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Volunteer Program Developer VISTA

My Friend’s Place mission is to provide home like emergency shelter and transitional housing, and exceptional support for the homeless men, women and families in our service area. My Friend’s Place is an emergency homeless shelter in Dover NH, opening its doors in 1989 and is now it is 29th year serving homeless men, women and children. Each year the shelter serves between 100 and 150 individuals, including 30-40 families. Children make up on average roughly 40%-45% of our yearly statistics. The shelter also owns 2 scattered site apartment buildings with 2 units each that is used for transitional housing. Families can stay in these units for up to 2 years while working on longer term goals to self-sufficiency and permanent housing. Clients that we see at the shelter all fall far below the poverty level set by the federal government and have a variety of barriers to self-sufficiency.
The two most common barriers are currently substance abuse/addiction and mental health issues. Many of our clients come to us straight out of jail/prison, substance abuse treatment or hospitalization for mental health issues. Often there are multiple barriers that will need to be worked on during their stay with us such as identifying income potential, medical home, dental care, etc. Many clients lack the basic skills required to live within their means such as proper budgeting. It is within case management that goals are established and steps needed to accomplish those goals. Some goals are basic and in everyone’s case plan such as gaining income, however the steps may be very different from one client to the other. While one client may be job searching another may be gathering medical information for their application for Social Security Disability.
This position’s normal work schedule will be Monday through Friday 7am to 3pm. However, the schedule must be flexible as the duties will require attendance of functions/meetings or civic gatherings on nights and weekends. Duties include networking with outside community agencies to schedule dates and times to speak at community functions in order to recruit volunteers. Updating our current social media presence and identifying areas to increase our presence. Creating a volunteer recruitment guide and kit for future use. Working with the Case Manager and ED to develop a volunteer training guide and kit for use. Establishing, scheduling and coordinating volunteer trainings. Creating a volunteer survey to use as a tool to “tweak” problem areas of the volunteer program. Other duties around volunteer program as deemed necessary as the volunteer pool grows and expands. Recruiting one or more volunteers to replace the VISTA once the term is completed.
The Families in Transition (FIT) VISTA Program is focused on improving the quality of life for the most disadvantaged members of New Hampshire communities. Our efforts are led by a remarkable team of dedicated AmeriCorps VISTA members from all over the country. Our capacity building VISTAs are strategically placed with selected host sites that provide critical services, training and empowerment programs aimed at lifting residents up and out of the chains of poverty. As a VISTA (Volunteer in Service to America), you will work for a minimum of one year to build programs, create change, and fight poverty in New Hampshire communities.

For more information about AmeriCorps, visit: www.nationalservice.gov.

For more information about the FIT VISTA Program visit: www.fitnh.org/vista.

To view the full position description and apply, visit:
https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=80719&fromSearch=true