AmeriCorps National Direct -- Habitat for Humanity Int'l 1
AmeriCorps National Direct
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South Carolina AmeriCorps members raising a wall on Martin Luther King Day 2009. All Habitat AmeriCorps members are required to serve on MLK Day.
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Habitat for Humanity International partners with the Corporation for National and Community Service to effectively run its AmeriCorps National Direct program. This partnership provides HFH affiliates with assistance in their mission to eliminate substandard housing.
National Direct service programs provide a unique human resource to affiliates—motivated, passionate, hard-working volunteers who can address community needs in a variety of ways. Members from diverse backgrounds and abilities build and renovate houses with low-income families and strengthen communities by enabling Habitat affiliates to utilize volunteers more effectively.
Program Benefits
AmeriCorps National Direct members receive countless benefits: a living allowance of $11,400, personal and sick leave, health care coverage, workers compensation and child care assistance, if eligible. Members also receive federal loan forbearance on qualified student loans, payment of interest accrued on qualified loans and an education award of $4,725 to pay for future educational expenses or repay qualified student loans.
In addition to monetary benefits, members also gain leadership and construction skills and the satisfaction of incorporating service into life and making a difference in their communities and country. They learn work and life skills that translate directly into job experience in their chosen fields. While gaining the personal satisfaction of accepting a challenge and seeing the results, members will strengthen teamwork, communication and other essential skills that will help them for the rest of their lives.
For more information on the benefits of Habitat AmeriCorps National Direct service, see Benefits of AmeriCorps Service.
Typical Habitat AmeriCorps National Direct Member Roles
AmeriCorps National Direct members can address community needs in a variety of ways. Members perform direct service activities, such as participating in construction and improving systems in non-construction areas. National Direct members serve in the following areas:
- Community and Faith Relations
- Construction
- Family Services
- Resource Development
- Volunteer Management
- Youth Programs
- Deconstruction
For more information about service opportunities in each area, visit Habitat AmeriCorps National Direct opportunities.
Where we serve
More than 500 members will be deployed in teams of two or more and will serve in over 100 communities in 26 States. Potential service areas include Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.
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Two AmeriCorps members in Gulfport, Mississippi during Build-A-Thon 2007. Members helped rebuild homes that were damaged by Hurricane Katrina.
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Habitat AmeriCorps National Direct Program Basics
Terms of Service
There are three terms of service: full-time, half-time and quarter-time. The number of hours and length of service varies from term to term. Members may serve up to two terms.
Full-time program
- Serves from September–July.
- 1,700 hours and 10.5 months of service given.
Half-time program (not available in all states)
- Serves from February–July
- 900 hours and 5.5 months of service given.
Quarter-time program (not available in all states)
- Serves from May–August.
- 300 hours and 3 months of service given.
Program Requirements
To qualify, members must
- Be age 18 or older.
- Be a U.S. citizen, national or lawful permanent resident.
- Possess a high school diploma or a Certificate of General Educational Development. (The member may also agree to obtain the GED while in service.)
- Have a valid driver's license (only required at some sites).
- Have a commitment to service and community involvement, professionalism, an interest in teaching or training others and a willingness to learn construction. (Prior construction experience is not necessary.)
Additional Resources
National Service FAQs
AmeriCorps State and National
How to Apply
"Service is a spark to rekindle the spirit of democracy in an age of uncertainty. When it is all said and done, it comes down to three simple questions: What is right? What is wrong? And what are we going to do about it?"
—President Bill Clinton, swearing in the first class of AmeriCorps members