1. VISTA
LIVING:
YOUR
SURVIVAL
GUIDE

2. Support

3. Vista LeaderS HERE PLAN ARE YOUR :) YOU NAVIGATE HELP YOU PLAN SOCIAL
PROVIDE
PLAN
TRAININGS
HELP YOU
SOCIAL
RESOURCES
NAVIGATE
EVENTS
YOUR TERM
OF SERVICE
ARE
ANSWER
YOUR
HERE :)
QUESTIONS
YOU
FOR

4. Other support networks
Minnesota Literacy Council
National Service Team
Your fellow Minnesota Literacy Council VISTAs and VISTAs
in other programs
Minnesota InterCorps Council (ICC)
existing networks: family and friends.
Other support networks

5. Benefits

6. Employee Assistance Program
If you don’t feel comfortable sharing your problems with your fellow VISTAs, family, friends, your VISTA leader or anyone else in your immediate network, they’re available to you 24/7

8. Student Loans & Forbearance
If you choose the education award, your “my AmeriCorps” account will allow you to apply for forbearance with your loan provider
Only eligible federal loans can be put in forbearance
You will need the name of your loan provider and/or the number of your loan/s
Interest repayment
If you choose the stipend, you may have other ways to minimize your loan payments for the year.
Loan deferment
Income based repayment plans
You can also contact your loan provider to request forbearance, deferment, or sign up for alternate payment plans (such as Income Based Repayment)

9. https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/
You’ll want to log on to Student Aid and you can check who your lender is on there. You’ll need this info to request forbearance

11. Healthcare Healthcare allowance
Up to $7,150 reimbursement for out of pocket healthcare costs
Deductibles, copayments, prescriptions, and more
Must have health insurance
Medicaid or Medicare is included. Apply ASAP
Healthcare.gov or MnSure
Benefit plan
Must be legally exempt
Basic health benefits plan
covers most medical needs
Must be exempt from having health insurance
“Telehealth” (virtual care) Benefit – virtual healthcare. Contact physicians, social workers, professional counselors, psychologists 24/7 by phone or video chat, at no cost.
Last year, VISTA Leader signed up for health insurance through MnSure and had a second job. It only cost $61 a month- It’ll likely be cheaper if you only have your VISTA position

12. Services

13. SNAP
What is SNAP
Food assistance program that you may be eligible for.
How to apply
Apply online at
Apply in person at your county office
Things to keep in mind
Apply early and in person to have the best result
Your experience will depend on your caseworker
Things you may need:
Bank statement
Paystub and/or service letter (I can provide this)
Copy of your lease/proof of housing costs
How many of you have signed up with SNAP yet?
How hard/easy was it?
For some caseworkers, they say VISTA Is considered an income, so just be sure to make calls and meet with someone to talk about your situation

14. Other Services
Prepare and Prosper More info and locations:
KindestCut offers low cost vet care and resources for more affordable care
Nice Ride discounted membership
Discounted gym memberships
EMERGE’s Four Cornerstones of Financial Literacy class is free every Wednesday at EMERGE Headquarters
Some farmers market venders take SNAP
TAP – Transportation Assistance Program (Metro Transit)
Free tax services and financial advice through P&P- they’ll be doing a presentation for us on December 15th
We also can get discounted Science Museum tickets
MN Literacy Council can get you super discounted membership to Nice Ride – only $5 for the season per VISTA – sign up through MN Literacy Council
TAP – eligible if receive any public benefits (e.g., SNAP) - $1 rides

15. Professional Development

16. Professional Development
You have $150….USE IT!
s with professional development opportunities
Seek out your own as well
Professional development and Networking
Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN)
Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPN)
Young Education Professionals Network
InterCorps Council of Minnesota
Minnesota Rising
Pollen
If you reach your $150 and have an opportunity you’d like to take advantage of above your $150, you can still make a request and we will consider it depending on whether funds are available.

17. Wellness & self care

18. Ways to self care Exercise/eat healthy foods Read Write or draw
Arts/crafts/DIY
Find a organizational system
Practice or start new hobbies
Sports
Gratitude Journal
Be around other people!
Think, pair, share: Talk with a new neighbor. How do you destress. What do you do to relax and practice self care?
Why self care is important ∗ Energy
∗ Motivation
∗ Health
∗ Happiness
∗ Community
∗ Relief
∗ Improved cognitive abilities
∗ Longevity in the profession

19. Additional resources

20. VISTA VISTA Living Guide & Blog Housing, activities, and more!
VISTA Campus:
Everything you need to know about being a VISTA
Webinars
Resources for your service
Forums and ways to connect with other VISTAS
VISTA Portal:
MN Literacy Council resource
VISTA Portal
VISTA member trainings, forms, and additional resources

21. Tips and Tricks Budget Take advantage of free stuff all the time
Thrillest
Mint
Digit
Take advantage of free stuff all the time
Libraries
Museum and art gallery free days
Plenty of parks
City Pages
Lean on your support networks
Always self advocate
Thrillest: a website online where you can search for discounts on food/drinks around the twin cities
Mint is an app you can sync with your bank account and it gives you alerts when your account balance is low or when you have bills coming up. You can create a budget on there and it’ll alert you when you’ve gone over your monthly budget for an item
Digit is an app that costs $2.99/month, but it saves money for you without you doing anything. It’ll save gradually, in small increments and you can pause the saving at anytime. You can withdraw super easy. Pretty intuitive