VISTA

Americorps is a program that Lyndon B. Johnson's Administration created in 1964 in an effort for the war on poverty initiative that his administration had undertook during this era in history. It is basically a domestic peace corps for the 50 states of America. It's mission is to counter the issue of poverty through services, actions, resources, community projects, etc. In 1994 the Volunteers In Service To America in an effort to alleviate the problems and issues of poverty because as of current times there are thirty seven million people living in poverty. The Americorps VISTA has a program with the Ability Alliance Of West Alabama that just started in October 2009 and is located in Northport, Alabama. The mission of the Americorps VISTA program for the Ability Alliance's VISTA program is to build capacity by building partnerships in the community to help build sustainable relationships and infrastructure for many years to come. The Northport VISTA program is less than a year old but is amongst a three year governmental grant which is sustainable based on the efforts of its four members that is has now.
Nationally there are 6,852 members amongst the VISTA program nationwide in America and 11.4 million hours of service have been achieved. Americorps VISTA members are essentially paid volunteers that only make approximately $800 a month with health care and life insurance benefits. This is because the Volunteers In Service Program of Americorps is based largely upon serving others through being able to experience the toughness of living on a tight budget or being on the poverty line which varies based on the state that you are living in. Americorps VISTA has amassed an impressive 943 projects nationwide thus far and VISTA members mobilize volunteers in their prospective regions and the average is 110 per VISTA. Community volunteers have achieved 7.4 million hours of service with the cooperation of the Americorps VISTA member nationwide with a national budget as of 2008 of $93.8 million. However the amount of money raised for organizations nationwide is $172 million which amounts to approximately $25,000 per VISTA member. These are achievements of the Americorps VISTA program which the Ability Alliance Of West Alabama hopes to contribute to with its own new program with efficiency, poise, and focus.