Church Relations:
As of November, 2003, this committee does not have a chairperson. Its duties have been distributed among the Volunteer, Public Relations, and Family Support Committees. Committee is responsible for recruiting and activating local churches and getting them to help us by sending volunteers to the worksite, providing lunches, conducting fundraisers, identifying possible partner families, and planning the house dedications when a project is completed (helping the family develop the ceremony and prayer service, securing gifts, and coordinating refreshments). Job involves a LOT of written and verbal contact with the churches, onsite visits (guest-speaking at services), plenty of following-up and thanking, and generally major people-skills. Computer literacy is a must. We’re hoping to find a person of the cloth to chair this, but would consider a knowledgeable layperson.
Building (aka Construction):
Responsible for timely and cost-effective completion of the house. Committee identifies lowest-cost vendors, gift sources, and other means of acquiring materials at low or no cost. Committee also plans out work days, brings in appropriately-skilled volunteers as needed, orients and trains volunteers and, bottom line, gets the house built. Construction experience, either hands-on or administrative, is a plus!
Executive:
Membership restricted to affiliate officers (president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, assistant treasurer), plus up to three at-large members can be appointed by the president. Committee develops and revises affiliate policies, considers requests from individuals and committees for projects and nonbudgeted expenditures, and trouble-shoots for committees as needed. This committee meets once per quarter, with group email as preferred method of correspondence in between.
Family Selection:
Committee accepts and reviews applications from prospective partner families, conducts home visits and interviews as part of the acceptance process. Committee presents families who meet HFHOC criteria to Board for approval. Board is not aware of family’s identity until after the vote is completed.
Family Support:
Committee works with selected families throughout the homebuilding process, and for at least one year beyond closing. Helps families recognize difference between renting and ownership, especially understanding the responsibilities of homeownership. Answers questions regarding building process, community resources, etc. Offers assistance in budgeting and other skills as needed. Monitors families for compliance with sweat-equity requirements (250 hours for single adult head of household, 500 for two adults). Assigns a sponsor to each family, and family uses sponsor as initial contact when any questions or problems occur. Sponsor is supervised by Family Support chair. Assists in planning and organizing house dedications.
Finance:
Committee develops annual operating budget, prepares and submits forms required by state and Federal governments in accordance with our not-for-profit status, makes sure our books are reviewed annually (an informal audit) by an independent accountant to ensure accuracy and compliance.
Nominations:
Committee identifies and recruits new members for the Board, and is charged with preparing a full slate of officer nominees for our annual elections. A good committee assignment for someone whose job puts him or her in contact with a wide range of people.
Public Relations:
Committee is responsible for regular publication of our affiliate newsletter. Also promotes all HFHOC activities, including the building process, fundraising drives, volunteer and partner family recruitment efforts, visits for out-of-area volunteers, house dedication ceremonies, etc. Develops audio-visual aids to assist in group presentations.
Site Procurement and Development:
Committee identifies and purchases (or accepts donations of) land. Once land is procured, committee assesses for use: water/sewer/electrical needs, accessibility from main road, what is needed to be in compliance with local ordinances, and time and effort that will be involved in preparing the land for building. Sometimes committee decides that site is not suitable for HFHOC’s purposes; in these cases, committee arranges for us to sell it. Helps to have real estate development experience, although most of our people picked it up on-the-job. Willingness to learn is definitely a plus!
Volunteer:
Committee recruits volunteers and screens for areas of interest and expertise. Maintains database sorted by name and interests. Provides listings of appropriate volunteers to committee chairs. Volunteer has also been arranging with churches to provide worksite lunches.