AmeriCorps VISTA Position at GWRC

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AmeriCorps VISTA Member Position Available!

The George Washington Regional Commission (GWRC) and the Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness (VCEH) are excited to announce the availability of a full-time AmeriCorps VISTA member position to support local efforts to end homelessness in the City of Fredericksburg and Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania, and Stafford Counties. The VISTA member will work locally and with other VISTA members placed across the state to build capacity of the local homeless response system and contribute to statewide efforts to end homelessness.

VISTA Member Duties

VISTA members will work with community leaders, site supervisors, and VCEH to build community capacity to:

1.Evaluate programs and incorporate data driven decision-making: Support efforts to improve homelessness data systems by collecting data and analyzing reports and assisting in coordinating the annual Point in Time census of people experiencing homelessness and other related activities.

2.Shift to permanent housing focused solutions: Create case studies, identify strategies, resources, and partnerships key to successful permanent housing interventions, document program success through pictures and testimonials of consumers and partners, distribute and share best practice examples and build support for programs that work to end homelessness.

3. Increase strategic partnerships: Support community engagement efforts by organizing meetings and events to educate the community and discuss new initiatives and partnerships to support local homelessness efforts.

4. Engage in special initiatives to end veteran and chronic homelessness: Work with local partners to develop and sustain a system that moves veterans experiencing homelessness and persons experiencing chronic homelessness into housing as quickly as possible and provides supports to help individuals maintain housing.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree; At least 18 years of age; US Citizen, National, or Legal Resident
• Commitment to a one year service term, 40 hours per week
• Ability to live in service location
• Looking for applicants with organization and communication skills who are committed, passionate, and quick learners, and who take initiative and think critically
• Experience and/or interest in community collaboration and organizing
• Project management experience with demonstrated organizational skills and ability to manage project deadlines
• Strong analytical, interpersonal, presentation and written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft Word and Excel
• Experience in homelessness, housing, community development, nonprofit management, and other relevant experience is a plus

About the VISTA Program

VISTA ( Volunteers in Service to America) was founded in 1965 as a national service program designed specifically to fight poverty in America. In 1993, VISTA was incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of programs under CNCS ( Corporation for National & Community Service). AmeriCorps VISTA members make a year-long, full-time commitment to serve on a specific project at a nonprofit organization or public agency for a modest living stipend. VISTA members build permanent infrastructure in nonprofit organizations to help them more effectively bring individuals and communities out of poverty.

Benefits of Service

• Monthly living allowance of $973
• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $5,775 OR end-of-service stipend of $1,500
• Healthcare benefits
• Federal student loan forbearance/deferment during service and payment of accrued interest
• Relocation assistance
• Training and professional development opportunities
• Support from VISTA Leader

About GWRC

GWRC provides a broad array of services for the benefit of the 320,000 residents of Planning District 16, including regional environmental, energy-conservation, hazard mitigation and rural transportation planning programs; operation of GWRideConnect, the region’s nationally-recognized rideshare brokerage that facilitates and promotes vanpooling and transit use, and; serving as staff to its sister board, the Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, which is the federally-recognized transportation-planning commission serving Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania and Stafford. GWRC took the reins as the Fredericksburg Regional Continuum of Care’s Lead Agency in summer 2014.

About VCEH

The Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness (VCEH) is the statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness in the Commonwealth of Virginia through capacity building, community collaboration, education, and advocacy. Our work is predicated on the knowledge that there are solutions to homelessness. Our priorities include increasing investment in housing focused solutions including permanent supportive housing and rapid re-housing, and building the capacity of Virginia’s services system to prevent and end homelessness permanently.

Questions? Please Contact:

Kate Gibson, Continuum of Care Coordinator

George Washington Regional Commission

gibson@gwregion.org, 540.642.1579

Philip Armstrong, AmeriCorps VISTA Leader

Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness

philip@vceh.org, 804.332.2096