SBP now recruiting prospective AmeriCorps members for operations across the Texas Coast
We are proud to announce that the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the Federal agency which oversees the national service program, AmeriCorps, today awarded SBP a grant which provides an additional 140 members to SBP which will bolster SBP’s disaster recovery efforts in Texas. SBP is now actively recruiting qualified individuals to serve a 10-month term in Texas, helping communities to recover from Hurricane Harvey.
Commenting on the grant, SBP Co-Founder and CEO, Zack Rosenburg, said, “SBP’s mission is to shrink time between disaster and recovery, and there is no effective disaster recovery without AmeriCorps. Nationally, AmeriCorps members serving with SBP have provided direct impact and leveraged volunteer labor from across the country to rebuild communities following disaster.”
SBP, which relies on AmeriCorps members and volunteer labor to rebuild homes for low-moderate income homeowners after disaster events for 40% the cost of market rate contractors, will play a major role in long-term recovery efforts in Texas as the state rebuilds from Hurricane Harvey.
The grant from CNCS effectively doubles the number of AmeriCorps members under SBP’s direction nationally and will enable SBP to deploy its proven effective disaster recovery and rebuilding model which is based on the Toyota Production System (TPS) across devastated parts of Texas, thereby shrinking time between disaster and recovery.
Speaking about the grant, Chester Spellman, Director of AmeriCorps at CNCS said, “For decades, AmeriCorps members have stood arm in arm with communities impacted by disaster. We hold this same commitment to helping communities impacted by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria recover. AmeriCorps is proud to provide this new grant to SBP to support this work, which will enable many more young people to answer the call to serve. AmeriCorps will continue to support these communities over the long haul and together, we will rebuild."
SBP established a presence in Texas just days after Hurricane Harvey’s flood waters receded and has committed to long-term recovery efforts, recently opening an office in Houston. Part of SBP’s initial response, has focused on sharing free, vital resources with homeowners to help them make smart, informed decisions that will help them avoid common pitfalls and speed their recovery. (sbpusa.org/start-here)
Moving forward, AmeriCorps members operating under SBP will serve homeowners impacted by Hurricane Harvey, by providing case management services and serving as construction leads, guiding volunteers in rebuilding efforts, and training other organizations in the utilization of SBP’s proven effective model. As such, SBP anticipates that 70 AmeriCorps members will serve directly under SBP, and 70 will be embedded within partner organizations across Texas.
Rosenburg added, “Through this grant, SBP will not only be able to rebuild efficiently, but these additional AmeriCorps members will also share SBP’s rebuilding model and best practices with other local and national organizations involved in recovery, thereby increasing the capacity, efficiency and ability to efficiently serve more homeowners in need.
AmeriCorps facilitates and emblemizes Americans’ unbreakable ties to each other, despite distance and perceived differences. The opportunity for Americans to join AmeriCorps thanks to this grant, will enable those who wish to serve their fellow citizens in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, a meaningful, impactful way to do so.”
GRANT INFORMATION & BACKGROUND:
This grant was provided as part of more than $2.8 million the agency awarded in funding to support long-term recovery activities for Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. $225,000 of this was to a Senior Corps program in Houston, currently active in response activities. $1.8 million was provided to SBP, Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, and Utah Conservation Corps to support approx. 175 members. $800K went to commissions: One Star Foundation, Puerto Rico Commission for Volunteerism and Community Service, United Way Association of South Carolina, Volunteer Florida, and the Volunteer Louisiana Commission.
SBP AmeriCorps members will serve 10-month terms of service, and will be trained and equipped to serve in the following capacities:
- Construction Project Lead
- Construction Specialist
- Supply and Logistics Coordinator
- Client Services Coordinator
- Volunteer Coordinator
- Placement Site Trainer
To learn more about SBP’s AmeriCorps program and to apply, visit:
sbpusa.org/get-involved/americorps
About the Corporation for National and Community Service and AmeriCorps
The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that engages millions of Americans in service through its AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and Volunteer Generation Fund programs, and leads the nation's volunteering and service efforts. The agency has more than 2,000 AmeriCorps and Senior Corps members active in response work in Texas, Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. AmeriCorps members hail from all 50 states.
For more information, visit NationalService.gov.