Volunteer Information

Habitat for Humanity needs your help

Volunteers come from all walks of life and backgrounds and with varied interests and talents. If you have some time to spare and you want to make a difference in your community and the lives of so many people, please consider getting involved with HFHGP in one of the areas mentioned below.

ReStore - Click here for ReStore Volunteer Information

COMMITTEES

Our Board of Directors and the Sub-Committees of the Board are staffed entirely by volunteers. These committees are vital to our operating success. Please review the committees below; if you have a talent or interest in any of the areas, please consider committing you time to Habitat in one of these areas. Click on the name of the committee you are interested in for more information.

CONSTRUCTION

As an Individual:

1) Click on the link http://pittsburghhabitat.volunteerhub.com and register to volunteer.

2) Call (412) 351-0512, ext. 14 at least two weeks in advance prior to the day(s) you wish to volunteer.

3) Become a crew leader. We need people who can commit to volunteering regularly – at least two times a month for three months.

You can register for any available site. Although volunteer time is a valuable asset, it still takes money to buy materials to build a house. It is not required to make a donation in order to volunteer on the construction site, but we do ask all individual volunteers to consider making a donation to our organization to pay for materials that will be used on that day.  We have a suggested donation amount of $25.00 per day per volunteer, but it is not mandatory.

Sponsors:

Each year organizations sponsor our houses by providing all of the resources and money necessary to build our homes. As a group, you can volunteer in construction by:

1) Sponsoring the build for an entire house, through an Extreme Builder full house sponsorship of $65,000- $80,000.

2) Sponsoring several Build Days, through a Hope Builder or Dream Builder partial house sponsorship of $20,000 - $40,000.

3) Sponsoring a Team Builder day at $2,500.

4) Click here for details on larger sponsorships.

What to Bring: Habitat provides all necessary tools, but each volunteer should bring a pair of work gloves, pack a lunch, and bring water to drink. If you have other basic tools, for example a hammer, tape measure, tool belt, safety glasses, etc. you may wish to bring them. Please label all of your tools with your name. Habitat is not responsible for lost or stolen personal tools.

Skill Requirements: No specific skills, except a willingness to learn, are needed. Habitat provides an experienced supervisor on each work site. If you do have a specific skill such as “I know how to drywall, or I can train others on how to install siding,” please let us know when you register to volunteer. Arrival On Site: You are our labor force when you volunteer and like any job, you should arrive on time. At the beginning of each workday a Habitat supervisor will start the morning with a prayer, introductions, a safety talk and instructions. The group will then break into crews to work on various tasks. Please arrive by 8:15 so that we can begin promptly at 8:30.

Kids & Construction: To help ensure a safe work environment, construction volunteers must be at least 16 years old. Teens, 16 and 17, may work on a construction site provided they have parental permission and supervision. The required ratio is 1 adult to every 5 teens. Those under 18 must not use power tools, use ladders, or be on the roof.

Release of Liability: Each Habitat volunteer must sign a Release of Liability form agreeing to take personal responsibility for any accidents or injuries on the job. Most individuals have a personal health insurance plan that covers them while engaged in volunteer work. However, you should verify your coverage prior to coming to the work. Before coming to the job site, each volunteer should download and study the Construction Safety Policy Information.

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All volunteers with the Habitat for Humanity of Greater Pittsburgh affiliate are checked against a sex offender database, including all board members, staff, key volunteers, and potential homeowners. It is our policy not to isolate volunteers either in the ReStore facility or on local job site locations. This policy has been in effect at the greater Pittsburgh affiliate since October, 2007. New hire employees undergo criminal background checks, reference checks, and drug testing. For additional information or questions, please contact us at 412-351-0512, ext. 12 or write to mwithrow@pittsburghhabitat.org.