Community Services Housing Resource Development AmeriCorps VISTA Member - Charlottesville, VA

AmeriCorps VISTA Program

AmeriCorps VISTA was founded as Volunteers in Service to America in 1965 as a national service program designed specifically to fight poverty in America. In 1993, VISTA was incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of programs under the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). AmeriCorps VISTA Members make a year-long, full-time commitment to serve on a specific project at a nonprofit organization or public agency. They focus their efforts to build the organizational, administrative, and financial capacity of organizations that fight illiteracy, improve health services, foster economic development, and otherwise assist low-income communities.

Virginia Housing Alliance VISTA Project

Virginia Housing Alliance’s (VHA) AmeriCorps VISTA project is a statewide intermediary project with 17 Host Sites, all that either work to expand affordable housing opportunities and/or end homelessness throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. VHA’s VISTA project aims to develop viable communities by promoting integrated approaches that provide decent housing, suitable living environments, and expansive economic opportunities for low and moderate-income persons. This listing is to fill the Host Site opening at Community Services Housing Inc in Charlottesville, VA. 

Community Services Housing Resource Development VISTA, Community Services Housing (CSH)

Community Services Housing (CSH) develops, owns, and operates clean, safe, affordable housing for people in Charlottesville living with disabilities. The unique value of CSH is its deep commitment to resident-focused housing for people with disabilities with low incomes, combined with its expertise navigating the complex financing and compliance requirements necessary to create and sustain these essential community housing opportunities. CSH is looking for a detail oriented individual to act as the Resource Development VISTA member with the goal of strengthening CSH’s ability to better serve people in Charlottesville living with disabilities, providing folks with high-quality, low-barrier, affordable, responsive, and stable homes. The CSH VISTA member will improve equity in CSH’s training, policies, and procedures, research and implement best practices in housing for people living with disabilities, and increase awareness about CSH for fundraising, community engagement, and board development purposes.

Member Duties: The VISTA member will increase staff capacity and enhance organizational effectiveness through the development of a policies and procedures manual that incorporates a menu of mission-related learning resources on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), affordable housing, serving people with disabilities, and nonprofit operations. They will create a community outreach strategy with a schedule and implementation plan to raise awareness of CSH’s programs and services, gain new partners, and garner interest from potential board members. This communications plan also includes maintaining CSH’s public facing platforms such as their website, social media, Guidestar, and others. In addition, the VISTA will implement CSH’s Resource Development plan that involves analyzing resident surveys to identify service gaps and needs, and researching new funding opportunities to support solutions to the findings in the survey data, and grant writing.

Living Allowance: The CSH VISTA will receive a $877 bi-weekly living allowance.

Program Benefits: Childcare assistance if eligible; choice of $7,395 end-of-service education or $1,800 cash benefit after completing their term; health coverage; living allowance; relocation allowance; training; Professional Development opportunities;

Terms: Car recommended

Minimum age: 18

Desired education level: Associates degree (AA)

Skills: Communications; research and analysis; computers/technology; writing/editing; community services; urban planning; team work

Position Contact Info

Please contact the VHA VISTA Program Manager, Hannah Moore, at hmoore@vahousingalliance.org or at 910-258-2420 with any questions. Openings will be filled on a rolling basis so applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Applications must be submitted through the AmeriCorps portal. This process includes: Application and 2 references.