APPLICATION WORKSHOP COMMITTEE MEMBER

Objective
Potential Atlanta Habitat homeowners are invited to a workshop to learn about our program and complete an application.  Application Workshop Committee Members work directly with attendees to help them through the process.

Responsibilities

• Answer questions from applicants on qualifications, neighborhoods and the application process
• Assist applicants as needed in completing the application and use a checklist to see if all of the necessary materials have been provided
• Use established screening criteria (calculating and evaluating income, credit worthiness, residency, etc.) to determine if an application can be accepted
• If an application cannot be accepted, tell the applicant how their application can be improved and encourage them to try again

Schedule
The application workshops are generally held on the third Saturday of each month from 9 am - 1 pm and the fourth Tuesday of each month from 6:30 pm - 9 pm.  Additional workshops are scheduled as needed.

Time Commitment
We ask all Committee Members to commit to working an average of at least one workshop per month, and to serve as a volunteer in this capacity for at least one year.

Training and Support
Volunteers must attend a training session on Atlanta Habitat’s homeowner selection requirements. Volunteers “shadow” a seasoned volunteer at one workshop before screening families on their own. Atlanta Habitat staff are present at all workshops and are available to answer questions and provide support as needed.

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 information and communicate 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

FAMILY SELECTION COMMITTEE MEMBER

Objective
Family Selection Committee Members help select future Atlanta Habitat homeowners by working with other members of the committee to evaluate applications according to set guidelines.

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 7 pm - 8:30 pm.  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 as a volunteer in this capacity for at least one year.

Training and Support
Volunteers must attend an initial training session on Atlanta Habitat’s homeowner selection requirements, as well as an annual training on updated requirements. Volunteers “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 information and communicate 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

HOME SMART ASSISTANT

Objective
Home Smart Assistants provide general support at classes that are designed to make homeownership a successful and rewarding experience for Atlanta Habitat homebuyers. 

Background:

Atlanta Habitat homebuyers attend 12 Home Smart classes during a first year lease period as a requirement for closing on their homes.  The Home Smart program has 10 classes that are required, and homebuyers may choose the other 2 classes from a list of electives. 

The required classes are Orientation, Intro to Homeownership, HOME Room I (a home repair and maintenance class), Budgeting, Credit, Community Involvement, Crime Prevention, Energy Use in Your Home, Your Mortgage and HOME Room II.  Some examples of electives that have been offered in the past are Landscaping, Emergency Preparedness and Fire Safety, Investment and Retirement Planning and Decorating on a Budget.

Outline of Responsibilities:

• Help to set up and break down the classroom
• Register the homebuyers that attend the classes
• Make copies of classroom materials and tabulate sweat equity hours
• Support the course instructors as needed.

Schedule
Classes are generally held on Saturday mornings from 9-10 am and Tuesday evenings from 7-8 pm.  Volunteers should report 30 minutes before a class begins, and plan on staying for an additional 30 minutes after it ends. Other class times may be offered as needed.

Time Commitment
We ask all Homeowner Education Volunteers to commit to working at an average of at least one class per month, and to serve as a volunteer in this capacity for at least six months.

Training and Support
Volunteers attend a new volunteer orientation and receive specific job related instructions immediately prior to their first shift

• Passion and enthusiasm for Atlanta Habitat’s mission
• Good customer service skills 

HOME SMART INSTRUCTOR

Objective

Atlanta Habitat homebuyers attend 12 Home Smart classes during a first year lease period as a requirement for closing on their homes.  The Home Smart program has 10 classes that are required, and homebuyers may choose the other 2 classes from a list of electives. 

The required classes are Orientation, Intro to Homeownership, HOME Room I (a home repair and maintenance class), Budgeting, Credit, Community Involvement, Crime Prevention, Energy Use in Your Home, Your Mortgage and HOME Room II.  These required classes are taught by long-term partners, but we are always looking for new ideas for elective classes, and for volunteer instructors to teach them.  Some examples of electives that have been offered in the past are Landscaping, Emergency Preparedness and Fire Safety, Investment and Retirement Planning and Decorating on a Budget.

Outline of Responsibilities:

• Propose an idea for a class to be offered as an elective.  The topic should be related to successful homeownership, and fall under one of the following categories: Finance, Home Management, Home Maintenance, Community Involvement or Continuing Education.
• Develop a lesson plan/presentation for a 1 hour class based on objectives provided by Atlanta Habitat staff.  The more interactive the class the better.
• Develop accompanying materials that homebuyers can take home with them after the class
• Teach the class

Schedule: Classes are generally held on Saturday mornings from 9-10 am and Tuesday evenings from 7-8 pm.  Electives are typically scheduled 6-9 months in advance.

Time Commitment: We only ask a Home Smart Instructor to commit to one class at a time.  Afterwards, the instructor and Atlanta Habitat staff work together to determine whether or not that class will be offered again (based on class evaluations, the instructor’s availability and the upcoming Home Smart schedule).

Training and Support: 

• Volunteers attend a new volunteer orientation
• Copies of accompanying materials can be made at the Atlanta Habitat office if necessary
• Atlanta Habitat can provide a projector if needed

Qualifications: 

• Passion and enthusiasm for Atlanta Habitat’s mission
• Good presentation skills
• Strong background or expertise in the subject area on which you will be presenting

TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM ASSISTANT

Outline of Responsibilities

Assist with the distribution of computers Schedule a visit to a homeowner’s house (volunteers work in pairs)Confirm that the homeowner’s newly acquired computer is properly installed Enlist the help of AT&T and/or Dell customer service if computer is not working correctly Teach the homeowner the basics of how to use their computer using an established computer class curriculum 

Schedule:

Training and Support

• Volunteers attend a new volunteer orientation 
• Volunteers attend a two hour training on the computer class curriculum 
• Volunteers make home visits and teach classes in pairs  

Qualifications:

• Passion and enthusiasm for Atlanta Habitat’s mission 
• Good working knowledge of computers 
• Excellent interpersonal skills and comfortable working closely with Atlanta Habitat homeowners 
• Must be at least 18 years old 
• These classes will be offered in both English and Spanish, so fluency in Spanish is a plus