A Year of Service

AmeriCorps members spend a year immersed in the lives of pregnant and parenting women experiencing homelessness and now housed in a loving, caring environment at Zelie’s Home.

AmeriCorps: A Year of Service

What We Do

Learn what life is like for an AmeriCorps member at Zelie’s Home.

FAQs

Get answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.

Discernment Packet

Use our discernment packet as a guide as you consider a year of service.

Ready to Make an Impact

Ready to take the next step? We are excited to hear from you!

The Zelie’s Home AmeriCorps Experience

  • This experience has truly brought my life into perspective. I have learned so much about the real world, the trials our moms face on a daily basis, the impacts of trauma, and the unfortunate reality of homelessness, but have also seen the beauty and pureness of new life.

    -Catalina, 2022-23

  • Over the course of the year we all struggled, sacrificed and ultimately succeeded in creating a working, living community of moms and staff

    -Mat, 2022-23

How To Apply

We look for people who are happy, empathetic, adaptable, non-judgmental, committed to servant leadership, and willing to grow through challenging and uncomfortable situations.

To apply for an AmeriCorps position, please submit your application, references and resume through this online form:  

After reviewing your application materials, we will inform you if we would like to schedule a virtual interview and discernment conversation with current AmeriCorps.

Commitment Dates 

SummerCorps commitments start May 15 or June 15 for a total of 8-12 weeks.

6-month commitments start January 2, 2025 - June 30, 2025

Yearlong commitments start August 15, 2025 - August 15, 2026. We recognize our program is 6 weeks longer than the 11 month commitment to NDMV AmeriCorps. Due to the nature of the work at Zelie’s Home, we need AmeriCorps to serve for a complete year. Compensation for the additional time will be provided by Zelie’s Home directly. NDMV AmeriCorps and Zelie’s Home staff training will take place during the first week of the commitment, depending upon the service term chosen.

 

Fill out the form below to contact us for more information or to schedule a meeting.

What we do

Duties Include:

  • Working as a team and collaborating with other AmeriCorps and support staff

  • Responding to emergencies, crises and conflicts within the home

  • Participating in and planning community functions, including celebrations, house retreats and weekly house meetings, as well as AmeriCorps community events

  • Providing daytime and overnight house coverage by answering the phone, welcoming visitors, offering tours, receiving donations and responding to the duty of the moment

  • Each Corps member will be responsible for project(s) within their service year. Some examples include:

    • Donations Coordination- assist the donations manager in accepting donations and fulfilling the needs of current and alumnae moms.

    • Christmas Coordination- will assist executive director and donations manager in collection, logging and valuing Christmas donations.

    • Recruitment - will research recruitment events and assist the leadership team with recruitment efforts

    • Financial Literacy- will work with current and alumnae moms to complete financial literacy expectations, by facilitating one on one or group sessions.

    • Holiday Support - celebrate holiday(s) with moms and children in our home. Coordinate special meals, support and projects in the home to ensure holidays are a time of love and care.

A Day In The Life:

Each day is different for each AmeriCorps member, dependent on the needs of the moms in your house. Among the possibilities are:

  • Accompanying moms to doctors appointments or hospital

  • Building relationships with mothers

  • Mentoring mothers one-on-one

  • Assisting in moving a mom in or out of the house

  • Hold babies

  • Help ensure the home is a clean and welcoming environment for the moms

Training:

AmeriCorps members will be trained in:

  • Conflict resolution

  • Trauma-informed care

  • Best practices for working with vulnerable populations

  • Emotional de-escalation techniques

  • CPR / First Aid

  • Mental Health First Aid

AmeriCorps members receive:

  • Zelie’s Home benefits received for all non-PRN Corps Members not dependent on time of year: 

    • Individual counseling reimbursement available

    • $50 monthly Wellness stipend

    • Flexible but consistent scheduling

    • Regular trainings and formations 

    • Opportunity to take one personal retreat that include 2 vacation days outside of aforementioned ($50 reimbursement available)

    • Annual fall and spring retreats

    • Access to basic necessities (including food and hygiene products) 

    • Access to community vehicles 

    Full time Summer/Corps Member (benefits effective if hired outside of AmeriCorps program (June through August))

    • Hourly pay of $10.45 (including sleeping hours) 

    • PTO

    • Monthly health insurance stipend

    • SIMPLE IRA match up to 3%

    • Optional supplemental insurance options

    Part time / PRN Summer/Corps Member 

    • Hourly pay of $10.45 (including sleeping hours) 

    • SIMPLE IRA match up to 3%

    • $23.08 per pay Wellness stipend (during payrolls worked)

    AmeriCorps (benefits effective August 16, 2024 - June 30, 2025):

    • Living Allowance: 1700 hr, Full Year: $18,700; 900 hr, Full Year: $9,350

    • Upon completion of hours, AmeriCorps Segal Education Award of $6,895 (full time) or $3,447.50 (part time)

    • Optional health insurance

    • Optional childcare

    • Forbearance on eligible student loans

    • Interest Accrual payment on all eligible student loans

    • 12.5 vacation days per year commitment (full time) // 5 vacation days per year commitment (part time) 

    • Bi-weekly NDMVA Northeast Ohio Large group AmeriCorps meetings

    • NDMVA Mid-Year conference in Baltimore (4 days over President’s Day weekend)

Requirements:

  • Flexibility/Adaptability

  • Emotional maturity

  • Resiliency

  • Empathy

  • Acceptance of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and customs

  • Openness to growth

  • College degree or equivalent life experience

  • Drivers license

  • Ideally candidates are 21 years of age and older

  • Summer AmeriCorps ideal applicants are at least 20 years of age

  • Ability to lift 30 lbs.

FAQs

 

How is Zelie’s Home different from other service programs?

At Zelie’s Home, AmeriCorps enter into a community, where everyone, moms, staff and AmeriCorps are sharing and growing together. AmeriCorps members accompany the women they serve, and each member of the community, regardless of their role, is changed profoundly by the experience.

Can I apply if I’m not a US citizen?

AmeriCorps members must be US citizens or legally documented residents.

Are there medical considerations for service?

As AmeriCorps members, you will interact with pregnant women and newborns, groups that have a heightened risk of illness and complications. Pregnant women have somewhat suppressed immune systems and newborns have underdeveloped ones, making it extra important that AmeriCorps take appropriate precautions for the health of the community, such as keeping their own vaccines up to date. It is expected that as an AmeriCorps member, you will receive a flu shot at the beginning of flu season, even if you don’t typically get one each year. We also request proof that you have received a tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis booster within the last five years. The vaccine must have had the pertussis component included because pertussis can be fatal for newborns and infants. If you are unsure if you have received it, please check with your doctor. AmeriCorps members are also expected to be able to operate well under high levels of stress, and communicate your stress with your supervisor or team. AmeriCorps members should consider any mental health struggles or challenges when applying for service at Zelie’s Home. 

Are there costs associated with applying/serving?

Other than the normal costs associated with traveling to and from the placements, no.

Is Zelie’s Home a religious organization?

Zelie’s Home is not a religious organization. We are a social service organization, and we accept moms, staff, and AmeriCorps members of any, or no, faith background. Zelie’s Home was founded in the spirit of the Catholic Worker Movement, and we continue to be guided and inspired by Catholic Social Teaching. Our homes have chapels and churches nearby. Therese’s Nest (our Garfield location) has the Blessed Sacrament present. We encourage our AmeriCorps members to continue practicing their faith if it is a part of their life, but we are not evangelical in any way, shape, or form. Any religious activities take place outside of AmeriCorps hours.

Is there a dress code at Zelie’s Home?

We ask our AmeriCorps members to look presentable during times that the home is open to guests, volunteers, and donors (9AM-8PM). This means no inappropriate clothing. When asked to speak at an event or attend staff-wide meetings, AmeriCorps members should be expected to have business casual wear.

What about meals?

Each home has a grocery budget and is stocked with community groceries. If you prefer to buy your own personal food, you can do so with personal money. Meals are on your own for both moms and AmeriCorps, except for community nights at either home.

Are there costs associated with serving?

Out of town applicants are responsible for traveling to and from their placement here in Cleveland to begin/end their year of service. AmeriCorps relocating are responsible for finding and securing housing. There is no cost to apply and there are no fundraising requirements.

Do I have to have my license?

Every year-long AmeriCorps member needs to have their license, and ideally, needs to be at least 21 year old in order to drive our Zelie’s Home cars. SummerCorps do not have to be 21.

Will I have my own bedroom?

AmeriCorps members will have a private area to sleep and be away from the community during overnight shifts.

Do you get regular holidays off?

No. Zelie’s Home does not close for the holidays, so AmeriCorps members do not get traditional holidays off. We are often the primary support and community of the moms that live with us. As a full time AmeriCorps Member, you are expected to work two TIER 1 holidays and one TIER 2 holiday. As a part time AmeriCorps Member, you are expected to work one TIER 1 holiday and one TIER 2 holiday. Upon acceptance of the position you will have the opportunity to rank the holidays according to your preference.

Can I have another job while at Zelie’s Home?

Working at Zelie’s Home is extremely demanding. However, AmeriCorps members with good boundaries and self care routines may be able to handle another job, school or online classes, however, this is not for everyone.

What does day to day life look like?

Each day is dependent on the needs of the moms in the home, so each day looks different! Typically, the day is split into duty shifts. When an AmeriCorps member is not on duty, she may spend her time one-on-one with moms, driving moms and babies to appointments or classes, or doing administrative position work.