1. Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County’s
Monthly Volunteer Orientation

2. Welcome & Thank you for your interest in
volunteering with Habitat for Humanity! We look
forward to working side-by-side with you to
eradicate poverty housing in Oakland County and
around the world!
In gratitude,
Your Habitat Team

3. Test Your Knowledge
Who founded Habitat for Humanity?
Answer:
Millard and Linda Fuller

4. Test Your Knowledge
What does Habitat for Humanity Do?
Answer:
We work together to build affordable
housing for low income families

5. Who We Are!
• Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County is a
nonprofit Christian housing ministry.
Our Mission:
To eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from Oakland County and
around the world and to make decent housing a matter of conscience and
action. We work with God and people of all faiths and backgrounds to
develop communities for people in need by building and renovating
houses, creating homeownership opportunities and, in collaboration with
others, transforming lives and neighborhoods.

6. Who We Are!
• We are one of over 2000 affiliates of Habitat for
Humanity International, 75 of which are in Michigan.
• Since 1994, Habitat Oakland County has helped to
house more than 145 families in Oakland County and
across the world.
• This means that approximately 350 people, about 225
of them children, are now able to come home at night
to their own homes.

7. Who We Are!
• Our affiliate is independently governed by our Board of
Directors. These are local volunteers who set policy, obtain
funding and resources, along with educating others about
Habitat Oakland County.
• Volunteers also populate many Habitat committees/teams,
doing everything from selecting/supporting families to
providing support services during our builds to creating and
implementing special events.
• Individual volunteers work with construction, our office, and
our ReStore to carry out our mission.

8. What We Do
• Habitat for Humanity provides a “hand up,” not a “hand out,” to families in need
in Oakland County.
• We offer Partner Families an opportunity to earn the right to purchase their own
decent, affordable home, which they pay for and maintain.
• Partner Families invest hundreds of “sweat equity” hours building their homes
and the homes of others.
• Homes are sold at no profit and with no interest charged.
• Mortgage payments are placed in a revolving fund used to support Habitat
programs and expand the mission.
• Volunteers provide the labor; while, individuals, church, and corporate sponsors
provide the money and materials to build/rehab Habitat houses.

9. Build Information
• All current building projects for this affiliate are
focused in Pontiac, allowing the affiliate to keep homes
affordable and to participate in the redevelopment of
that entire community.
• We also have homeowners in Southfield, Ferndale,
Royal Oak Township, White Lake, and Holly Michigan.
• New homes are typically 3- and 4-bedroom, 1-bath,
ranch, bungalow, and two story houses of
approximately 1200-1400 square feet.

10. Build Procedure
• Professionals do all excavating, electrical, heating, dry wall and
rough plumbing.
• Volunteers
-construct the walls and roof
-put on shingles
-install doors and windows
-put up siding
-build porches including stairs
-paint
-Install: cabinets and closet shelves, baseboards and
moldings, sinks and toilets, garbage disposals, faucets
and lighting fixtures, and complete the landscaping.

11. Build Procedure
• Houses require approximately 204 eight-hour shifts by
volunteers to be completed.
• Blitz builds involve consecutive day building.
• Habitual Construction Volunteers (Core Volunteers):
We have groups of devoted construction volunteers
who regularly volunteer on Tuesdays, Thursdays and
Saturdays, year-round to support our mission and help
train and keep volunteers safe.

12. Finance Information
• Our most current new homes cost approximately
$90,000 because we build “green” to assure that
homeowners will have manageable energy costs after
they move into their homes.
• The Partner Family mortgage equals: actual materials
and professional labor costs less grants and assistance.
• The goal is to keep monthly payments at approximately
$500 - $550 per month, including an escrow for taxes
and insurance.

13. Finance Information
• 100% of all mortgage payments go into the Habitat
Oakland County revolving fund to build more homes
and support programs.
• All Habitat home loans are at 0% interest and range
from 20-30 years.
• Most families qualify for down payment assistance or
grants.
• All families pay $1,000 down payment

14. Among our Accomplishments
• In 2009, we completed 10 houses and rehabs.
• $0.83 of every dollar raised goes directly to construction costs.
• Habitat Oakland County opened a ReStore in March of 2006; this store
accepts donates of:
- new/gently used home building materials,
- furniture
- fixtures
- lights
- and appliances.
Then these items are resold to the public at 30-75% off the retail price.
This store helps to raise more funds for our mission.

15. Among our Accomplishments
• The Oakland, Macomb and Detroit affiliates raised
$500,000 for hurricane relief through the Chrysler Financial
Country Cares Concert.
• That money was used to construct and ship 40 “homes in a
box” with cash donations added to Houston, Fort Worth
and College Station, TX.
• It also fully funded a house in Jackson, MS; which we sent a
crew to construct in May 2006.
• Since April 2007, we have sent seven crews for week-long
builds in Bay St. Louis, MS.

16. Our Roots:
History of Habitat for Humanity
• In September 1976, Millard and Linda called together a
group of supporters to discuss the future of their dream
• Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI), as and
organization, was born at this meeting.
• The eight years that followed, vividly described in Millard
Fuller’s book, Love in the Motar Joints, proved that the
vision of a housing ministry was workable.
• Faith, hard work and direction set HFHI on its incredibly
successful course.

17. Our Roots:
History of Habitat for Humanity
• In 1984, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his
wife, Rosalynn, took their first Habitat work trip, the
Jimmy Carter Work Project, to New York City.
• Their personal involvement in Habitat’s ministry
brought the organization visibility and sparked interest
in Habitat’s work across the nation.
• Today, Habitat for Humanity has build more than
300,000 houses, sheltering more than 1.5 million
people in 3,000 communities worldwide.

18. Volunteer Guidelines
• VOLUNTEERS OF HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF
OAKLAND COUNTY ARE WILLING TO:
1. Become thoroughly familiar with Habitat Oakland County’s
policies and procedures.
2. Work a specified number of hours (if applicable) each week
or month, on a schedule established by mutual agreement.
3. Arrive promptly and report reliably for scheduled work, as
well as provide a monthly accounting of their volunteers
hours served (If worked hours outside of the construction
site and/or ReStore).
4. Attend orientation and training sessions, as scheduled.
5. Respect and maintain an open and working relationship with
the staff team and other volunteers, especially that
wonderful group of volunteers – our Partner Families.
6. Carry out assignments willingly and seek assistance from
other volunteers or staff if any situation requires special
services.
7. Each year, sign and abide by the affiliates’ Waiver of Liability
Form.

19. Volunteer Rights:
1. Be assigned worthwhile and challenging jobs, with
the freedom to use existing skills and/or develop
new ones.
2. Be provided orientation, training and supervision, as
well as clear explanations concerning the creating or
elimination of responsibilities.
3. Expect that appropriate internal planning,
coordination, and cooperation takes place so that
their time is not wasted.
4. Receive appropriate recognition in the form of
awards or certificates of achievement, and , more
importantly, expect day-to-day recognition for their
volunteer contributions.

20. Volunteers Have a
Responsibility to:
1. Fulfill their commitments, or find qualified
substitutes/quickly notify the designated person so a
substitute can be found
2. Use reasonable judgment in making decisions when there
appears to be no written or formal policy.
3. As soon as possible thereafter, consult with a supervisor
for guidelines in handling future similar situations.
4. Provide feedback, suggestions and recommendations to
increase the effectiveness of Habitat Oakland County’s
programs and procedures.
5. Be considerate, respect others’ competencies and work
effectively as a member of the volunteer staff team

21. Volunteer
Opportunities:
• OFFICE ADMINISTRATION
Clerical, data entry, answering phones as needed, etc.
Mondays and Wednesdays at 150 Osmun St., Pontiac, MI 48342
Shifts: 10 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.; 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.;
or 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Volunteers can be as young as 16 to assist in the office and must have office
experience and/or strong computer skills.
• RESTORE:
Assist customers and help keep the ReStore organized and functional.
Tuesday – Saturday; 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
150 Osmun St., Pontiac, MI 48342
Volunteers can be a s young as 16 years old to volunteer. Minors must be
accompanied by an adult.
• CONSTRUCTION:
On-going construction projects weekly
Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday; 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Volunteers can be as young as 16 years old to volunteer on certain construction
projects. Please contact either or construction or volunteer department to
receive approval for minors. Minors must be accompanied by an adult.

22. TEAMS!!
• Since Habitat for Humanity is mostly operated
by volunteers there are many opportunities for
people to volunteer in different areas of our
organization.
• We have started up multiple teams and are
looking for volunteers who are self-managing,
group oriented, and have strong leadership skills
to help with each team at different levels.

23. Volunteer Department
Contact Information
• Alesha Allen
Volunteer Liaison
248-338-1843 ex. 226
volunteer@habitatoakland.org
Contact for information on volunteering and any community service needs
• Marnese Jackson
Volunteer Coordinator
248-338-1843 ex. 224
mjackson@habitatoakland.org
Contact for information on volunteering and becoming a operational team member.
• Dana Gibson
Youth United Manager
248-338-1843 ex. 301
dgibson@habitatoakland.org
Contact for information on Youth United Program and A Brush with Kindness

24. Volunteer Department
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Habitat Spring Fair
Saturday, March 27, 2010
10-12p.m.

25. Thank you for attending this Orientation!
In gratitude,
Your Habitat Team