Consent 1.I.
Regular City Council Meeting
- Meeting Date:
- 01/09/2017
- TITLE
- Application Submittal for the 2017-2018 AmeriCorps VISTA Project in Billings
- PRESENTED BY:
- Wyeth Friday
- Department:
- Planning & Community Services
Presentation:
PROBLEM/ISSUE STATEMENT
The Community Development Division has been managing the Billings Metro VISTA Project since 2009. The Division is seeking City Council approval to submit an application to continue the Billings Metro VISTA Project for another year in the community.
The Billings Metro VISTA Project supports placements of AmeriCorps VISTA members at nonprofit organizations to reduce the risk of homelessness and create the tools people in poverty need to build sustainable futures. Priority focus areas include education, financial literacy, housing, employment, food security, access to healthcare and services benefiting veterans and military families. Members may also be trained in City-sponsored initiatives to share information and resources with other communities across Montana to further project reach, scope and overall poverty impact. Examples include the development and implementation of a plan to impact homelessness and the expansion of services to assist veterans and their families.
City Council approval for the application would allow the Community Development Division to assist in application preparation and administration of activities on behalf of many community agencies such as Family Promise of Yellowstone Valley, the Mental Health Center, Habitat for Humanity, and the Housing Authority of Billings. VISTA members may be placed at varying times throughout the year based on availability, including member opportunities in June for Summer Associates (ten week placements), July and January (one-year placements).
The Billings Metro VISTA Project supports placements of AmeriCorps VISTA members at nonprofit organizations to reduce the risk of homelessness and create the tools people in poverty need to build sustainable futures. Priority focus areas include education, financial literacy, housing, employment, food security, access to healthcare and services benefiting veterans and military families. Members may also be trained in City-sponsored initiatives to share information and resources with other communities across Montana to further project reach, scope and overall poverty impact. Examples include the development and implementation of a plan to impact homelessness and the expansion of services to assist veterans and their families.
City Council approval for the application would allow the Community Development Division to assist in application preparation and administration of activities on behalf of many community agencies such as Family Promise of Yellowstone Valley, the Mental Health Center, Habitat for Humanity, and the Housing Authority of Billings. VISTA members may be placed at varying times throughout the year based on availability, including member opportunities in June for Summer Associates (ten week placements), July and January (one-year placements).
ALTERNATIVES ANALYZED
↵↵City Council may:
- Approve submittal of an AmeriCorps VISTA application, or;
- Disapprove submittal of an AmeriCorps VISTA application which would lead to the end of the Billings Metro VISTA Project. This would also mean the City will not meet its obligation to spearhead an anti-poverty strategy in order to receive Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership Program funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The City has been awarded project grant status by the Corporation for National and Community Service since 2014. As a result, the Corporation for National and Community Service allocated a total grant award of more than $488,000 to carry out the project. The Community Development Board and City Council also approved a $50,000 CDBG allocation to support cost share members, who are prioritized to further the Division’s initiatives to impact poverty and homelessness, as per the Community Development Board’s request. Host Sites also contribute approximately $20,000 per year to support the project.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff and the Community Development Board recommend that the City Council authorize submission of an application for AmeriCorps VISTA and authorize City staff to negotiate and finalize the project, if awarded.