Habitat for Humanity AmeriCorps Program

Hospitality is central to the HFH EKC AmeriCorps program – both in striving to provide stellar volunteer and family experiences that build community and change lives, and also in supporting our AmeriCorps members in a solid, developmental, enriching year of growth toward greater opportunities in the future. Our AmeriCorps are at the front lines of serving, recruiting, training, guiding, supporting, retaining, and recognizing volunteers – who provide 90% of the labor on the quality homes we offer low income families. The program requires a great deal of dedication as our AmeriCorps members are Ambassadors to our community, serving in physically and socially intensive roles while embodying the ethic of service that AmeriCorps stands for.

The Team
The Habitat for Humanity of East King County AmeriCorps Team is comprised of both AmeriCorps Direct Service and VISTA members, placed both through Washington Service Corps (WSC) and Habitat for Humanity International. 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:

On Construction Sites:

• Construction Volunteer Leads - 10 WSC Members – Serve as the primary “face” for the affiliate in providing a superb volunteer experience by facilitating volunteers through construction of new homes and repair work on EKC worksites. Increase construction skills throughout the year, and work closely with Construction Site Staff as well as on additional affiliate projects.

Combined Office/Site Roles:

• Volunteer Host – 1 WSC Member -Handles primary responsibility of recruiting, retaining, and recognizing individual and groups of volunteers, dividing time between sites and the office. Duties include online scheduling, daily welcoming of volunteers, running the recognition program, tracking attendance, placing and managing office volunteers, and working closely with the Volunteer and AmeriCorps manager.
• Family Services Support – 1 WSC Member - Aid in the selection of our homeowners, assist with training on becoming a new homeowner, arrange and supervise homeowner classes, network with volunteers who aid our families through the homeownership process, all in close support of the Director of Family Services.
• Neighborhood Revitalization Specialist – 1 WSC Member – Builds relationships in communities around our sites, networks to identify and implement community projects, and manages all aspects of HFHEKC’s Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative, working closely with the NRI Team.

Office Roles:

• Sustainable Building Specialist – 1 HFHI VISTA Member – Assists the affiliate to build responsibly for the community and earth, working closely with the Construction Supervisor.
• Habitat Store & Campaign Coordinator – 1 WSC VISTA Member – Leads research, special projects, presentations, and other administrative functions in support of the Resource Development Team toward the successful launch of the new Habitat Store and Capital Campaign.

• Onsite Orientations
• Basic Tool Orientation
• Construction Safety & Technique
• Hospitality Training
• Volunteer Leadership
• CPR/1st Aid

• Disaster Preparedness
• Sustainable Development
• Low Income Awareness
• Diversity
• Effective Communications
• Life after AmeriCorps
• Teambuilding opportunities
• Monthly Team Meetings