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Strengthening AmeriCorps
Strengthening 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 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.
On April 21, 2009, the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, a bipartisan bill signed into law by President Barack Obama, expanded opportunities for millions of Americans to serve through increased support for local and national service organizations throughout the country, administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, enabled stronger public private partnerships in support of local and national service organizations, and encouraged innovative approaches to solving problems in communities across the country. The bill more than tripled the number of AmeriCorps members authorized from 75,000 to 225,000 by 2016.
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. The partnership between Rebuilding Together and AmeriCorps has resulted in dramatic increases in capacity and impact. For less than $1 million in funding:
· 37,839 community volunteers recruited or managed by CapacityCorps members
· 358,674 hours served by community volunteers recruited or managed by CapacityCorps members
· $650,741 in non-cash resources generated and in-kind donations generated by CapacityCorps members
· $958,323 in cash resources generated through grants, donations and fundraising by CapacityCorps members
· 11,543 low-income homeowners were assisted by CapacityCorps members
· 3,445 homes repaired or rebuilt either directly by the CapacityCorps members or homes were repaired or rebuilt due to the capacity built by the member.
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. Sixty-four CapacityCorps AmeriCorps members now serve with 31 RT affiliates in 19 states.
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. Sixty-four CapacityCorps AmeriCorps members now serve with 31 RT affiliates in 19 states.
As the leading non-profit organization dedicated to providing home repair and modification services at no charge 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.
Federal Legislation and Status
In the 112 Congress, both the House and the Senate have been debating how best to fund critical priorities in light of the economy, the annual deficits that the country has been running and the countries long-term debt. The debates have included AmeriCorps and the question of whether and how to fund the Serve America Act, which was passed in 2009. Every year the Senate and the House must eventually agree to legislation that provides an agreed upon level of funding for the Corporation for National and Community Service and AmeriCorps. Rebuilding Together supports funding for AmeriCorps and the Corporation because so many affiliates in the network have seen that AmeriCorps works and is cost-efficient. The average AmeriCorps costs about $7,500 in Federal funds, while leveraging more than $200 million in matching funds from non-federal sources to support members and programs and generating over 100 million in volunteer hours, while bringing Americans of all ages together to solve the pressing problems we face as a nation. AmeriCorps members themselves serve over 60 million hours each year to help meet critical community needs.
In the 112 Congress, both the House and the Senate have been debating how best to fund critical priorities in light of the economy, the annual deficits that the country has been running and the countries long-term debt. The debates have included AmeriCorps and the question of whether and how to fund the Serve America Act, which was passed in 2009. Every year the Senate and the House must eventually agree to legislation that provides an agreed upon level of funding for the Corporation for National and Community Service and AmeriCorps. Rebuilding Together supports funding for AmeriCorps and the Corporation because so many affiliates in the network have seen that AmeriCorps works and is cost-efficient. The average AmeriCorps costs about $7,500 in Federal funds, while leveraging more than $200 million in matching funds from non-federal sources to support members and programs and generating over 100 million in volunteer hours, while bringing Americans of all ages together to solve the pressing problems we face as a nation. AmeriCorps members themselves serve over 60 million hours each year to help meet critical community needs.
Rebuilding Together Supports Funding for AmeriCorps
Rebuilding Together supports funding for AmeriCorps as a sound investment in serving the housing needs of our neighbors in communities across the country. We urge all Senators and Representatives to support funding for AmeriCorps in the Fiscal Year 2012 budget. 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 legislation funding this critical priority deserves our strong support.
Rebuilding Together supports funding for AmeriCorps as a sound investment in serving the housing needs of our neighbors in communities across the country. We urge all Senators and Representatives to support funding for AmeriCorps in the Fiscal Year 2012 budget. 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 legislation funding this critical priority deserves our strong support.