American Volunteers ( VOA ) is a faith-based non-profit organization founded in 1896 that provides affordable housing and other relief services especially for low-income communities across the United States. Headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, the organization includes 32 affiliates and serves approximately 1.4 million people annually in 46 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
In addition to those in need of affordable housing, VOA helps veterans, low-income aged, children and families, homeless people, those with intellectual disabilities, those recovering from addiction, and those previously imprisoned.
Video Volunteers of America
History
American volunteers were founded on March 8, 1896 by social reformers Ballington Booth and his wife Maud Booth in the Great Hall of Cooper Union. Ballington Booth was the son of General William Booth, founder of The Salvation Army, and the couple served as officers with the Army in England.
The Booth first moved to New York in the 1890s to take command of the Salvation Army forces in the United States. The couple succeeded in strengthening the image of The Salvation Army in America and in fostering the social work mission of the movement. After a dispute with other Salvation Army leaders, including the brothers of Ballington Booth, Bramwell Booth, Booth left the organization and formed the Volunteers of America.
In the early 1900s, the organization embarked on a broad philanthropic program that included work bureaus, cooperative stores, health clinics, clothing distribution, women's sewing classes, Thanksgiving meals, reading rooms, fresh air camps and other places. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, Volunteers of America was mobilized to help millions of unemployed, starving and homeless people. Relief efforts include employment agencies, log yards, communal kitchens, and "Penny Pantries" where each item is worth a penny.
In the 1960s, Volunteers of America was renowned for thrift stores and annual fundraising efforts such as the Santa Sidewalk campaign in New York City. In an effort to modernize its program, the organization began to focus its work on housing for the poor after the creation of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.
In the 1970s, the organization emerged as the premier provider of professional long-term nursing care. Today, Volunteers of America offers home health care and related services, and owns and operates several treatment facilities, and residence assisted and self-reliant living.
American Volunteers are ranked among the largest charities in the United States by The NonProfit Times, The Chronicle of Philanthropy and Forbes among other publications, with annual revenues of more than $ 1 billion by 2015. This organization is one of the largest affordable non-profit housing providers for parents, low-income families and people with intellectual or physical disabilities in the United States.
The name of' American Volunteers'
When the American Volunteer was founded in 1896, volunteerism in the modern sense of the word did not exist. To "volunteer" at that time meant serving others as a full-time call. Initial members of the organization came to call themselves "American Volunteers" to distinguish themselves from The Salvation Army as an organization by Americans, to Americans.
In fact, Volunteers of America has staff primarily by paid staff, rather than unpaid volunteers. Over 16,000 paid professionals function as administrators, caregivers, skilled nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, housing experts, architects, and other positions in the organization.
Maps Volunteers of America
Service area
American volunteers manage a wide range of services for people in need, including low-income people, families and children, veterans, homeless people, those with intellectual disabilities, previously imprisoned, and people recovering from substance abuse. This service is designed specifically for the needs of local communities where American Volunteers work and can vary from city to city. Not all services are available in all locations, and the local offices of Volunteers of America, which are combined individually, assess local needs and tailor the program.
American volunteers have more than 15,000 paid employees. The majority of these staff members are trained professionals who provide direct services to clients. These organizations include national offices located in Alexandria, Virginia, and 32 locally-operated offices.
Old and elderly
Attention to the elderly has been part of the Volunteers of America mission since the 1890s. This organization is one of the largest nonprofit providers in the country with affordable housing for seniors and long-term professional care providers, including assisted care, home health care and home care. Supporting services include senior centers, transportation, intergenerational programs, referral information and services, protection services, Meals On Wheels repairers' program and repair services.
Housing
Volunteers of America is one of the largest nonprofit developers and affordable housing providers in the United States, with nearly 500 affordable housing in 40 states and Puerto Rico. Organizations own and/or manage more than 19,000 affordable housing units that provide homes for nearly 25,000 people each year.
In addition, Volunteers of America is one of the largest affordable nonprofit providers for affordable senior housing, including skilled and life-assisted care for the elderly. The organization is the main beneficiary of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to build housing for the elderly and the disabled.
Affordable Housing Financing Volunteers of America is the top nonprofit organization in "Top 50 Top Affordable Housing Owners," as well as the organization's ranking in "50 Best Affordable Housing Developers" and "Top 10 Acquisition Companies." also voted for the multi-family American Volunteer community, Lord Tennyson outside San Francisco, as the best "best best" housing project in the country for 2007.
American volunteers are national shelter and service providers for homeless people, from emergency shelter to temporary housing and permanent home placement. As one of the largest recipients of federal homeless grants, Volunteers of America reaches homeless people in many cities through road outreach and cellular outreach services. The organization also provides services to help return to homeless homeless - providing assistance ranging from paying the first month's rent to offering permanent supportive housing, empowering people with disabilities to become members of their stable and productive community.
Veteran
In 2010, Volunteers of America serves about 40,000 homeless veterans in 46 cities across 20 states. Services offered by organizations to homeless veterans include service centers, transitional homes, mental health counseling, substance abuse treatments and vocational training.
American volunteers are the leading grant recipients of the US Homeless Veterans Reunion Program in June 2009. This grant will be used to provide education and vocational training for homeless veterans. American volunteer offices in several cities also helped organize a local Stand Up event with the US Veterans Affairs Department aimed at assisting homeless veterans to access housing and services.
Children, teens, and families
American volunteers provide services for children, youth and families. These include child care, Head Start, and early literacy programs, nursing classes, quiet care, and delinquency prevention programs. Since 1999, Volunteers of America has also participated in the Scholastic Books Gramedia program, which provides high quality reading materials for children in need. Crisis interventions for families include lift and adoption services, reunification programs, and reach to runaway and homeless youth. By 2017, Volunteers of America has donated a backpack for every student living in New York City shelter, generating more than 140,000 backpack donations for 14 years.
Intellectual flaw
Volunteers of America serves thousands of individuals with disabilities across the country with special programs for mental retardation, autism, age-related issues and other challenges. Services include home support, case management, day programs and supportive work, special housing services and life support.
Former re-entry service
American volunteers work to help transition previously prisoned back to productive lives in the community through various services including shelter and job release programs, day reporting, diversion and pre-test services, home care, family support, and dispute settlement and mediation services.
Treatment of substance abuse
American volunteers offer treatments for substance abuse and addiction, as well as support services and housing maintenance options to help teenagers, adults, and their families cope with addiction. The service, which varies by city and local office, including detoxification, intensive outpatient services and residential care.
Ministry
At the national level, Volunteers of America is an interdenominational Christian service. The ministry describes itself as a "wallless church" called to serve everyone in the community and lists the following Belief Principles: We are diverse individuals, united as a ministry. o We are a church without walls. o We believe the love of God is revealed to us through the teachings of Jesus Christ. o We believe that when serving the most vulnerable, authentic spiritual transformation takes place - both for the giver and the recipient. o We believe in God's infinite grace and mercy. We believe that every individual deserves to be elevated into the glory of God.
North American California Volunteers & amp; The Nevada North affiliate states on its website, "Although we are an organization founded on Christian values, our programs and job opportunities are available to all, regardless of religion, race, color, creed, gender, marital status, disability physical or mental, age, national or ancestral origin, sexual orientation or other considerations made unlawful by federal, state or local law. "
Note
External links
- Volunteer of the American national website
- Profile of American Volunteer Statistics in the Association of Religious Data Archives
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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