This is a hub for resources, advice, or tips we have for our AmeriCorps Members to navigate during their service year. Some of our sites offer additional resources to their VISTAs.
If you have any suggestions for our incoming members, feel free to contact us at AmeriCorps@thealliancetx.org.
Living on AmeriCorps Stipend
As an AmeriCorps member you are expected to live under a modest stipend. As challenging as it can be for those coming into service, we have tips and strategies for those to live well while living on a budget. This is collective resources offered by current and alums of the AmeriCorps Houston Adult Literacy Project.
Most Americorps Members are eligible for SNAP, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, to pay for groceries. This is an income-based government program that will help subsidize the cost of nutritious food. Members receive an EBT card that looks like a credit card and can be used at most grocery stores.
Healthcare
AmeriCorps VISTA Members:
As an AmeriCorps VISTA member, you may be eligible to participate in the AmeriCorps VISTA Health Benefit Plan if you do not have other insurance coverage such as an individual or group plan, Medicare, Medicaid, or Military benefits. The AmeriCorps VISTA Health Benefit Plan is a self-funded health benefit plan created by AmeriCorps and is paid for with funds appropriated by Congress for AmeriCorps. This is a limited healthcare plan administered by International Medical Group, Inc. (IMG®); this is not an insurance policy. The AmeriCorps VISTA Health Benefit Plan provides you with 24-hour healthcare coverage as soon as you enroll into the plan online or via the paper enrollment form, and will terminate automatically on the date your AmeriCorps VISTA service ends or the date that other healthcare coverage becomes effective.
See more information about AmeriCorps VISTA Health Plan here
Things to do in the City
There are multiple events throughout Houston that are inexpensive — or even free! Here are some local event websites to check out:
A Year in Houston at a Glance:
January:
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- Martin Luther King Jr. Grande Parade; Chevron Houston Marathon
February / March:
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- Texas Lunar New Year, Mardi Gras Galveston, Go Texan Day, Rodeo BBQ Cookoff, RodeoHouston, Mariachi Invitational, Holi Festival of Colors
March:
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- Bayou City Art Festival (Spring), Tour de Houston, St. Patrick’s Day Parade
April:
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- MenilFest, San Jacinto Day Festival and Battle Reenactment, Art Car
Parade, Japan Festival
- MenilFest, San Jacinto Day Festival and Battle Reenactment, Art Car
May:
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- Texas Crawfish and Music Festival, Houston Dragon Boat Festival, Comicpalooza, Mediterranean Festival
June:
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- Free Press Summer Fest, Pride Houston, Juneteenth Celebration, Carnival Houston Show+Parade
July:
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- Houston’s Official July 4th Festival: Freedom over Texas!
August:
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- Theater District Open House, Houston International Jazz Festival,
Houston Shakespeare Festival, White Linen Night in the Heights
- Theater District Open House, Houston International Jazz Festival,
September:
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- Fiestas Patrias, Untapped Music and Beer, Houston Brazilian Festival, Oktoberfest Houston
October:
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- The Original Greek Festival, Festa Italiana, Texas Renaissance Festival, Annual Puerto Rican & Cuban Festival, Miller Outdoor Theatre Festival Chicano
November:
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- Thanksgiving Day Parade, International Quilt Festival, Day of the
Dead, Texas Championship Native American Pow Wow, Ice at Discovery Green
- Thanksgiving Day Parade, International Quilt Festival, Day of the
December:
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- Mayor’s Official Downtown Houston Holiday Celebration, Dickens on the Strand (Galveston)
AmeriCorps Education Award
After successfully completing your AmeriCorps term of service and enrolling in the National Service Trust, you are eligible to receive the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. You can use the award to repay qualified student loans and to pay current educational expenses at eligible institutions of higher education and training programs.
Pay educational expenses:
Your education award can pay current educational expenses at eligible schools and at certain GI Bill-approved educational programs for veterans.
Eligible schools are higher educational institutions, both domestic and foreign, that currently participate in the Department of Education’s Title IV student aid programs. This category includes most post-secondary colleges, universities, and technical schools.
Repay qualified student loans:
The Segal AmeriCorps Education Award can only be used to repay the qualified student loans listed below:
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- Loans backed by the federal government under Title IV of the Higher Education Act (except PLUS Loans to parents of students)
- Loans under Titles VII or VIII of the Public Service Health Act
- Loans made by a state agency, including state institutions of higher education
Relocation Assistance (VISTA)
If you’re relocating more than 50 miles from your permanent address to the service site, you may be eligible for relocation assistance, such as a $750-Settling-In Allowance and mileage reimbursement per the federal rate. Refer to the Relocation Fact Sheet for more information.
Life After AmeriCorps
Join AmeriCorps Alums! AmeriCorps Alums is the only national network that connects the over one million alumni of all AmeriCorps programs to resources that support their lifetime of service. AmeriCorps is federally funded and the largest service year umbrella program, offering opportunities with three main types of service year programs: AmeriCorps State and National, AmeriCorps VISTA, and AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps).
