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 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 now serve with 24 RT affiliates in 15 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
Early in the 111 Congress, on January 16, 2009, Senators Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts and Orin Hatch of Utah introduced S. 277, the Serve America Act, which is aimed at expanding national and community service opportunities for all Americans, and creates a Clean Energy Service Corps. The bill would add 175,000 more AmeriCorps members, bringing the total authorized number to 250,000. The Serve America Act has been referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Hearings have not been scheduled. So far twenty senators have cosponsored the S.277. A House companion bill has not yet been introduced.
Rebuilding Together Supports S. 277
Rebuilding Together urges all Senators to cosponsor S. 277. 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 the legislation deserves our strong support.