HOW TO BECOME AN AMERICORPS*VISTA

What is a VISTA?
VISTA is an acronym for “Volunteers In Service To America” and is known 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 organizational capacity of that Habitat affiliate. The VISTA program provides its members the opportunity to gain valuable skills while making a difference in the community. VISTAs with the Habitat program also benefit from an in-depth Leadership Development training program designed to provide personalized instruction on understanding leadership styles and how to build leadership abilities. The focus of the work is to build the organizational capacity of the affiliate – leaving a legacy that will have benefits in the future!      

Specific Benefits for each Habitat VISTA:

• A living allowance (varies by location, $858 - $936/mo in 2009-2010)
• Education award of $5,350, OR a $1,500 end of service cash stipend
• Health benefits
• Non-competitive eligibility for federal employment
• Forbearance of qualified student loans
• In Service Training and Leadership training      

Types of Habitat VISTA Positions:

• Public Relations/Special Events — Plan and coordinate volunteer and donor recognition, promote Habitat in local community, develop marketing materials, including press releases, brochures and newsletters.
• ReStore — Conduct feasibility study for ReStore (an effort to divert appliances and home construction materials from landfills, sell them at an affordable price and build Habitat homes with the profits), develop store policies, recruit volunteers and solicit donations of materials to sell.
• Volunteer Recruitment and Management— Recruit general volunteers and coordinate volunteer activities, develop systems to support and manage volunteers, create manuals, support committee efforts.
• Fundraising — Grant writing, event planning and coordination, developing donor recruitment and recognition programs.
• Church Relations — Develop partnerships with faith communities within the service area, recruit church liaisons, recruit and train committee members, create presentations and newsletters.
        

Habitat for Humanity of MN VISTA History:

In 1999, ten affiliates in greater Minnesota were awarded funding to hire volunteers to complete work-plans designed to assist the affiliates with increasing housing production. The impact on an affiliate of having a VISTA volunteer was quite substantial as four of the ten affiliates did not have paid staff, and only three had full-time paid staff.

Funding for the program was provided by a grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service with HFH-MN acting as coordinator for the program. HFH-MN created guidelines, distributed application materials to all affiliates, assisted with completing applications and coordinated the selection committee. The results of the program have been amazing!

Since the pilot year, 138 VISTAs have been placed at 27 different affiliates across the state of Minnesota. In 2001, a VISTA committee was formed to assist with program guidance. Currently, the committee is comprised of the VISTA Program manager, Sara Wessling, the VISTA Leader, Courtney Besch and a collection of former VISTA members, supervisors and Habitat board members. They meet quarterly to discuss current and future VISTA projects.

For 2009-2010, Habitat for Humanity affiliates currently host seventeen VISTAs serving in: Austin, Bemidji, Brainerd, Grand Rapids, Mankato, Minneapolis, Northfield, Owatonna, Rochester, St. Cloud, Virginia, Wilmar and Winona. These VISTAs are working on a variety of capacity building initiatives with the affiliates, specifically working on volunteer management, church relations, fund development, community development, green building, and in newly opened ReStores.      

Resources:

Where are the affiliates located? See a map of the affiliates that build in Minnesota.

See our Job Openings page to view current VISTA positions.

How do I apply to become an AmeriCorps*VISTA?      

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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