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HOW AN AFFILIATE CAN HOST A VISTA
Program Description
Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota (HFH-MN) has operated a VISTA program since 1999. In that time over 138 VISTA positions have been awarded to 27 different affiliates. VISTA is an acronym for "Volunteers In Service To America" and is sometimes described as the domestic equivalent of the Peace Corps. Volunteers
commit to a year of service at a Habitat affiliate with the goal
of increasing the affiliate’s organizational capacity. The four most
typical work plans elements for a Habitat VISTA are: 1) strengthening
affiliate committees, 2) creating new, self-sustaining programs (i.e.
ReStore, Youth United, Church Relations, etc.), 3.) developing public
relations resources and materials, and 4) increasing volunteer participation
in the affiliate. VISTAs typically work 40 hours per week for which
they receive an annual living allowance ranging from $10,296 – 10,692
in Greater Minnesota to $11,232 in the Twin Cities. Health benefits
as well as student loan forbearance and childcare benefits (for those
who qualify) are provided. The VISTA member also elects to receive
either a $5,350 education award or a $1,500 cash award at the end
of their year of service. VISTA is a federally funded program managed
by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). The Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota VISTA program is
funded by a grant from the Minnesota State office of the Corporation
for National and Community Service.  
Affiliate Responsibilities
Minnesota Habitat for Humanity affiliates hosting VISTA members are subject to the following requirements:
- VISTA Mileage – Each affiliate is responsible for reimbursing the work related travel costs for their VISTA. Travel costs include mileage to events including affiliate meetings, community meetings and HFH-MN sponsored VISTA trainings and gatherings. Travel expenses for the VISTA PSO training will be covered by CNCS.
- Supervision – The award of a VISTA position to an affiliate is conditioned upon the affiliate providing appropriate supervision for the VISTA. Affiliates should identify one person to serve as the primary VISTA supervisor. The designated supervisor must dedicate some portion of their time each week to VISTA supervision. VISTAs experiencing less than satisfactory supervision may request reassignment to another affiliate.
- Support – In order to support a VISTA member adequately affiliates must have an office space with access to a desk/workspace as well as office tools and technology including a telephone, fax, computer with internet and email, and other standard office equipment.
- VISTA Workplan – Affiliates are required to provide each VISTA member with a workplan that outlines the goals, objectives and tasks for their service year. Workplans will be reviewed and approved by the VISTA Committee and the CNCS office prior to the placement of a VISTA member. The VISTA workplan should focus on indirect service activities that build the capacity of the affiliate, see this sample workplan (PDF). HFH-MN recognizes from time to time exceptional circumstances may require the VISTA to perform direct service activities for a brief amount of time. The continued assignment of direct service activities to a VISTA will be considered a violation of the spirit of the program and further VISTA assignments will not be considered.
- VISTA Recruitment – Ultimate responsibility for recruiting and interviewing VISTA members rests with the affiliate. HFH-MN provides support to recruitment efforts through the following activities:
1) Electronic Recruiting / Web Sites
2) Job Fairs
3) Job Postings through colleges and universities.
- Orientation – Affiliates hosting VISTA members are required to prepare an on-site-training and orientation plan which details how the VISTA will spend the first two weeks of their tenure learning about Habitat, the affiliate, their community, and generally settling in to the position. See a sample VISTA orientation plan (Word).
- Quarterly Reports – Each VISTA supervisor is to complete a report with their VISTA member detailing activities and results related to the approved VISTA work plan on a quarterly basis. See a sample quarterly progress report form (Word).
- Memorandum of Understanding – The rights and responsibilities of the affiliate and HFH-MN are documented and affirmed in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) (PDF) signed by the affiliate and HFH-MN prior to the recruitment of a VISTA member.
- VISTA Supervisor Training – Certain components of the VISTA training program are best experienced by the VISTAs with their supervisors in attendance. The supervisor is expected to participate in these training components. Specifically, the supervisor is required to attend the first VISTA training in September. In addition, new VISTA supervisors are required to participate in a one-day training provided by HFH-MN in the spring or a CNCS sponsored supervisor training in the Chicago area.
- Program Fees – In order to cover costs associated with the HFH-MN VISTA Program and to meet the matching requirements of the VISTA grant, affiliates are required to pay a non-refundable program fee. VISTA program fees for the 2008-2009 program year are $3000. All fees must be submitted along with the affiliate’s signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) prior to the recruitment and selection of VISTA members. Again, VISTA fees are non-refundable.
Affiliate Application Process
- Electronic Applications – To facilitate a more efficient process and use of application materials, applications are submitted electronically as a Microsoft Word document. The application consists of a set of questions that the affiliate composes responses to and then e-mails to HFH-MN. This process greatly improves our ability to post work plan / position requirement information web sites and transmit this type of information to potential recruits.
- Format – Application materials will be emailed to all affiliates in early January. The application includes a set of 12 questions and a workplan outlining the goals, objectives, tasks, and measurable outcomes the VISTA will achieve.
- Supplemental Materials – Board Approved Personnel Policy/Employee Handbook
New this year, Affiliates applying to host a VISTA member are required to submit the most current copy of their Personnel Policy/Employee Handbook to Habitat Minnesota. The document may be submitted electronically or in paper form. At a minimum, the document must include the following:
- month and year the policy was approved or last revised by the Board of Directors
- non-discrimination policy
- sexual harassment policy
- complaint or grievance process
- list of holidays for which employees have paid leave
(This list is derived from the standards outlined in the HFHI Quality Assurance checklist. For more information refer to page 25 of the Quality Assurance Checklist Affiliate Support Guide available on MyHabitat/Partnernet.)
Affiliates that do not currently have a board approved personnel policy/employee handbook are eligible to apply for a VISTA member. However, if the VISTA application is approved, the affiliate will be required to have a board approved personnel policy/employee handbook on file with Habitat Minnesota no later than June 30, 2009.
Please note the following important dates and requirements:
January 29, 2010 – VISTA Host Affiliate Application Training – all
affiliates applying to host a VISTA
are required to send a representative
to this training. Affiliates that do
not attend will not be eligible for
a VISTA placement. Send email to RSVP for this event.
January 29, 2010 – Deadline to submit VISTA application and workplan
draft for HFH-MN review and feedback.
Please send electronically as an email attachment.
February 12, 2010 – Final draft of VISTA application and workplan due
to HFH-MN by 5 pm. Please send electronically
as an email attachment.
VISTA Host Affiliate Application (Word) for 2010-2011 Program Year.
Work Plan Template (Word)
Measureable Outcomes document (PDF)
- Describe the affiliate's history and community development track record.
- Describe the affordable housing situation in the affiliate's service area (include data about family income, cost of rental housing, cost of single-family homes, etc.).
- Describe the affiliate and/or community need the VISTA project will address.
- Using the workplan template (Word doc), create a workplan for the VISTA member addressing the need described above. The workplan should include: A) objectives/tasks, B) a timeframe for each task, C) a description of the resources available, D) measurable indictors/outcomes (Word doc), and E) a plan for how the activity will be sustained after the VISTA member has completed their year of service.
- List the skills and qualifications the affiliate is seeking in a VISTA member.
- Describe the recruitment efforts the affiliate will take to fill the VISTA position.
- Provide a description of the VISTA position and what the VISTA member will do. This description will be used in recruitment postings and should be limited to no more than 1000 characters (200 words).
- Explain how the VISTA member will be supervised. Describe the qualifications, availability and management style of the supervisor.
- Describe the types of support the affiliate will provide to the VISTA member, above and beyond what’s provided by Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota (i.e. training and professional development opportunities, involvement of other staff/volunteers, housing or transportation allowances, etc.).
- Explain how the affiliate board will be engaged in supporting the work of the VISTA including how the board will be educated on the role and responsibilities of the VISTA, and how the board will be kept up-to-date on the VISTA’s activities.
- Describe the physical office environment where the VISTA would work (including the technology available to the VISTA).
- If the affiliate previously hosted VISTA members, please answer the following questions.
A. How has the work of previous VISTA members increased the capacity of your affiliate?
B. Explain if this application’s workplan elements are a continuation of a previous VISTA workplan or if this is a new initiative.
- Supplemental materials — Board Approved Personnel Policy/Employee Handbook Affiliates applying to host a VISTA member are required to submit the most current copy of their Personnel Policy/Employee Handbook to Habitat Minnesota. The document may be submitted electronically or in paper form. At a minimum, the document must include the following:
- month and year the policy was approved or last revised by the Board of Directors
- non-discrimination policy
- sexual harassment policy
- complaint or grievance process
- list of holidays for which employees have paid leave
(This list is derived from the standards outlined in the HFHI Quality Assurance checklist. For more information refer to page 25 of the Quality Assurance Checklist Affiliate Support Guide available on MyHabitat/Partnernet.)
Affiliates that do not currently have a board approved personnel policy/employee handbook are eligible to apply for a VISTA member. However, if the VISTA application is approved, the affiliate will be required to have a board approved personnel policy/employee handbook on file with Habitat Minnesota no later than June 30, 2009.
Affiliates unable to submit a copy of their employee handbook/personnel policies by February 13, 2009 must describe in their application the steps they will take in order to have one in place by June 30, 2009.
- Timing – In November HFH-MN notifies all affiliates not participating in the VISTA program of the option of having the VISTA Program Manager attend a Board meeting to discuss the program and how the affiliate could become involved. Application questions (listed above) are e-mailed to affiliates in January. In early February, HFH-MN holds a training for all affiliates applying for VISTA positions. All affiliates that plan to apply for a VISTA member are required to send a representative to this training. Completed applications are due to HFH-MN in mid-February. The HFH-MN VISTA Committee meets to review applications and make recommendations to the HFH-MN Board in late February or early March. Affiliates are notified of selection decisions in mid-March. VISTA members generally begin their year of service in August. Under certain circumstances and with approval of the CNCS office VISTAs may also begin in either November or February.
- Review and Approval Process – HFH-MN uses a competitive process to award VISTA positions to affiliates. The VISTA Program Manager collects applications and distributes them to the HFH-MN VISTA Committee. The Committee reviews these applications and provides direction as to:
a) which sites are recommended for approval,
b) which sites are needing to make modifications to their work plans but are provisionally recommended for approval, and
c) which sites are not recommended for approval. These recommendations are presented to the HFH-MN Board at its March meeting for final action.
Training
Prior to actually starting their year of service, each VISTA must attend a Pre-Service Orientation (PSO), usually held in the Twin Cities area. The content and the structure of these training are determined by CNCS which also pays the costs associated with training (including lodging transportation and meals). HFH-MN provides three additional VISTA trainings during the program year. Each training includes the following three elements: 1) Habitat Specific Training, 2) Leadership Development Training, and 3) Discussions with the "Gurus". Affiliates are required to allow VISTA members time away from the office to attend these trainings.
Evaluation
Each major element of the VISTA program is evaluated on an annual basis. Major program elements include: 1) Trainings, 2) VISTAs’ experience with the program, and 3) VISTA Supervisors' experience with the program. Review the 2006-2007 VISTA program evaluation report (PDF).
HFH-MN VISTA Committee
The HFH-MN Board appoints a 6 member VISTA Committee to oversee the operation of the program. Committee members are selected for their in-depth experience and participation in VISTA or VISTA-type programs. The HFH-MN VISTA Committee is responsible for providing input and direction with respect to both the affiliate applications, official program policies and the scope / nature of the HFH-MN VISTA program.
For more information on the VISTA Program please email Sara Wessling, VISTA Program Manager at HFH-MN or 612-331-4439, x2.
Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota
Office: 2401 Lowry Ave NE #210
Minneapolis, MN 55418
Phone: 612.331.4439
Fax: 612.789.0846
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