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Saturday volunteer orientation copy
The document provides an agenda for a volunteer orientation at Middlesex Habitat for Humanity. It summarizes the organization's mission to provide affordable housing and introduces volunteers to opportunities to assist with building homes, working at the ReStore, and serving on committees. Safety protocols are reviewed for working on build sites and at the ReStore. Volunteers are encouraged to sign up online to assist with construction, at the ReStore, or in the office.
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Saturday volunteer orientation copy
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- 2. Agenda for morning •Welcome and Introductions • What we do: The Mission MHFH • Volunteer Roles and Opportunities • Safety for the Build site and the ReStore • How to sign up to volunteer
- 3. Who we are….What we do • Nonprofit, nondenominational Christian housing ministry • Habitat welcomes all people • Founded 1976 by Millard Fuller and his wife, Linda
- 4. Since the beginning… 500,000Homes built world wide 2 Million People impacted 90 Countries have benefited All 50 U.S. states are engaged 10 affiliates in CT g reakin R ecord b erved i n m ilies s 2 94,618 fa l Year 201 Fisca
- 5. Affiliates > Each affiliateis independent • Fund raising • Volunteer Coordination • Building Model • Neighborhood Re-vitalization (ABWK) > Support given by HFHI • Help starting an affiliate • Problem solving and support • Offers a forum for affiliate conversation • Development Opportunities
- 6. • Began in 1987 • Works throughout Middlesex County • 13 homes Built • 8 ABWK Projects completed this year • ReStore in operation since December 2010 • Tithe has supported construction of 80 homes in Africa (now our commitment is to and Haiti)
- 7. Homeownership • Equal HousingOpportunity • Issues families face – Overcrowding – Unfit conditions – And more
- 8. Homeowner Selection 3 basiccriteria – The need for decent affordable housing – The ability to pay a no interest mortgage – The willingness to partner with Habitat
- 9. A Hand Up Focus on families who earn serve less than 50% of the Average Median income in Middlesex County Mortgage payment helps others
- 10. How can webuild a house that is affordable? • No profit, 0% Interest mortgage • Financial contributions • Volunteers
- 11. Hubbard Street ABWK roof project $120,000 Huber Street $118,000
- 12. Volunteer Opportunities • Building •ReStore • Office • Committee • Leadership
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- 15. Typical Construction DaySchedule • 8:30 to 3:30 • Morning Moment of Silence • Safety Meeting and Training for work • Break for Refreshments • Lunch • Clean Up Remember to call 860-343-9179
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- 17. • What isthe ReStore? • What do volunteers do? • Who can volunteer?
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- 21. Volunteering on the Build Site or at The ReStore Sign up online Groups Community Service Corporate outreach
- 22. Committees • Family Selection Committee • Public Relations Committee • Finance Committee • ReStore Advisory Committee • ReStore Marketing Committee • Personnel (HR) • Board of Directors • Building • Land Acquisition Committee • Development Committee • Events Committee • Nominations
- 23. Office • Volunteer Relations • Construction Assistance • Data Entry • Event Planning • Publication Creation • I.T. support • Much more
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- 25. On line VolunteerRegistration www.habitatmiddlesex.org/volunteer
- 26. Middlesex Habitat forHumanity of Connecticut 34 Shunpike Road, Unit 24-26 Cromwell, CT 06416 860-343-9179 / www.habitatmiddlesex.org
Editor's Notes
- #2 Opening screen – Have everyone sign in and begin to fill out their liability waivers. Go around the room and have each person share their name and a bit about why they are volunteering. End with yourself. Note that each person comes to Habitat to volunteer for a different reason.
- #3 What we will be talking about today: 5 points What Habitat for Humanity is What we do Volunteer Opportunities Safety for the Build site and the ReStore How to sign up to volunteer?
- #4 Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, nondenominational Christian Housing ministry. Habit welcomes all people - regardless of race, religion, sex, economic standing or any other difference – to build simple, decent, affordable houses in partnership with this who lack adequate shelter. Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 when self made millionaire Millard Fuller and his wife Linda made the choice to give up all of their money and spend a life in Christian service. They had been struggling in their marriage and found that their would be no better way to grow together in service and in faith. Once recognizing the need for housing among the extremely poor of Southwest Georgia Habitat was created. distribute copy of Middlesex Habitat Mission Statement
- #5 Since Habitat for Humanity began over 500,000 homes have been built providing shelter for more than 2 million people in nearly 90 countries! There is at least one Habitat Affiliate in each of the United States. Connecticut has 10 affiliates. HFH of Coastal Fairfield in Bridgeport Housatonic HFH in Danbury Hartford Area HFH in Hartford Middlesex HFH of CT in Cromwell HFH of Greater New Haven in New Haven Southeastern Connecticut HFH in New London Northeast Connecticut HFH in Putnam Northwest Connecticut HFH in Salisbury HFH of Greater Waterbury in Waterbury Windham Area HFH in Willimantic
- #6 Habitat affiliates work locally in the communities around the world to select and support homeowners, organize volunteers and coordinate house building. Habitat affiliates operate completely independently of each other and independently of Habitat International. Each affiliate does all of their own fundraising, volunteer coordination, building models and much more. This makes sense because you wouldn’t want someone in Arizona telling you how to build in New England or someone from a big city telling you how to recruit volunteers in a small community. All aspects of Habitat vary depending on the area that the affiliate is in, so it is important for each affiliate to be able to make these decision to be able to serve the community best. Although the affiliates operate independently Habitat for Humanity International does offer support. They help to start and affiliate They will step in and help if a problem were to arise that the affiliate needed assistance in handling They offer a forum where affiliates can communicated with each other to help solve problems and get good ideas. They also offer training to people in the affiliates through conferences, online training and conference calls.
- #7 Middlesex habitat for Humanity of Connecticut, Inc. began in 1987 with an all volunteer Board of volunteers. This affiliate works throughout New London County To date (July 2010) the affiliate has built 43 homes in New London Country and has sponsored hundreds of homes throughout the world. The affiliates is able to build homes throughout the world by making a yearly tithe to Habitat for Humanity of Guatemala, Egypt and Haiti. This Habitat affiliate now operates with a small staff of (July 2010) 4 Full time Employees, 3 part time employees and 3 AmeriCorps. This includes all office staff, construction staff and the ReStore Staff.
- #8 Homeowner selection is done completely through the local affiliate. Middlesex Habitat for Humanity of CT., Inc. is committed to assuring Equal Housing Opportunity for all, and does not discriminate homeowner selection of the basis of ethnicity, religion, sex or any other difference. Some of the issues that Habitat families face before they become Habitat homeowners are overcrowding. Many they are living in a two bedroom apartment with themselves and their 5 children. Some of them live in homes that despite all of their effort they are unable to keep the rodents out because of holes in the walls. This forces them to only be able to buy canned food instead of anything fresh and healthy. Some live in situations where there housing is so poor that it actually rains inside. And most of these people are in places where they are being charged too much for rent.
- #9 Families are selected on 3 basic criteria – - The Need for decent affordable housing - The ability to pay a no interest mortgage monthly - and the willingness to partner with Habitat The need for decent, affordable housing goes back to the examples we just talked about that are unfit for people to live in. Habitat homeowners must pay a no interest, no profit mortgage on their home. They put a down payment down and make payment each month. Additionally Habitat does not accept families who would qualify for a conventional mortgage as they have the ability to become homeowners through means of their own. Homeowners must also invest a total of 250 hours of sweat equity into work with Habitat. - 100 hours on the construction site - remaining can be done in anyway including classes, in office support and the ReStore
- #10 As you can see Habitat is NOT a give away program. Our partner families work very hard to be a part of the program and become a homeowner. It is a Hand Up Instead of a Hand Out . Although Habitat is not a give away program it does fill a vital need for providing simple, decent, affordable housing for those who lack adequate shelter. Habitat looks to serve people who make less than 50% of the AMI (Area Median Income). So it is not serving the very lowest of income levels nor the highest, but it is filling a vital gap that very few people serve. Additionally The money that the partner families pay to Habitat for Humanity through their mortgage goes directly towards the creation of more housing for other families in need.
- #11 Habitat is able to make Housing Affordable to low income families because Houses are sold through a no profit mortgage with a 0% interest rate Individuals, Corporations, Businesses, Faith Groups and the ReStore provide vital financial support to offset the expenses And volunteer come together to help build the homes keeping construction costs low
- #12 Offsetting the costs of construction with Volunteer labor and financial contributions is vital to Habitat’s success. Show selection of habitat homes with some examples of cost
- #13 There are many different opportunities to volunteer with Habitat in this area. Opportunities include Building, volunteering at the ReStore, on a committee, in the office or providing leadership to the affiliate as a Board member.
- #14 Questions?
- #15 Opportunities on the Build Site are generally on Fridays and Saturdays. We do have Sunday builds occasionally to support groups.
- #16 Due to Connecticut State Law no one under the age of 16 is allowed on the build site. Anyone 16 and 17 must volunteer with an adult. The Construction Day Schedule The day is begins at 8:30 and ends at 3:30. The morning starts with a moment of silence. Followed by a safety meeting pertaining to the days tasks and training on what you will be doing. You will go to work for a few hours and then have a break for refreshments Then resume building and break for lunch around noon. We ask that all of our volunteers bring their lunch to the build site as lunch is only a ½ hour and there is generally not enough time to leave eat and get back in time. Additionally it will give you time to meet other volunteers. After lunch everyone goes back to work until about 3 o’clock when it is clean up time. We ask that everyone stay to help clean up. Everyone is welcome to leave site when the leader directs which is at about 3:30. This is a full day commitment when volunteering on the build site. If you are unable to make the full day commitment then it may suit you better to volunteer in another capacity with Habitat. Reasons include - Safety, productivity and certify to other volunteers There are opportunities on the build site to come and offer the devotional or provide the refreshments if you are not able to be there for the entire day.
- #17 Questions?
- #18 Another great volunteer opportunity is the Habitat for Humanity ReStore The ReStore is a store that sells donated new and gently used building materials, appliances and furniture. Volunteers are accepted for all aspects of the operation from picking up donated merchandise, to organizing the store, to helping customers, to running the register and more. There is only one employee that works there. All the rest are volunteers so it is vital to have ample volunteer Support. Anyone 14 and older can volunteer at the ReStore. Volunteers 14 and 15 must volunteer with an adult. 16 and 17 year olds can volunteer independently as long as they prove to be mature and responsible.
- #19 Show the ReStore Safety Video.. Need to develop this Sound is necessary The ReStore Narrative is available just incase the sound wont work
- #20 Right now at the ReStore we are looking for… Shifts for the ReStore are a bit more flexible than on the build site. The ReStore accepts volunteers Wednesday through Sunday. There is a morning shift from 10 Am to 2 Pm and an afternoon shift from 2 Pm to 6 Pm. You would also be welcome to sign up to volunteer for the entire day. If it is not possible for you to be present for the entire shift that you sign up for please contact the ReStore in advance to let them know.
- #21 Questions?
- #22 Anyone interested in volunteering either at the Build site or at the ReStore should sign up online. We will learn how to do this later. You cannot sign up to volunteer for these opportunities by just showing up or by calling. All sign ups for these are handled online. Groups of 5 people or less are welcome to volunteer any time they would like. A group of more than 5 people will need to contact Volunteer Relations to arrange a group day and to find out more information about group projects. Anyone volunteering due to court ordered community service needs to pick up a form that they will need to fill out and turn in to their supervisor when they begin volunteering. If you do not fill out and turn in this form Habitat for Humanity will not write you a letter of recognition for these hours. When you need your letter of recognition you will contact volunteer relations. That contact information is on the last page of your volunteer up tutorial hand out.
- #23 Volunteers are encouraged to be a part of committee. If any of these committees seem interesting to you please contact volunteer relations.
- #24 There are opportunities in the office for volunteers also Many of these opportunities would be suitable for volunteers who can make a weekly commitment to volunteering. There are also opportunities to do short term work now and then Please contact Volunteer Coordinator if you would like to volunteer in the office.
- #25 Questions about Volunteering?
- #26 Walk them through volunteer up online. They can follow along in the handout that is provided. - Start at www.habitatmiddlesex.org - Show them where to click the Volunteer Link - Show them where you would click to register and where to log in - Log yourself in - Use the sign on name Sample with the password sample. - Explain what the broadcast message is – this is a message that the affiliate puts out to all of it’s volunteers. Once you read it push “I have read this message” You will not see this message again until a new one is posted. - For our purposes push “Return” - Show how to sign up for a ReStore day – At the top are the shifts that you can choose from. Click the one or ones that you would like to attend. Input a team name if you have one. Choose an e-mail reminder. If you scroll down you will see all of the information about the day including directions, information on work and others who are currently signed up. - Show how to sign up for a construction day – show the difference in the shifts. All of the other options are the same. -- The Handout also includes directions on how to take the volunteer survey . Please give us your feedback once you have volunteered. Any Questions?
- #27 Thank you, for your time. Please come out and volunteer soon and often.