Volunteer FAQ

Do I need to attend a volunteer orientation?

We recommend new volunteers who are interested in a longer volunteer commitment (i.e. more than one day) attend an orientation. Orientations are held at the Habitat for Humanity San Francisco office located at 995 Market Street, 8^th Floor (on the corner with 6^th Street). The orientation schedule can be viewed at http://habitatsf.volunteerhub.com. You can sign up for an orientation or build day by creating a username and password. If you are unable to attend the orientation we recommend you watch the construction safety video which is located on the front page of our website at: www.habitatsf.org before volunteering on the construction site.

Construction Site Volunteers

How do I volunteer?

Individual Volunteers may sign up by going to our volunteer website at http://habitatsf.volunteerhub.com. You will need to create a new user name and password in order to sign up to volunteer. We will post a description of the volunteer tasks and directions to the site. You may also contact Volunteer Services Manager, Debbie Lynch at 415.869.1500 x102 or debbie@habitatsf.org. Due to limited availability, volunteers should reserve construction spots well in advance, particularly if interested in Saturday work days.

Where is Habitat San Francisco building new homes?

Our site is located on De Long Street in the Outer Mission neighborhood. We recommend volunteers take public transit to the site as parking is extremely limited. If arriving via BART, exit Daly City BART station and head North on De Long Street. The cross street for the Habitat for Humanity San Francisco work site is Santa Cruz Avenue. The homes that we are working on are located right across from the BART tracks. Upon arrival, volunteers should meet at the large tool container located on De Long Street. A Habitat representative will be there to greet you. http://www.habitatsf.org/pdfs/De_Long_maps_for_website.pdf

Do I need building experience to volunteer on a construction site?

No prior construction experience is required. We believe working on site can provide a valuable learning experience for those seeking basic building skills.

How many people can work on a construction site at a given time?

The optimal number of site volunteers depends on the site and the work plan for the day. Typically, the maximum number of volunteers is 10-20 per day. We want to ensure that there is enough room for people to physically operate. Supervision can be difficult when there are too many people, resulting in people standing around with nothing to do.

When is the construction site open?

The construction site is open to volunteers Tuesday – Saturday. The workday starts at 8:30 a.m. and typically lasts until 4:30 p.m. Volunteers need to arrive at the worksite by 8:30 a.m. It is critical for volunteers to arrive on time!

Can I work a half day?

We ask for a full-day commitment from all our volunteers. When people show up late or leave early it makes it difficult for our supervisors to properly train volunteers or accomplish the construction goals for the day. Late arrivals may also cause delays in the start of safety instruction and task assignments. Without instruction and task assignments, late arrivals may be asked to leave.

What do I do when I arrive on site?

Upon arrival, volunteers must sign the Volunteer Release and Waiver of Liabilities Form. Everyone must sign the Volunteer Release and Waiver of Liabilities Form each workday before they are allowed to begin work. Habitat San Francisco is required to have a record of your participation for legal, insurance and statistical purposes. After signing in, volunteers will receive safety instruction and work assignments from the site supervisor.

The following is a typical workday schedule:

8:30-8:45 Volunteer sign-in

8:45-9:00 Orientation, safety overview and task assignments

9:00-12:00 Workday tasks

12:00-1:00 Lunch

1:00-4:00 Workday tasks

4:00-4:30 Cleanup

Volunteers are expected to work for the duration of the day but should be aware that on occasion the workday may end before 4:30 pm.

What should I wear to the construction site?

Wear sturdy, closed toe shoes and clothes you don't mind getting dirty. Also be aware that much of the work is outdoors, so dress appropriately for the weather, including wind, sun and/or fog.

What should I bring to the construction site? Should I bring tools?

First of all, bring a lunch and water. Habitat San Francisco will provide the hand tools and power tools you will be using. You may bring your own hand tools if you like but be sure to label them with your name. If you have your own work gloves or safety goggles you may want to bring them as well. Also, be sure to bring your own personal comfort items – sunscreen, a hat and layered clothing for weather changes. Please leave your valuables at home.

What if it is raining?

Construction can continue during rain showers, depending on the state of the site. Often we will have enough work to do indoors to continue working in inclement weather. If it is raining, or looks threatening, please call 415.794.1232 – after 6:30 a.m. on the day you are to volunteer. If construction has been cancelled, there will be a recording informing you that work has been cancelled.

Can minors work on the construction site?

Volunteers must be 16 years old to work on the construction site. All minors under the age of 18 must arrive with a waiver signed by their parent or guardian. This form may be downloaded from our website at: http://www.habitatsf.org/pdfs/hhsfwaiverforminors.pdf

To whom do I direct any comments, complaints and suggestions regarding the construction experience?

Direct all comments and inquiries to Volunteer Services Manager, Debbie Lynch at 415.869.1500 x102 or debbie@habitatsf.org

Is there a fee for individuals to volunteer on a construction site?

We do not require a fee from individual volunteers. However, we encourage all volunteers to help with Habitat San Francisco's fundraising efforts by participating in our Workday Sponsor Program.

What is the Workday Sponsor Program?

This is a program for volunteers to seek funding from friends, co-workers and relatives in order to help Habitat San Francisco build homes in partnership with deserving families. The cost of land, construction materials and tools are exorbitant in San Francisco. While the average cost of a Habitat house is $60,000 nationwide, our current homes cost over $255,000. Habitat for Humanity San Francisco relies on individuals and organizations to help us with our vision to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness.

Participating volunteers can use one of the Workday Sponsor Sheets to collect contributions. You may download this form at http://www.habitatsf.org/pdfs/Workday_sponsor_form.pdf. If you work at a corporation, you can check to see if your company matches funds. Many companies offer matching gift programs and will match contributions and/or volunteer time given by their employees. Please contact your Human Resources Department or use the following link on our website for a list of matching gift companies http://www.habitatsf.org/matchinggift.php.

Groups and volunteers participating in the Workday Sponsor Program should collect donations in advance and mail them to our office (995 Market Street, 8^th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103) with the pledge sheet. Please write the group or volunteer name on all checks. Checks should be made payable to: Habitat for Humanity San Francisco.

Groups

What if I want to organize a group of volunteers?

Groups of more than four people should contact Debbie Lynch 415.869.1500 x102 or by email at debbie@habitatsf.org to schedule a group volunteer day.

Office and Committee Volunteers

Are there non-construction volunteer opportunities available?

There are many other volunteer opportunities. You can volunteer with Habitat San Francisco in the office as well as through one of our committees.

How do I volunteer in the office?

If you are interested in being an office volunteer, contact Debbie Lynch at debbie@habitatsf.org or 415.869.1500 x102. Debbie will arrange an interview with you to determine your interests and find the appropriate match.

Is there a minimum time commitment for office volunteers?

We generally require a 6-month minimum commitment, unless the work is project-based (i.e. mailing campaigns).

What committees can I serve on?

Our current committees are:

• Family Selection Committee

Family Selection Committee

Family Selection Volunteers assist with applicant outreach, phone screenings, orientation registration, application review and conducting home interviews. If you are interested in participating please contact Volunteer Services Manager, Debbie Lynch at 415.869.1500 x102 or debbie@habitatsf.org