Family Selection Committee Member

Objective:

Family Selection Committee Members help choose future Atlanta Habitat homeowners by working with other members of the committee to evaluate applications.

Outline of Volunteer Responsibilities:

• Review applications and accompanying notes
• Recalculate an applicant’s income and debt worksheets
• Schedule and conduct an interview with the applicant in partnership with another committee member, and then complete an interview summary form
• Contact employers for employment verification and references
• Contact committee chair with interview results, questions and/or irregularities
• Present findings at the monthly meeting of the Family Selection Committee
• Help the committee evaluate applications using Atlanta Habitat guidelines and policies

Schedule:

The Family Selection Committee generally meets the first Monday of each month from 7pm-8:30pm.  If an application is assigned to a committee member at one of these meetings, that volunteer and a partner from the committee must complete an interview with the applicant within three weeks, so that one of the partners can then present the interview results at the following month’s meeting.  Interviews are arranged by committee members according to their own schedule.

Time Commitment:

We ask all committee members to commit to attending an average of at least one meeting every other month, and to serve in this capacity for at least one year.

Training and Support:

• Attend an initial training session on Atlanta Habitat’s homeowner selection requirements, as well as an annual training on updated requirements
• “Shadow” a seasoned volunteer for one interview before interviewing applicants on their own

Qualifications:

• Passion and enthusiasm for Atlanta Habitat’s mission
• Excellent interpersonal skills and comfortable working closely with applicants
• Volunteers must be able to familiarize themselves with the following and communicate it clearly:
  • Atlanta Habitat guidelines and policies for acceptance
  • The application form and required documents
  • Atlanta Habitat neighborhoods and home features     
• Fluency in Spanish and experience in banking and/or credit are beneficial, but not necessary

Getting Started:

1.  Attend a Family Selection Committee meeting as an observer to see what its all about, and to better determine if its something you want to pursue.  Contact Maricarmen Smith-Martinez, Homeowner Selection Manager, to sign-up at 404-223-5180 ext. 124 or maricarmen.smith-martinez@atlantahabitat.org.
2. Attend a training session on Atlanta Habitat’s homeowner selection requirements.  Contact Maricarmen to sign-up.  These sessions are generally offered once a quarter.