Vermont Community
Stewardship Program
AMERICORPS POSITION DESCRIPTION


Brattleboro Housing Authority
Brattleboro Housing Opportunities
YOUTH PROGRAMS COORDINATOR
full-time (1700 hours)

The Brattleboro Housing Authority’s non-profit wing, Brattleboro Housing Opportunities Inc., operates in Brattleboro VT, a town with a population of 14,000 in the Southeast corner of Vermont. AmeriCorps is a federally-funded nationwide community service program.

Duties
This AmeriCorps member provides services and support to low-income residents at BHA properties, emphasizing activities which directly benefit their residents. Activities include: developing relationships with neighborhood children and youth that serve as the basis for outreach and programming that meets their identified needs; and assisting youth with their interpersonal relationships within the neighborhoods and carrying out programs and activities that respond to their needs.

  • The AmeriCorps member will assist youth through mentoring, building life skills and community while developing on-site and off-site enrichment, educational, and prevention opportunities and programming.
  • The member will be responsible for assisting youth with their interpersonal relationships within the neighborhoods; and carrying out programs and activities that respond to their needs.
  • The AmeriCorps member will also work on cooperative projects with staff of other community agencies serving youth and low-income families and assist in developing and implementing grant funded programs. (But not the grant writing itself) Also, included is keeping the community room space clean with the assistance of volunteer youth and adults.
  • The AmeriCorps member will spend about 10% of their time with the elderly/disabled communities by helping to plan community building events for residents in BHA’s elderly and disabled properties as determined by its residents.

  • His/her job will be to aid the property manager with programming for the residents of these communities and to develop a bridge between the family communities and elderly/disabled communities through volunteer programs and co programming.

Commitment:   Position requires 1,700 hours for an average of 35.5 hours per week for 11 months. AmeriCorps members receive an annual stipend of $12,825 plus an education award of $4,725. Program begins Sept. 24, 2007 and ends Aug. 22, 2008. Health insurance, diverse training opportunities and childcare (if state eligible) are provided.

Supervision:  Primary supervision will be provided by the BHA’s Property Manager.

Qualifications: Applicants must be over 17 years old and have a high school diploma or equivalency and own their own car.  Successful applicant will demonstrate an ability to work in diverse groups, understand the life issues of low-income families, and relate well to children, youth,  their care givers, elderly and disabled.  She/he will also demonstrate a positive, creative approach to working with children and youth, and to helping people solve problems.  She/he will need to have self-confidence and maturity, and be able to be see projects through to completion.  The candidate must be a self-starter and good team player.  An understanding of housing issues for low-income renters as well as first time home buyers, social services and volunteer recruitment would be helpful. Qualified applicants will be interviewed by a team including resident youth and adults.

To Apply: Please send completed VCSP AmeriCorps application, résumé, and two written references to:

Heidi Flaherty, Property Manager, P.O. Box 2275, West Brattleboro, VT 05303
or e-mail to heidif@sover.net. Position open until filled.

The Vermont Community Stewardship Program is an Equal Opportunity Employer.