Metropolitan Ministries is proud to collaborate with AmeriCorps, a national service program offering diverse opportunities for individuals to contribute to their communities (often referred to as the domestic version of the Peace Corps). Annually, we engage over 25 AmeriCorps members, who commit to serving for 12 months through the AmeriCorps State and AmeriCorps VISTA programs. In exchange for a living stipend, educational award, and valuable on-the-job experience, members dedicate themselves to intensive service that advances our mission of caring for those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Ways to Serve at Metro
| AmeriCorps Program Comparison | AmeriCorps State (Mobile Outreach) | AmeriCorps VISTA |
|---|---|---|
| Service Commitment | Full Time, 1-year (1,700 hours) | Full Time, 1-year (365 days) |
| Type of Service | Direct Service, providing services to program participants | Indirect Service, working with program staff to expand available services |
| Stipend (pre-tax) | Bi-weekly $1350.00 | Bi-weekly $877.66 |
| HealthCare Coverage Offered | Yes | Yes |
| End of Service Benefit | Yes/ $6,395 Education Award | Yes/ $6,895Education Award or Cash Stipend of $1,800 |
| Non-Competitive Eligibility Offered | No | Yes |
| Childcare Coverage Offered (if qualified) | Yes | Yes |
| Loan Deferment Available | Yes | Yes |
| Relocation Allowance Offered | No | Yes/ $750 plus mileage reimbursement |
AmeriCorps State
Call to Action
Our AmeriCorps State team was awarded America’s Service Commissions Outstanding Service Program in 2019! AmeriCorps State members serve full-time for one year with our Brigaide Mobile Outreach team. This dynamic and passionate team of 20 AmeriCorps members provides street outreach services to individuals experiencing homelessness in Hillsborough and Pasco Counties. AmeriCorps members meet people where they are in the community and provide concrete goods like food and clothing, system navigation services, and connections to housing, health, employment, and transportation resources. The overall goal is to provide resources and services that help people experiencing unsheltered homelessness to improve health and access safe shelter or permanent housing. Since our AmeriCorps State Mobile Outreach program started in 2018, members have served 5,090 clients that might not otherwise have been able to access services. Last year, our team helped over 200 people who were experiencing homelessness move into safe and secure housing. Additionally, 1,400 people were provided with resources and referrals for housing and shelter, food, clothing, transportation, healthcare, and employment.
Jeremy’s testimony (member of the year)
Santana (member) and Kevin’s story
JaLisa’s quote
AmeriCorps State members serve full-time for one year. Members are required to serve for a minimum of 1700 hours throughout program year. AmeriCorps members gain valuable experience in crisis intervention, outreach, advocacy, trauma informed practices, case management, customer service, data collection, resource development, program planning and partnership coordination.
What You’ll Do:
Engage individuals who are experiencing homelessness in areas where they congregate.
Travel to partner sites, hot spots, and hubs in the community to provide services.
Administer assessments and use tools to determine needs of individuals.
Provide individuals with information and referrals to community resources for housing, employment, health (physical, behavioral, and mental), food, transportation, etc.
Distribute “basic needs” supplies such as clothing, hygiene supplies, food, drink, blankets, etc. to those in need.
Assist clients in applying for public benefits and preparing SSI/SSDI applications.
Participate in trainings, attend community meetings and workshops, and implement best practices on street outreach.
Bachelor’s degree in related field or equivalent work experience.
Requires understanding of poverty, a high degree of maturity, strong inter-personal skills and the ability to work and communicate with low socio-economic and diverse participants in a professional and diplomatic manner.
A non-judgmental, empathetic, caring individual with the ability to listen well and to demonstrate confidentiality and respect for clients of all ethnic, religious and socio-economic groups.
Bi-lingual preferred, but not required.
Reliable transportation required. Members will be required to travel within the community and to/from service sites. Valid Driver’s License and Insurance required.
Be a US citizen, a US national, or Lawful Permanent Resident
Be able to successfully pass a criminal background check
AmeriCorps State members receive the following benefits during their year-long, full time service term:
A stipend of $26,000 annually/$1,000 bi-weekly
A $6,345 AmeriCorps Segal Education Award that can be used for future education expenses and/or to repay existing eligible federal student loans
Health insurance at no cost to the member through the Corps network, which is underwritten by Cigna (premium is paid in full by Metropolitan Ministries) (https://corpsnetwork.org/about-us/join-the-corps-network/health-insurance/)
Enrollment in the AmeriCorps Member Assistance Program, which provides accessible and quality mental health services to AmeriCorps members (https://www.statecommissions.org/americorps-member-assistance-program)
Daily meals provided by MM at no cost to member
Forbearance on qualified student loans and interest accrual payments while serving (taxable)
AmeriCorps service gear (must be worn every day)
Childcare is available through the AmeriCorps Child Care Benefits Program, which provides benefits paid to qualified child care providers for all or of part of the member’s child care costs during their active time of service with AmeriCorps (https://www.americorpschildcare.com/
Limited assistance with locating affordable housing in the community
Training and professional development to propel your career, including training in Trauma Informed Care, Compassion Fatigue, De–escalation, Situational Awareness, CPR and First Aid, Mental Health First Aid, Diversity and Inclusion, Disaster Preparedness, Career Skills, and more.
Metropolitan Ministries is currently recruiting full time, year-long AmeriCorps members to begin service on August 1, 2022. This position is 40 hours/week; the service term is 8/1/22-7/31/23. These may be early morning, day, and evening hours, including some weekend hours. Members are required to serve for a minimum of 1700 hours throughout program year. We review applicants on a rolling basis, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
AmeriCorps VISTA
Call to Action
Metropolitan Ministries has a team of 11 AmeriCorps VISTA members who provide capacity-building services that strengthen and expand services available to the community. VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) members serve in full-time, 1-year terms. They are engaged in volunteer recruitment, fundraising, grant writing, process improvement, and partnership development activities. VISTA members serve in an office setting and gain valuable experience and leadership skills. This opportunity prepares members for a life of service in the public, private, or nonprofit sector. Last year, our VISTA team had many significant accomplishments including: Leveraging $300,00 in cash resources; Leveraging $70,000 of in-kind resources; Recruiting 1,349 volunteers who donated 4,510 hours of time, and Building 15 partnerships to expand services.
“My year serving as a Grants Resource Coordinator at Metropolitan Ministries gave me a close-up look at the many moving parts behind the scenes in a non-profit agency and equipped me with tangible skills which allowed me to continue in the field of grant writing. During my VISTA year, I helped bring in over $600,000 in grant funds to support the organization’s programs and helped build capacity on my team by documenting processes and conducting research. The VISTA program was a great opportunity for me to get my foot in the door in the non-profit sector and to receive hands-on training all while completing work that felt worthwhile and helpful.”
– Shelby Denney, AmeriCorps VISTA Grants Resources Coordinator
“I was the Meal Site Developer VISTA at Metropolitan Ministries. During the pandemic in the summer of 2020, I expanded the COVID 19 Boxes of Hope food distribution program by establishing 14 new community partners and scheduling the delivery of 2,500 boxes of food each week into the Tampa Bay community. Not only did I wake up with a sense of purpose every morning, but I built incredible relationships with community leaders and truly felt that my efforts made a positive impact for each of those families receiving food.”
– Lainie Patterson, AmeriCorps VISTA Meal Site Developer and VISTA Leader
AmeriCorps VISTA members serve full-time for 1 year.
What You’ll Do:
AmeriCorps VISTA members spend one year providing indirect service that builds the capacity and sustainability of Metropolitan Ministries. VISTA Members serve in many departments across
Metropolitan Ministries, including Grants, Advancement, Volunteer Services, Marketing, Housing, Employment, and more. They do not serve clients directly, instead of focusing on activities like writing grant proposals, building partnerships, developing manuals and resources guides, recruiting and training volunteers, creating databases, and more.
Bachelor’s degree in related field or equivalent work experience.
Hold one of the following citizenship or legal residency statuses: US citizen, US National, Lawful Permanent Resident (i.e. Green Card status), and persons legally residing within a state. Examples of persons legally residing within a state may include those holding the following classifications: refugee, asylee, temporary protected status throughout VISTA service, and holding Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status.
Be able to successfully pass a criminal background check
Self-motivated with an ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, and shift priorities as needed
Requires an understanding of poverty, a high degree of maturity, and strong interpersonal skills
A stipend of $14,960.40 annually/$575.40 bi-weekly (pre-tax)
An End of Service cash stipend of $1,800 OR a $6,345 AmeriCorps Segal Education Award that can be used for future education expenses and/or to repay existing eligible federal student loans
VISTA members have two healthcare options that are available at no cost, the VISTA Health Plan for members without health insurance or the VISTA Healthcare Allowance Plan for members who already have health insurance
Telehealth available to all members at no cost
If you are moving more than 50 miles from your home to a new community to serve, VISTA offers relocation travel assistance ($0.40/mile) and a one-time settling-in allowance of $750. (https://americorps.gov/sites/default/files/document/2021_04_01_VISTA_Relocation_Factsheet_VISTA.pdf)
Daily meals provided by MM at no cost to member
Forbearance on qualified student loans and interest accrual payments while serving (taxable)
Childcare is available through the AmeriCorps Child Care Benefits Program, which provides benefits paid to qualified child care providers for all or of part of the member’s child care costs during their active time of service with AmeriCorps (https://www.americorpschildcare.com/)
Limited assistance with locating affordable housing in the community
Training and professional development to propel your career, including training in Trauma-Informed Care, Career Skills, Capacity Building and Sustainability, Leadership, Civic Engagement, and more.
Metropolitan Ministries recruits AmeriCorps VISTA members throughout the year. Current open positions are listed on our website. VISTA members serve full-time for 1 year. We review applicants on a rolling basis, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
Ready to join our Corps? Apply Now!
How to Apply
Step 1: Visit the Careers page and submit an online application. Select the AmeriCorps System Navigator, Summer VISTA Associate, or any position with VISTA in the title that you wish to apply to. Positions are only listed during their recruiting periods and remain visible until all spots are filled. After applying, you will receive a confirmation e-mail.
Step 2: Within 2 weeks, your application will be reviewed, and a member of our recruitment team will update you on your status.
Step 3: If you are selected to proceed, a member of our recruitment team will schedule a phone screen.
Step 4: If you are selected to proceed from the phone screen, the hiring manager will contact you to set up a virtual or in-person interview.
Step 5: If you are selected for the position, you will be notified by a member of our recruitment team. You will be required to complete and return paperwork. At that time, you will be required to undergo a background check. If you are cleared through the background check process, you will be provided with information about onboarding requirements. All candidates who are selected for a position will also need to complete an application on the AmeriCorps website, including 2 references, if they have not already done so. Additional instructions will be provided.
If you have questions, please reach out to our AmeriCorps team at AmeriCorps@metromin.org