign to End Homelessness AmeriCorps Program

Full-Time Member Position Description

POSITION TITLE: AmeriCorps Member

POSITION TYPE: This position is full-time and the member must serve a minimum of 1700 hours by the end date.

DURATION OF TERM: October 6, 2014 - October 2, 2015

REPORTS TO (daily): Mellena Martinez, AmeriCorps Host Site Supervisor

REPORTS TO (overall): CTEH Program Director, Shanelle Oliver

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

Michigan’s Campaign to End Homelessness (CTEH) AmeriCorps Program will support service providers by increasing their capacity to offer assistance to homeless and at-risk individuals and families. Specifically, the AmeriCorps members in the CTEH program will provide services that will increase an individual’s self-sufficiency in the area of income and life skills.

CLASSIFICATION

According to the National and Community Service Act of 1990, AmeriCorps members are not considered employees of the agency where they serve, nor are they employees of the program or the federal government. As such, members cannot engage in activities performed by employees of the host agency or otherwise displace employees.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Marketing, Outreach, & Education:

• Attending community meetings and events to promote homeless services, educate self on community resources, and educate community on AmeriCorps
• Attending and actively participating in local Continuum of Care (CoC) meetings
• Conducting street outreach to homeless clients
• Developing marketing materials for dissemination
• Conducting workshops related to income and/or housing education for homeless clients;
• Providing information to potential clients through visits to soup kitchens, shelters, and other locations in the community where homeless or at-risk may gather
• Speaking at other educational events
• Reaching out and developing partnerships with other community organizations, schools, government agencies, businesses and individuals, etc.
• Assist with the augmentation and development of community resources including the Oakland County Affordable Housing Catalog, the Felony Friendly landlord list and take an active role in the planning process of county-wide events such as the Oakland County Landlord Breakfast and the Landlord Networking Forum
  • Attend community forums and events as applicable to promote resources and programs while also recruit for volunteers
  • Conduct outreach as part of a team and participating screening potential program participants, providing services and linkage to those the outreach team may encounter that do not meet Community Programs’ requirements
  • Serving in the Housing Resource Center and meeting with people who are experiencing a "housing crisis" to develop housing goals and action steps while reviewing community resources, programs and choices related to program participant’s situation

Financial & Other Education:

• Explaining the housing process and resources available
• Providing assistance with the creation of household budgets
• Creating informational materials for clients on appropriate housing/income topics
• Organizing and facilitating advisory board or community meetings for clients, to discuss topics such as budgeting, housing, or income assistance
• Assisting in teaching CHN Renter’s Readiness Workshop

Homeless Information and Housing Assistance:

• Maintaining regular contact with other local service providers to make appropriate referrals to their programs
• Receiving training for and conducting Housing Quality Standard (HQS) or Habitability Inspections for potential client housing
• Gathering and dispersing food, including the Starbucks donations, and/or clothing donations to clients
• Visiting clients that have been moved into housing to provide additional support
• Visit program participants that have been moved into housing at intervals deemed appropriate by the host agency and provide additional support as needed to the client after housing has been secured

Housing/Homeless Intake & Triage:

• Assisting the Housing Resource Community Coordinators with ESG/PATH Assessment appointments by investigating county-wide housing information specific to the program participant and their household.
• Be active in the housing transition program development. This program focuses on providing persons who are experiencing the most barriers, with housing case management services and assists, advocates and provides linkage to additional supports, services and assistance to overcome obstacles that hinders their ability to obtain or sustain housing. This will include but not limited to conducting face to face, follow up appointments with program participants, researching additional supports and resources available in the community on the program participants’ behalf and coordinates services with their landlord, case manager and other natural supports to ensure that they are being successful in t heir housing plan.
• Answering incoming calls for homeless client counseling and completing basic client intake information over the phone or in person
• Answering basic questions on homeless issues that do not require an appointment
• Working with the client to compile all necessary documents for the housing counseling session
• Determining the urgency of clients’ need for resources and services and working with counselors/social workers to ensure clients receive assistance in a timely manner
• Scheduling, promoting and conducting group intake events to maximize the number of clients able to receive assistance
• The member will conduct intakes for individuals that do not meet Community Programs’ requirements at the HOPE Center on Thursday evenings
  • Working with clients to identify and develop the best strategy and action steps for achieving their desired outcome
  • Helping clients apply for or referring clients to additional services such as utility assistance, food stamps, legal assistance, employments services, or social security benefits, etc.

Personal and Professional Development:

• Creating a professional development plan in conjunction with the host site supervisor that will build upon already established skills and hone new skills
• Attending member orientation, once-monthly CTEH conference calls, quarterly meetings and other events relevant to CTEH service
• Attending Michigan’s AmeriCorps Member Celebration
• Attending Michigan’s AmeriCorps Signature Service Project
• Submit quarterly reports by the deadlines provided, with all necessary information provided;
• Recruiting and training a minimum of 25 volunteers over the course of the service year and measure the volunteer’s change in knowledge regarding homelessness
• Taking part in three Corporation for National and Community Service sponsored National Days of Service
  • Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service (January 20, 2014)
  • National AmeriCorps Week (March 8 - 15, 2014)
  • 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance (September 11, 2014)
• Planning and implementing a service project for one of the aforementioned days of service which helps to address homelessness in their community
• Foster relationships with community leaders and businesses to secure in-kind support for endeavors such as Project Homeless Connect
• Developing community service projects related to homelessness, such as a Project Homeless Connect or a poverty simulation
• Offering holiday services to clients such as Adopt a Family

RESTRICTIONS

No more than 20 percent of the member’s total time can be spent on fundraising or training activities.

DESIRED SKILLS

• Ability to work independently, conceptualize projects and manage multiple priorities
• Basic computer skills including familiarity with word processing, EXCEL, and desktop publishing
• Information research skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Story interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community
• Flexibility to operate some evening and weekend hours

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national or a lawful, permanent resident of the U.S. and provide a copy of a birth certificate, passport or permanent resident card to prove citizenship
• Completion of some college or comparable work experience
• Must be able to complete a full term of service (one year)
• Pass the following criminal history checks: State of Michigan, DHS Central Registry Clearance, FBI fingerprinting, and National Sex Offender Registry
• Must arrange appropriate childcare prior to service, if needed
• Have a car or be able to arrange reliable transportation to and from service site and mandatory training sessions, individual must have and agree to maintain motor vehicle liability insurance that meets organization minimum coverage levels throughout their entire service commitment
• Possess proficiency with word processing software and email
• Ability to interact respectfully with individuals from diverse socio-economic backgrounds

COMPENSATION

• A stipend totaling $12,100, paid bi-weekly over the course of the service year
• Upon successful completion of the term, an education award totaling $5,645
• Health insurance, provided for by the program

TO APPLY

To apply for this position, please visit

https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=33165&fromSearch=true

and complete all information requested on the online application. Applications are due Friday August 15, 2014. Applications received after this deadline and incomplete applications will not be considered. This position starts on Friday October 3 rd, 2014.

Questions may be sent via email to mmartinez@chninc.net.