AmeriCorps ACTION Bill Background and Issue Paper
Aug 8 2008
Rebuilding Together
Rebuilding Together Supports AmeriCorps
Issue and Background
AmeriCorps was created by Congress in 1993 as a part of the Corporation for National and Community Service, an independent federal agency. This domestic version of the Peace Corps is a network of national and community programs that provides challenging opportunities for Americans in education, public safety, health, the environment, and other areas of unmet needs. AmeriCorps members serve between ten months and a year, are paid a modest living stipend, and receive a National Service Educational Award upon the completion of their service.
AmeriCorps is currently authorized to have a maximum of 75,000 positions. Since 1994, over 540,000 adults of all ages and backgrounds have served in AmeriCorps, many of whom – over 70 percent – continue to volunteer in their communities after their service. Each year, AmeriCorps leverages more than $200 million in matching funds from non-federal sources to support members and programs. AmeriCorps members serve over 60 million hours each year to help meet critical community needs.
AmeriCorps programs are administered by non-profits and local government entities, which distribute the funds to participating organizations utilizing AmeriCorps members in pre-approved programs. A previous partnership between Rebuilding Together and AmeriCorps resulted in dramatic increases in capacity and impact. For less than $1 million in funding:
• 13,000 additional RT volunteers were recruited
• $4,469,000 in additional contributions were raised
• 4321 additional low-income homeowners were served
• 3875 repairs were done for low-income elderly and disabled homeowners
• The total market value of these repairs is estimated to be $1,860,000
Rebuilding Together’s CapacityCorps
Rebuilding Together is now one of the organizations administering an AmeriCorps program. In 2008 it launched the Rebuilding Together CapacityCorps, which dramatically increases the capacity and effectiveness of the Rebuilding Together Affiliate Network to meet the home rehab needs of low-income homeowners. Forty-four CapacityCorps AmeriCorps members will serve with 26 RT affiliates in 16 states.
As the leading non-profit organization dedicated to providing free home repair and modification services to homeowners in need, the Rebuilding Together CapacityCorps will offer individuals the chance to make a sustainable impact in grassroots nonprofits and gain valuable leadership experience.
The Rebuilding Together CapacityCorps will address the lack of warm, safe, and dry homes for an additional 3000 low-income homeowners across the US who are either elderly or disabled, or both. Currently, millions of low-income homeowners live in unsafe and substandard conditions, and risk declining health and assets as a result of their housing disrepair. The growth of low-income elderly and disabled households means that more and more are placed in the position of choosing between vital necessities, such as food or medicine, and a roof that does not leak. To meet the growing demand caused by the rapidly aging population and the increase in low-income homeowners, more community volunteers are needed to increase the quantity and quality of home rehabilitation and home repair for low-income elderly and disabled homeowners. Serving with Rebuilding Together Affiliates, CapacityCorps members will help increase the affiliates’ impact, effectiveness and sustainability by recruiting and managing volunteers, performing direct home repairs, doing outreach to find homeowners to serve, building community partnerships, and creating new programs that serve homeowners in need.
Federal Legislation and Status
Senator Christopher Dodd of Connecticut introduced S. 3037, the ACTION Act (AmeriCorps: Together Improving Our Nation Act), on May 20, 2008. It would raise the National Service Educational Award from $4725 to $6185; make the award tax exempt; provide for better coordination between AmeriCorps and federal agencies carrying out national service programs; and give cabinet level status to the chief executive officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service. S. 3037 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Hearings have not been scheduled. To date, 12 Senators have cosponsored S. 3037.
Rebuilding Together Supports S. 3037
Rebuilding Together favors the enactment of S. 3037 and urges Senators to join in support as cosponsors. As a non-profit whose core principals are founded on the power of community volunteer work, Rebuilding Together believes AmeriCorps provides a vital partnership with the federal government. The government’s support for the community work of non-profits like Rebuilding Together is critically needed, and Senator Dodd’s legislation deserves our strong support.
Back to information about this bill
Download
(319 KB, DOC)
Resource type: Editorial