DEPARTMENT: Human Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Melody Woosley
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
AmeriCorps VISTA Grant Application Renewal
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes submission of an AmeriCorps VISTA grant renewal application to the Corporation of National and Community Service for the period of May 31, 2015 through May 28, 2016 and acceptance, if awarded. This ordinance also authorizes a cash match budget of $23,352.00 to be funded by the three City departments and Pre- K 4 SA.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) is a federal agency that helps more than five million Americans improve the lives of their fellow citizens through service. CNCS invests in thousands of nonprofit, faith-based and government agencies through the AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, Social Innovation Fund, and Volunteer Generation Fund programs.
AmeriCorps VISTA, a CNCS program, was founded in 1965 as a national service program designed specifically to fight poverty in America. AmeriCorps VISTA members serve full-time for a year in anti-poverty organizations and agencies, working on issues such as fighting illiteracy, improving health services, creating businesses, increasing housing opportunities, improving college access, and bridging the digital divide. Project sponsors must direct the project, supervise the members, provide necessary administrative support to complete the goals and objectives of the project, and may provide a financial match of 20% of the living allowance per volunteer.
On April 3, 2014, through Ordinance No. 2014-04-03-0204, City Council approved a Department of Human Services application to serve as a project sponsor for 10 AmeriCorps VISTA members to CNCS. On May 9, 2014, CNCS awarded the City with 10 AmeriCorps VISTA positions. The current grant award period will end on May, 30 2015.
ISSUE:
The City, through direct services and community partners, offers robust programming to address issues in the AmeriCorps program focus areas of Economic Opportunity, Education and Healthy Futures. VISTAs perform indirect service by building organizational, administrative, and financial capacity of organizations that assist low-income communities.
The current grant award period will end on May, 30 2015. To ensure continued operations, DHS must submit a renewal grant application to CNCS by April, 2 2015. Through the renewal application, DHS is proposing to place 10 VISTA members in 3 City departments and Pre-K 4 SA in the following programs:
· Department of Human Services (7 VISTAs) - Senior Services, Financial Empowerment Centers, Veteran Homeless Coordination, Contracts Management Division and Head Start
· Pre-K 4 SA (1 VISTA) - Parent Outreach and Engagement Program
· Library (1 VISTA) - Community Digital Literacy Program
· San Antonio Metro Health District (1 VISTA) - Community Diabetes Program
ALTERNATIVES:
Adoption of this ordinance will allow the City of San Antonio to enhance existing City services by utilizing VISTA members to increase outreach to clients, community organizations and/or funders; build new, sustainable program infrastructure; and increase the capacity of existing City programming. If this ordinance is not approved, alternate funds would need to be identified if City Council wishes to enhance these programs and client outreach.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes submission of an application for the AmeriCorps VISTA grant, and acceptance, if awarded. This ordinance also authorizes a cash match of $23,352.00 to be funded by the three City departments and Pre-K 4 SA. The $23,352.00 allocates a $2,335.20 per intern allowance to be used for living expenses.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends authorization to submit a renewal grant application and acceptance, if awarded, for the AmeriCorps VISTA program. Staff further recommends approval of an associated cash match of $23,352.00 to be allocated proportionally from the three participating City departments and Pre-K 4 SA.