The Corporation for National and Community Service has announced that it will provide about $10 million for 90 summer service projects geared toward community safety.
Nearly 8,000 young people and senior citizens are expected to take part in the service projects over an eight- to 10-week period this summer, the federal corporation estimated last month.
Some will volunteer their time, but about 4,000 others will be able to earn an hourly wage of $4.25 and a $1,000 stipend payable at the end of their tenure.
Among other programs, the following will be funded under the corporation’s “Summer of Safety’':
- A 48-participant Boston program designed to organize self-sustaining community cleanup brigades, an escort service for senior citizens, and mentoring programs for young children.
- A 100-participant Hattiesburg, Miss., program that will involve children and youths ages 5 to 17 in public-safety service-learning projects in low-income neighborhoods.
- An initiative in Orlando, Fla., under which 140 senior citizens will organize “Grandma’s Houses,” safe houses located on each block in high-crime neighborhoods, and develop a crime-prevention program for the homeless.
- A program involving 50 Austin, Tex., youths who will work with police officers in their community, rehabilitate Austin Housing Authority sites that have been vandalized, and provide support services to crime victims.
Lead-in for AmeriCorps
The corporation’s Summer of Safety initiative is modeled on a similar service program that took place last summer.
This year, however, the summer programs will provide a lead-in to AmeriCorps, the year-round, federally funded national and community-service program that will provide loan reductions and college tuition to participating high school and college students.
The Clinton Administration is set to launch the program--touted as one of the President’s signature initiatives--in the fall with $153 million.
While the application deadline for national and multistate grant awards under Americorps has passed, applications for state programs will be taken until June 22.
An announcement of AmeriCorps grant recipients is to be made later this summer.
