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Project Description
Keep Austin Housed, an
AmeriCorps project of Front
Steps, provides intensive
mentoring and case management services to Austin area adults, families
and youth experiencing homelessness, at-risk of becoming homeless, and
who are formerly homeless. The project partners with local social
service agencies to augment existing service delivery systems, providing
service sites for AmeriCorps members to carry out their term of service.
Members will be serving in issue areas of shelter and housing, mental
health, substance abuse, domestic violence, general health, education,
basic needs, and refugee services. In addition to members being engaged
in direct service delivery, they will be involved in community service
projects, Member Council activities, project enhancement efforts, and
regular reflection and training opportunities.
Member Responsibilities
For the 2009-2010
project year, members will complete 1725 hours (full-time) over an
11 month period by providing direct
support to diverse populations. Members will assess client needs,
develop action plans to meet client goals, and provide intensive life
skills education that will enable program participants to obtain and
maintain their housing and increase personal stability. In addition,
members will educate the community-at-large on issues related to
homelessness and harness support in the form of community volunteers,
in-kind donations, and financial contributions.
Member Qualifications
Members must be at least 20 years of age. College coursework and
employment and/or volunteer experience working with homeless populations
and/or general service delivery is preferred.
Members must
be able to establish and maintain professional boundaries as well as
feel comfortable working with families, children, adolescents, and
single adults in issue areas of substance abuse, domestic violence,
shelter and housing, mental health, general health, education, and
refugee services. Prospective candidates are pre-screened with an
AmeriCorps national application as well as a project specific
application. Following pre-screening efforts, candidates will engage in
a two-tier interview process that involves project staff, current members,
and site-supervisors from each partner site.
2009-2010 Project Schedule
11 month service term
begins: August 3, 2009-July 31, 2010
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