National Service -- Habitat for Humanity Int'l 1
National Service
As the need for affordable housing increases throughout America, many understaffed Habitat affiliates are struggling to meet the housing needs of the community. The goal of the Habitat for Humanity National Service program is to help local Habitat affiliates operate more efficiently and effectively by maximizing existing volunteers, increasing capacity for new volunteers and most importantly, meeting the housing needs of communities by building more houses for low-income families. Habitat for Humanity National Service provides an opportunity for philanthropic individuals to serve local Habitat affiliates through the AmeriCorps program. AmeriCorps members are placed at local affiliates where they work to engage communities, build homes, lead volunteers and increase affiliate capacity and productivity.
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Habitat AmeriCorps members pose next to a nearly complete Habitat home.
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National Service through Habitat AmeriCorps Programs
Habitat for Humanity International was one of the first nonprofits contacted by the Corporation for National and Community Service when AmeriCorps was being formed in 1993. As part of the first class of AmeriCorps members around the country, Habitat inducted 122 members to serve at five affiliates around the country.
In the 2008–2009 program year, over 500 AmeriCorps members at affiliates all over the country will help build nearly 2,000 houses and recruit and retain nearly 200,000 community volunteers. Those volunteers will provide an estimated 1,600,000 volunteer hours. The members themselves will contribute 850,000 hours.
For more information about AmeriCorps, see AmeriCorps.
Two Unique Opportunities to Serve
AmeriCorps is divided into three main programs: AmeriCorps State and National Direct; Volunteers in Service to America, or VISTA; and National Civilian Community Corps. Habitat has service opportunities available through the National Direct and VISTA programs. Both programs place members at local affiliates with the goal of helping them meet the increasing need for affordable housing, but each program has a unique focus.
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Although building homes is a lot of hard work, there is also time to relax and have fun. Members meet countless volunteers, partner families, community members and other National Service members throughout their term of service.
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AmeriCorps National Direct
- Members focus on direct service activities. This means they engage directly with volunteers, partner families and community members.
- Members serve in construction services, family services, youth programs, community and faith relations, resource development and volunteer services.
- To find out more, visit AmeriCorps National.
AmeriCorps VISTA
- Members focus on indirect service and capacity-building activities. Members’ activities also directly relate to VISTA’s mission of eliminating poverty through community awareness and involvement.
- Members serve in community and faith relations, resource development, family services, construction development, ReStore development, youth programs outreach and volunteer program development.
- To find out more, visit AmeriCorps VISTA.
“It’s always a surprise when people thank me for my sacrifices. With AmeriCorps I’ve spent a year in an exciting place with terrific people, and now I can build a house! After our group finished our first [house], the sponsors professed that they had gained more with their experiences than the homeowners had with their home. It’s an amazing thing to be a part of an organization where everybody gets so much.”
—Adam Goodberg, AmeriCorps alumnus