Housing Families First Community Engagement AmeriCorps VISTA member - Henrico, VA

AmeriCorps VISTA Program

AmeriCorps VISTA was founded as Volunteers in Service to America 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 the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). AmeriCorps VISTA Members make a year-long, full-time commitment to serve on a specific project at a nonprofit organization or public agency. They focus their efforts to build the organizational, administrative, and financial capacity of organizations that fight illiteracy, improve health services, foster economic development, and otherwise assist low-income communities.

Virginia Housing Alliance VISTA Project

Virginia Housing Alliance’s (VHA) AmeriCorps VISTA project is a statewide intermediary project with 17 Host Sites, all that either work to expand affordable housing opportunities and/or end homelessness throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. VHA’s VISTA project aims to develop viable communities by promoting integrated approaches that provide decent housing, suitable living environments, and expand economic opportunities for low and moderate-income persons. This listing is to fill the Host Site opening at Housing Families First located in Richmond, VA.

HFF Community Engagement VISTA Details: 

Housing Families First (HFF) gives families facing homelessness the opportunity to build a family legacy by providing a path to a permanent home. HFF primarily serves families with minor children who are experiencing homelessness in the Greater Richmond region. HFF has just launched a new young adult housing program that not only offers housing help for 18-24-year-old pregnant and parenting youth, but also those living alone. With a focus on dignity and respect, the overarching objective of all HFF programs is to make each household’s homelessness brief, rare, and when possible, one-time only. HFF programs are, in many ways, "on the front lines," where systemic and social challenges can clearly be observed. HFF is looking for a detail-oriented individual to serve as the Community Engagement Coordinator VISTA to strategically strengthen relationships and implement activities with key constituencies, such as volunteers and landlords, in order to increase housing opportunities, support, and onsite services for families experiencing homelessness. By coordinating engagement opportunities, designing stewardship manuals and protocols for outreach, and implementing surveys to collect data regarding areas of improvement, the VISTA will increase HFF’s capacity to better serve the community and address the pressing challenge of homelessness in the region.
 

All applicants must apply via the AmeriCorps portal: HFF AmeriCorps Link

Member Duties: The VISTA will play a critical role in cultivating new and strengthening current landlord and volunteer relationships in order to grow HFF’s programs and services. This will be done through the creation of targeted engagement events, survey implementation to garner feedback, designing policy manuals on successful outreach strategies, and aggregating data in order to identify areas of need. The VISTA member will also focus on strengthening HFF’s overall volunteer management by designing onboarding training, creating recruitment materials, and showcasing the importance and impact of volunteers for the HFF board, community, and funders.

Living Allowance: The HFF VISTA will receive a $877 bi-weekly living allowance.

Program Benefits: Childcare assistance if eligible; choice of $7,395 end-of-service education or $1,800 cash benefit after completing their term; health coverage; living allowance; relocation allowance; training; Professional Development opportunities; 

Terms: Car recommended

Minimum age: 18

Desired education level: Associates degree (AA)

Skills: Communications; research and analysis; computers/technology; writing/editing; community services; urban planning; team work

Position Contact Info

Please contact the VHA VISTA Program Manager, Hannah Moore, at hmoore@vahousingalliance.org or at 910-258-2420 with any questions. Openings will be filled on a rolling basis so applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.