Extra Housing Help for AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteers
At Odd Couples Housing, we look for ways to connect communities and help young people find housing. Because of this, we recently partnered with AmeriCorps VISTA — Mission: St. Louis. Our partnership helps VISTA volunteers serving their community find safe and affordable homes.
AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers serve year-long terms at local non-profits, working to reduce poverty. Volunteers provide services to the poor and disenfranchised, particularly children, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
Impact
Through this partnership, AmeriCorps VISTA—Mission: St. Louis offers a housing subsidy to active volunteers who live with an Odd Couples Housing homeowner. As a result, an already budget-friendly housing situation becomes even more affordable!
Katie Bench, Mission: St. Louis’ Director of Services, hopes that the subsidy program will positively impact the experiences of the 100+ AmeriCorps volunteers who join the program each year.
She also happily welcomed the partnership with Odd Couples Housing. Katie is especially eager to offer a homesharing option to volunteers who are new to St. Louis. “On average, 30% of the national service members in St. Louis are not from the region. I am thrilled with our partnership with Odd Couples Housing. Now, when members relocate, they will have an affordable housing option, with a built-in friend who knows the city!”
Katie is not alone in her enthusiasm, however. Odd Couples Housing CEO, Steve Lilly, had this to say:“We are honored to be one of the three companies asked to partner with AmeriCorps VISTA — Mission: St. Louis. We hope that through this partnership, Odd Couples Housing will help to simplify the lives of the organization’s volunteers by providing assistance with affordable housing, so they focus on their important jobs.”
Looking Ahead
Above all, we are thrilled to stand with AmeriCorps VISTA — Mission: St. Louis to support the volunteers doing important work in this region. We also envision this partnership will open exciting new doors for both our Seekers and Homeowners.
We’ll keep you updated!
