Volunteers' most common experiences with crime are petty thefts of things like stereos and bikes. There are some built-in safety factors. All volunteers attend an urban safety seminar at orientation. Living in community assures volunteers that someone is around most of the time. Local Support Committees and former volunteers are neighborhood resources as well.
Volunteers live under financial constraints, but basic needs are met.
LVC asks volunteers to limit their spending to the amount of their stipends. Volunteers are asked not to work for pay outside of their placement, take classes for credit, or work a lot of overtime. Volunteers may bring musical instruments, small stereos, bikes, etc. A simplified lifestyle is one of the harder challenges the volunteers face in our world of plenty because living simply is much more than living on a volunteer stipend. It's also considering the use of time and resources.