The Community Development Division has been approached by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) regarding submitting an application for AmeriCorps Volunteer in Service to America (VISTA) resources for FY2021-2022. Application preparation would begin during fall 2020 and would follow any CNCS or other Federal long-term guidance on mitigating the health risks associated with COVID-19. The Division has been managing the Billings Metro VISTA Project since 2009.

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, and 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 affect homelessness; assistance in developing poverty-based impediments to housing access and equal opportunity; the expansion of services to assist veterans and their families; and the development and implementation a homeless services survey.

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 including Family Promise of Yellowstone Valley, Family Service, Inc., the Housing Authority of Billings, and Wise Wonders Children’s Museum.

Staff is preparing an application for members who may be placed at varying times throughout the year based on availability, including (but not limited to) member opportunities in May/June for Summer Associates (ten week placements), July, August, January, and February (one-year placements), etc.

City Council may:

• Approve submittal of an application for AmeriCorps VISTA program;
• Disapprove submittal of an application for the AmeriCorps VISTA program. The Division has been managing the Billings Metro VISTA Project since 2009 and has seen millions of dollars in capacity building in the community and dramatic increases in service delivery to support low and moderate income individuals and families in Billings. Not taking advantage of the VISTA program would severely limit the ability to sustain non-profit services to assist risk members of our community.

The City was awarded Project Grant status by the Corporation for National and Community Service since 2014. For the current fiscal year, the Corporation for National and Community Service allocated a total grant award of approximately $689,000 to carry out the project. The Community Development Board and City Council also approved a $75,000 CDBG allocation to support cost share members. These members are a priority and 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.

The Community Development Board recommends the City Council authorize submission of an application for AmeriCorps VISTA and authorize City staff to negotiate and finalize the project if awarded.