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
• 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
• 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
• Volunteers receive specific job related instructions immediately prior to their first shift

Qualifications:

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

Getting Started:

We ask that all of our individual volunteers first come to an orientation. The volunteer orientation will provide you with an understanding of Atlanta Habitat's program, information on how to get started, and answer any questions you might have. Orientations are offered 2 – 3 times monthly on Wednesday or Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings and last approximately one hour.  
 
To register for an orientation:
 
Go to the volunteer registration website at www.atlantahabitat.volunteerhub.com
Create an account by clicking Register.

• Select a user name and password
• Enter your join code: ORIENTATION
• Input your contact information. 
• Follow the prompts to complete your registration.

 
Please contact Jessica Plante at 404-223-5180 ext. 107 or jessica.plante@atlantahabitat.org if you have any questions about registering for an orientation or if you are unable to view the upcoming orientation schedule.