Frequently Asked Questions
Food and Housing:
Corps members are provided with housing and food. Because the corps will be responding to disasters the housing and food will vary by location and length of deployment.
Stipend:
Corps members will receive a monthly stipend to cover all necessary expenses not provided by host communities.
Health Insurance:
Corps members will be provided with limited health coverage during their year.
What if I am not "strong" or handy with tools:
The needs of a community after a disaster are much more than just physical labor. There is a need for hard working and motivated people with all sorts of skills, like finding the needs of homeowners, organizing volunteers, coordinating food and more. Anyone can make a significant contribution to a disaster relief operation.
What if I have never done any disaster response work before:
The JDRC will provide all corps members with training at the start of the year. It is also important to note that disasters are unpredictable and the needs are varied. Therefore the most important thing is to be flexible and able to adapt to current circumstances.
Why should I spend a year with the Corps:
As a member of the corps you will have the opportunity to travel across the United States helping individuals and communities when they are in their greatest need. When a natural disaster strikes there are many needs, the corps will encourage its members to find innovative ways to meet all of these needs, whether it is through taking a leadership role, developing effective communication skills, engaging creative thinking and problem solving or, most likely, all of the above.
The JDRC Corps is what you make of it. The Corps can provide you with a life-changing experience, long-lasting friendships, skills useful in a variety of careers and a chance to see parts of the country you might not normally visit in other circumstances. Whether you decide to join the Corps is up to you, but it is certainly not an opportunity you will ever be presented with again.