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Council members and nonprofits raise alarm after large AmeriCorps VISTA reductions affecting local programs
Summary
During council updates members described sudden terminations or suspensions of many AmeriCorps VISTA positions and warned of impacts on local nonprofits, schools and service programs that rely on VISTA capacity.
During the council updates on April 28, multiple members raised concerns about recent, abrupt changes to the AmeriCorps VISTA program that city officials said have disrupted local nonprofits and service programs.
A councilmember reported that roughly 90% of VISTA programs and grants across South Carolina were terminated the prior Friday and that many members were told not to report to their sites. The speaker listed local organizations affected, including A Place to Call Home, PAL, Regenesis, Strategic Spartanburg, USC Upstate, the Bethlehem Center and United Way, and said the terminations threaten capacity for tutoring, food pantry operations, volunteer coordination and other services.
The councilmember said the loss of VISTA workers is already affecting programs that rely on their capacity and training. "We have people in our community that we love and know ... who were told not to show up Monday night at work, who already didn't make enough money to probably be able to pay their rent," the councilmember said on the record. The speaker urged the community to reach out to former VISTA members and to community organizations offering support.
Council members and staff said they were trying to identify local placements or bridge funding where possible and that conversations with state and national partners were ongoing.
Ending Council members said they would continue to monitor the situation and coordinate with United Way and affected nonprofit partners to seek short-term solutions for displaced VISTA members and the programs they support.
