Habitat for Humanity AmeriCorps
Program The
Habitat for Humanity of East King County AmeriCorps Team is comprised of
16 Washington Service Corps (WSC) members, 1 National Direct Position &
1 VISTA. There are several main branches of the
National
AmeriCorps program:
AmeriCorps VISTA,
AmeriCorps NCCC and
State and National AmeriCorps programs.
AmeriCorps serve with Habitat EKC in the following positions:
- Construction Volunteer Leads - 13 WSC Members – Facilitate
volunteers through house construction on the worksites.
- Volunteer Coordinators – 2 WSC Members - Divide their time between
the office and construction sites, take care of all the necessary
behind the scenes scheduling, coordination, recruitment and
retention of all volunteers.
- Family Services Support – 1 WSC Member - Aid in the selection of our
homeowners, assist with training on becoming a new homeowners and
networking with all the volunteers that aid our families through the
homeownership process.
- Sustainable Building Specialist – 1 National Direct AmeriCorps – Helps the
affiliate build responsibly for the community and earth.
- VISTA Resource Development Support – 1 VISTA Member – Helps the
affiliate build responsibly for the community and earth.
HFH EKC places great importance not only in providing individuals
the opportunity to contribute to Habitat and the community it serves,
but also on individual member development. Our AmeriCorps are very
entrenched in our Volunteer Services Program, and a good deal of service
work is oriented around volunteer recruitment, retention and
recognition. The program is physically and socially intensive and requires a great deal of
dedication.
The first month of a HFH EKC AmeriCorps member’s term of service is
spent mostly in training. Including, but not limited to:
- Onsite Orientations
- Basic Tool Orientation
- Construction Safety & Technique
- Volunteer Leadership and CPR/1st Aid
In addition to the necessary training needed to
perform the fundamentals of every position, service
oriented and personal development training throughout
the 10 ½ months include:
- Disaster Preparedness
- Sustainable Development
- Low Income Awareness
- Diversity
- Effective Communications
- Life after AmeriCorps and teambuilding
opportunities
- Monthly Team Meetings
Upon initial acceptance, our AmeriCorps members are
linked to an online group to begin networking with each
other and aid in housing support. Habitat EKC team
members come from all over the country to Washington to
participate in this program. They earn a small living
stipend and many room with other AmeriCorps members in
such Seattle neighborhoods as Beacon Hill, Wallingford
and the University District. Our worksite locations are
up to 50 minutes away from Seattle in such towns as
Issaquah, Snoqualmie & Renton.
View Habitat for Humanity Worksite Locations in a larger map
AmeriCorps Program Nuts and Bolts
- Application Deadline: June 1st. Click here for information on
how to apply.
- Program Start/End Date: September 1, 2010 – July 15, 2011
- Work Schedule: Fulltime, 8am-4:30pm Tuesday – Saturday
- Age Requirement: Minimum: 18
- Education Requirement: High School Graduate/GED
- Program Benefits:
- Stipend monthly $1050 (less tax)
- Education Award $5350.00
- Basic Health Coverage
- Onsite Training
- Van-Pool Option
- Student Loan Forbearance (on qualified, national student
loans)
- HFH EKC conducts background checks on all members accepted into the program.
- 1st stipend payments will be distributed to members on or around
September 25th.
What Our Alumni Say
“ I learned a critical craft that has served me very well in the world
of non-profits: Volunteer Management. Guiding a crew of enthusiastic,
ready-to-rumble volunteers through a day full of unfamiliar (and
potentially hazardous) tasks meant that I had to be responsible and
ready. Preparation before, flexibility during, and reflective
celebration at the close of the work day meant that you leave most every
evening with an incredible sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. In
building these homes, you also build skills, relationships, lives and
communities. Beyond the brick and mortar, there are people and there is
a neighborhood - a big extended family that benefits from your sweat and
effort. “
- Pete Rasmus Morsch, 2006-2007 AmeriCorps
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