What's in it for me?

No, AmeriCorps will not make you rich and famous. As a matter of fact, we encourage you to consider your budget before applying. Here are the tangible benefits for the 2011 - 2012 program year:

Full Time
Serve at least 1700 Hours (about 40 - 45 per week)
Living Allowance: $12,100
Education Award: $5,550
Child Care Subsidy: Available to eligible members.
Medical Care: Available to eligible members.

Part Time
Serve 900 Hours (about 20 - 25 per week)
Living Allowance: $6,406
Education Award: $2,775   
Child/Medical Care: Not available.

Quarter Time
Serve 450 Hours (about 43 per week during the Summer Program)
Living Allowance: $3,202
Education Award: $1,468
Child/Medical Care: Not available.

Please note: Education awards obtained only upon successful completion of the program. Child care eligibility is income-based. Medical care is need-based.

Non-tangible benefits

As an AmeriCorps member, you'll also get the chance to:
*Do something you believe in
*Make a difference in the life of a child
*Enhance your skills
*Build your resume
*Network
*Make friends
*Change the world

Tell me more about this education award

The education award is received upon successful completion of the term of service. This means that the member served all the hours they agreed to serve (1700 for Full Time, 900 for Part Time, 450 for Summer/Quarter Time) and also met the other requirements of their contract (tutoring, mentoring, community service, etc.). This award is not made in cash; the amount of the award is placed into the National Service Trust in the member's name and they have up to 7 years to use it. This award is above and beyond the living allowance. Learn more about the education award here.

Why should I join?

Members join AmeriCorps for a variety of reasons. One of the main reasons is to make a difference for something they really believe in. A lot of times when people finish college, they start right into their career. As dedicated as they may be to this career, often times it's not the most fulfilling feeling. The opportunity to work directly with someone who needs the skills and guidance you can offer is rewarding and fulfilling.

Members also join to enhance their skills. College is great for teaching people the facts and figures but the real life applications can be a challenge. Also, most employers want to hire someone who has experience, but you can't get experience until someone hires you. With KEYS, you get that experience. You'll be placed directly with a group of youth who will challenge you to use the knowledge you have to develop the skills you need.

At the beginning of training, members receive an "hours bank". This form maps out an estimate of how many hours are available each week of the program year. As the program year progresses, the member fills out the amount of hours they served each week and compares their cumulative total to the total they need to have to be on track. If the member is ahead, they can request time off and still be on track. If they are behind, they need to serve extra hours to get back on track.

We do not provide housing, however every year we have people move here (either for the full year or summer) from other areas. Some stay with friends, some scout the area ahead of time and find a spot, some just show up and hope for the best. Often, members from other areas end up finding places together. Our program does not help with relocation expenses. We often will send links to local roommate-hunting services and rental sites. Also, we share information between "out-of-towners" who are coming to join the program. The good news is that Pittsburgh is very much a college town. This means that tons of students move home over the summer, leaving many sublet opportunities.

Where are some places I can look for housing options?

There are lots of places you can look. The following is a sample of some resources. While KEYS does not endorse any option more than another, many of our members have used www.pittsburgh.craigslist.org or the classifieds at the University of Pittsburgh's www.pittnews.com.

Other resources to try are the classifieds at the Pittsburgh Post Gazette and the Pittsburgh Tribune Review or Roommates.com.

Do I need to have my own car?

It's not necessary to have your own vehicle. Pittsburgh has pretty decent public transportation. We don't determine where a member will live during the course of service, but since our service sites are spread out over the county, we offer advice as far as what neighborhoods are more centrally located. If a candidate has a car, then there's no problem. If they are taking public transportation, some sites are less accessible than others, so we take this into consideration.