AmeriCorps Program

 What is AmeriCorps?

• AmeriCorps is a network of national service programs that engages more than 75,000 Americans annually in intensive, results-driven service to meet educational, public safety, environmental, homeland security, and other human service needs.  Participants, called “Members,” are placed in non-profits, public agencies, and faith-based organizations throughout the United States.  More than 500,000 individuals have served as AmeriCorps Members since the program’s inception in 1993.  The Corporation for National and Community Service, based in Washington, D.C., administers AmeriCorps.  More than three-quarters of AmeriCorps funding flows from the Corporation to State Commissions.  State Commissions then distribute grants to local agencies and monitor grantees to ensure compliance with federal and state requirements.
• The N.C. Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service was created in 1994.  A bipartisan group of 25 individuals, all appointed by the governor, serve as commissioners.
  Since 1994, nearly 5,000 AmeriCorps Members have served in North Carolina.  AmeriCorps Members in North Carolina have tutored and mentored school-age youth, served preschool children in childcare centers, built houses for low-income homeowners, provided services for the homeless, protected the environment, provided immigrants and refugees with interpretation and translation services, and assisted individuals with disabilities.

• AmeriCorps helps communities meet their educational, public safety, environmental, and human service needs through direct service.
• AmeriCorps builds leaders through service and civic education.  AmeriCorps Members solve problems and motivate others to follow their example.
• AmeriCorps strengthens communities by uniting diverse individuals and agencies in a common effort to improve our communities.
• AmeriCorps Members learn new skills, gain valuable experience, and receive funds to further their education thus expanding their horizons.

What is the AmeriCorps Partnership to End Homelessness?

The Partnership to End Homelessness is a State AmeriCorps Program dedicated to alleviating homelessness in Guilford County.  Our Members are deployed across 5 Partner Agencies to serve the needs of homeless men, women, youth, the disabled, the recovering, and those in crisis situations.  There are both part time (20 hr/wk) and full time (40 hr/wk) positions on the team.  Full time positions require a college degree.  Part time positions require a High School Diploma.

The Partnership to End Homelessness serves to restore hope in the Greensboro Homeless Community.  Members work directly with our homeless clients to provide food, shelter, clothing, emergency financial assistance, life skills coaching, and case management.  In addition to serving at their sites, each month the team implements community service projects to benefit the homeless and hungry.

The AmeriCorps Partnership to End Homelessness Team is active in the community.  In addition to the service they perform at their service site, Members get involved as a team with the community.  Members have raised funds and awareness through the CROP Walk for hunger, given away turkeys and groceries to the needy at Thanksgiving, led the candlelight walk of remembrance at the Homeless Memorial, helped serve the homeless veterans at the Triad Stand Down, made and served chili to those on the street who are hungry, cleaned up camps where homeless people live, walked in the Martin Luther King Day Parade, and interviewed homeless people for the annual Point in Time Count.

Who are the Members?

• Members are diverse.  They range in age from college students to retirees.  They come from all socio-economic backgrounds.  Some are college graduates.  Some have homelessness in their personal history.  They share in common a heart for the homeless and a desire to serve their community.
• Members must spend their service hours doing direct client contact service.
• Members are not employees.  Members are not volunteers.  Members are people who have chosen to dedicate one year of their lives to serving their community.  In exchange Members receive a small stipend and an award to use for their education.

Who is eligible to become a member?

Candidates must meet the follwing eligibility requirements in order to be considered for membership

1. Be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national or a lawful permanent resident alien in the United States;
2. Be at least 21 years old;
3. Have a 4 year college diploma (for all full time and some part time roles); or
4. Have a high school diploma /GED (for some part time roles);
5. Be able to perform all activities listed in the essential requirements for each role; and
6. Be a law-abiding citizen with

• No sex offense convictions
• no violent felony convictions,
• no non-violent felony convictions within the past 10 years, and
• no pending felony charges.