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Item 1.E.
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| City Council Regular | |
| Date: | 04/26/2021 |
| Title: | Grant Application Submittal for AmeriCorps VISTA Project |
| Presented by: | Brenda Beckett |
| Department: | Planning & Community Services |
| Presentation: | No |
RECOMMENDATION
BACKGROUND (Consistency with Adopted Plans and Policies, if applicable)
The Community Development Division has been approached by the Corporation for National and Community Service regarding submitting an application for AmeriCorps Volunteer in Service to America (VISTA) resources for FY2021-2022. 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 of risk of homelessness and create the tools people in poverty need to build sustainable futures. Priority focus areas include education, 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 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.
The Community Development Board recommends approval for the application submittal to City Council. Approval of the application submittal by Council would allow the Community Development Division to assist in application preparation and administration of activities on behalf of many community agencies including Family Tree Center, Alzheimer’s Association, Big Brothers Big Sisters, CASA, and Family Promise. Staff is planning to prepare an application for members who may be placed at varying times throughout the year based on availability, including July, August, January, and February (one-year placements), etc.
The Billings Metro VISTA Project supports placements of AmeriCorps VISTA members at nonprofit organizations to reduce of risk of homelessness and create the tools people in poverty need to build sustainable futures. Priority focus areas include education, 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 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.
The Community Development Board recommends approval for the application submittal to City Council. Approval of the application submittal by Council would allow the Community Development Division to assist in application preparation and administration of activities on behalf of many community agencies including Family Tree Center, Alzheimer’s Association, Big Brothers Big Sisters, CASA, and Family Promise. Staff is planning to prepare an application for members who may be placed at varying times throughout the year based on availability, including July, August, January, and February (one-year placements), etc.
STAKEHOLDERS
Stakeholders include nonprofit organizations that are requesting Host Site status to implement a year-long poverty impact project and low-income citizens that would be assisted with programming through award of another AmeriCorps VISTA Project in Billings.
ALTERNATIVES
City Council may:
1) Approve the submittal of an AmeriCorps VISTA grant application; or
2) Not approve the submittal of an AmeriCorps VISTA grant application. The City has been approving of application submittals for the VISTA program for 11 years and has been very successful in being awarded the program each year. Not moving forward with this application would have a negative impact on fighting poverty and supporting low-income programs that support residents of Billings.
1) Approve the submittal of an AmeriCorps VISTA grant application; or
2) Not approve the submittal of an AmeriCorps VISTA grant application. The City has been approving of application submittals for the VISTA program for 11 years and has been very successful in being awarded the program each year. Not moving forward with this application would have a negative impact on fighting poverty and supporting low-income programs that support residents of Billings.
FISCAL EFFECTS
For the current fiscal year, the Corporation for National and Community Service allocated a total grant award of over $466,000 to carry out the project. The Community Development Board recommended $25,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding 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 $15,000 per year to support the project.
SUMMARY
City 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.