Habitat for Humanity International awarded $3.89 million in grant funds for AmeriCorps program
ATLANTA (July 20, 2015) — The Corporation for National and Community Service, or CNCS, has awarded Habitat for Humanity International 3.89 million in grant funds to help support 315 AmeriCorps National members.
The members will build capacity at local Habitat affiliates nationwide in 130 communities during the next service year by recruiting and leading volunteers, recruiting and supporting partner families and supporting key Habitat programs like Neighborhood Revitalization and Veterans Build.
Each year, CNCS engages more than 75,000 AmeriCorps members to serve through nonprofit, faith-based and community organizations at 25,000 locations across the country.
“AmeriCorps members are an indispensable resource for nonprofits, communities and the individuals they serve,” said Wendy Spencer, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service. “Through AmeriCorps, individuals come together across the nation with the common goal to make a lasting impact on the toughest challenges facing our nation. We salute these AmeriCorps members and their commitment in serving our country.”
The 2015 AmeriCorps grant cycle was highly competitive due to the strong demand by organizations competing for resources. The competition prioritized investments in economic opportunity, education, veterans and military families, disaster services, and an initiative for governors and mayors.
Habitat for Humanity was one of the first organizations to partner with AmeriCorps when it was founded in 1994. To date, more than 8,000 individuals have served as AmeriCorps members with Habitat for Humanity, helping more than 20,000 families in need of affordable housing, contributing more than 13 million hours of service, raising tens of millions of dollars in cash and in-kind resources and engaging more than 3.1 million volunteers.
“AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps VISTA members have been invaluable contributors to Habitat’s work for 20 years,” said Mark Andrews, Habitat for Humanity International’s vice president of Volunteer and Institutional Engagement. “We’re grateful for their service and our continued partnership with the Corporation for National and Community Service.”
For more information or to learn how to get involved, please visit www.habitat.org/americorps or www.nationalservice.gov.
About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Anchored by the conviction that housing provides a path out of poverty, since 1976 Habitat has helped more than 5 million people through home construction, rehabilitation and repairs and by increasing access to improved shelter through products and services. Habitat also advocates to improve access to decent and affordable shelter and offers a variety of housing support services that enable families with limited means to make needed improvements on their homes as their time and resources allow. As a nonprofit Christian housing organization, Habitat works in more than 70 countries and welcomes people of all races, religions and nationalities to partner in its mission. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit habitat.org.
About the Corporation for National and Community Service
The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that engages millions of Americans in service and developing community solutions through its AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, Social Innovation Fund and other programs, and leads the president’s national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit NationalService.gov.