The Community Development Division has been approached by the Corporation for National and Community Services regarding sponsoring an AmeriCorps*VISTA project for a third year to build capacity in Billings to impact poverty and homelessness. Funding for the project would be provided by the Corporation for National and Community Service. This project is considered for funding on a year-to-year basis. The deadline for the application is in March, 2011.

The Billings Metro VISTA Project would place AmeriCorps*VISTA members to reduce of risk of homelessness and create the tools people in poverty need to build sustainable futures. This aligns with goals of the Mayor’s Committee on Homelessness’s ten-year plan to impact homelessness, Welcome Home Billings. The Billings Metro VISTA Project would compliment four other projects throughout the state: MT Legal Services Association; Department of Public Health and Human Services - Prevention Resource Center; Richland County Health Department - Communities in Action; and University of MT - MT Campus Compact. The goal of all of these projects is to address poverty-related issues of hunger, housing and mentoring and each one expects to make an important impact in efforts to end poverty in the state of Montana.

Staff is preparing an application for up to ten members; however available member positions have significantly decreased across the nation. Therefore, the City may only be allocated three members directly and two additional members if positions are coordinated through another state project. Occasionally, the Corporation for National and Community Services has additional “cost share” positions available. One additional VISTA member position may be available for placement in Billings if a “cost share” requirement is met (totaling seven positions). This amount is estimated at $5,000 to $11,000, depending on available funding.

City Council approval for the application would allow the Community Development Division to assist in application preparation and administration of activities on behalf of several community agencies, including agencies such as The HUB, United Way, Family Service, Inc., the Billings Area Resource Network, Volunteers of America, Salvation Army, Family Support Network, and Second Chance Homes. The Corporation for National and Community Services recommends the City require organizations seeking VISTA members contribute to the overall administration costs; $2,500 for a first year placement and $4,000 for a second year placement. This funding would help support a cost share position, coordination services, expenses to attend mandatory trainings and overall administration for the project. Each VISTA member’s personnel value has been estimated at $30,000 for a year of service.

1) To submit an application for the AmeriCorps*VISTA Project; 2) To not submit an application for the AmeriCorps*VISTA Project.

The City is not required to commit funding to the project and may receive approximately $15,000-$20,000 this year to support project coordination and administration costs from the Corporation for National and Community Services.

While the City has not been required to financially commit additional funding to the project for the first two years, allocating funding toward “cost share” may allow the City to gain one additional member placement in Billings. In FY10-11, the City Council approved $17,906 in CDBG Professional Services funding to support the VISTA project. Funding remaining in this line item would meet the $5,000 minimum cost share for one additional position. Staff may also bring forth an application for CDBG Professional Services funding during the FY11-12 budget allocation process for consideration to support the VISTA project.

Ten VISTA placements and administrative support are being requested ($320,000) through this application. City match offered in the application includes $3,500 of in-kind office space and equipment per volunteer, if positions are filled. Additional funding for administrative costs may be allocated through FY11-12 budget processes, within existing administration caps. 

Staff recommends that Council authorize submission of an application for an AmeriCorps*VISTA Project and authorize City staff to negotiate and finalize the project if awarded.