Since 1993, AmeriCorps has been at the forefront of national and community service. Over the last thirty years, AmeriCorps has brought people together, connecting individuals and organizations to help communities tackle their toughest challenges. They are home currently to over 200,000 members and volunteers in organizations dedicated to strengthening their communities, nationwide. AmeriCorps is THE only federal agency for community service and volunteerism, empowering an entire ecosystem committed to the betterment of communities across America. And they’re currently at risk for defunding.
Here in Woonsocket, our very own AmeriCorps branch Accessing Home, works to bring low to moderate-income families home through partnerships with affordable housing providers throughout Rhode Island. The Accessing Home initiative, launched in 2016, helps Rhode Island families acquire and maintain affordable, safe, and healthy housing. Not only does Accessing Home help the community we serve, our members have also benefited greatly from their service.
On April 16, America’s Service Commission announced that the Department of Government Efficiency had made the decision to terminate approximately $400 million in AmeriCorps grants. This sudden decision will effectively close over 1,000 programs and prematurely end the service of over 32,000 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers. It will also leave communities across the country without crucial services provided by the terminated programs. These decisions may critically impact our Accessing Home program here in Woonsocket, and an integral branch of our NeighborWorks Blackstone Valley foundation.
NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley urges all Rhode Islanders to contact local representatives to advocate for the funding of AmeriCorps and our Accessing Home Program, as well as convey support for a recently reintroduced bill.
“Antipoverty work has no party, it is a human necessity,” expressed Meg Rego of NWBRV. “We are all fighting multiple battles, on many fronts. This is a call to action to preserve National Service. Accessing Home provides critically important work for Rhode Island. Let’s see what we can do about this together. “
As of April 16, 2025, the Unity through Service Act has been reintroduced in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Rhode Island senator Jack Reed, along with Todd Young (R-IN) reintroduced the bill in the Senate, while Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Jack Bergman (R-MI), and Don Bacon (R-NE) introduced it in the House .
The bill aims to establish an Interagency Council on Service to coordinate and lead initiatives across military, national, and public service sectors. It also proposes a joint advertising, market research, and recruiting program involving the Department of Defense, the Corporation for National and Community Service, and the Peace Corps. Currently, the bill has been referred to the appropriate committees in both chambers for consideration and needs your support.
AmeriCorps is a special program that allows individuals with limited experience in a field of work to learn and develop their skills while serving their country and graduating with certifications that allow them to be competitive in the workforce. This program is unique as many members that have served with Accessing Home have been from the same communities that they were serving. Rhode Islanders that previously experienced homelessness, learned English as a second language, and are survivors of domestic violence have been sworn in as Accessing Home AmeriCorps members, taking the pledge to ‘bring Americans together to strengthen our communities.’
Accessing Home Program Manager, Tyler Martin
In the last year alone, our mutually beneficial organization of thirteen members served more than 1,300 households and over 2,500 individuals across nine host organizations.
We encourage all Rhode Islanders to contact your Members of Congress using this tool from Voices for National Service and to use social media to share the critical role AmeriCorps members play in your community.
