Volunteer Committees Are the “Heartbeat” of Habitat 

No Habitat Affiliate can operate without the support of its many volunteer committees.  The committees are made up of local interested citizens who want to help by lending their time and expertise to Habitat’s mission.  Typically, a staff member is assigned to work as a liaison to each of the committees. Here are the current committees: 

The Construction Committee

This committee is responsible for all aspects of the construction of Habitat homes.  The committee works alongside the Habitat Project Manager and other construction staff.  The committee works with local architects to design the homes or obtain house plans.  They solicit professional trade partners who provide licensed construction expertise when needed.  The committee also oversees the construction activities to ensure compliance with The Basic House Description.  This policy insures equity so that all homeowners receive the same features and benefits in each Habitat home we build.  The committee works closely with the Project Manager to develop construction schedules and to assist the staff with issues that may come up.  The Construction Committee also works closely with the land development committee.

The Land Development Committee

This committee is responsible for locating land or buildable lots in the Fort Collins area.  If it involves purchasing raw land, this committee provides land planning, project budgeting and feasibility studies.  It works closely with the staff, the Construction Committee, and local Realtors to identify build sites.

The Family Selection Committee

This committee receives the applications and makes the final selection of the families chosen to become Habitat Homeowners.  This is the most rewarding, yet often most difficult committee on which to serve.  This committee is divided into several teams that review the applications and make the home visits required in selecting the families.  Each team consists of a mortgage lender or banking professional, someone from a local affordable housing agency, a current Habitat homeowner, and interested citizens, many of which have served on this committee for many years.   This committee is charged with following all the requirements of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.  Once the committee interviews the applicant families, they make a recommendation to the Habitat Board which makes the final decision on the families to be selected.

The Family Support Committee

Once Habitat families are selected, now begins the work of this committee. This committee works with the chosen families with the responsibility of insuring that the family is successful. Each family is paired with a family advocate who works along side them throughout the process ensuring the family completes their required financial literacy and homeownership classes and verifies their sweat equity hours.  This committee works closely with the Family Services Coordinator on staff to assist the families throughout the home-building process and for many years after they are in their homes.  Members of the family support committee are “forever friends” to our Habitat families.

Faith-in-Action Committee

Since Habitat is a Christian housing ministry, it is important to interface and work with our local faith communities.  Members of this committee work with local churches or faith communities that wish to sponsor a home of their own or who wish to volunteer together on a Habitat home.  Their main purpose is to strengthen the bond between Habitat and the faith organizations not only to provide volunteers and donations but to ask for prayer for the Habitat ministry.  It is our goal to have one person from every church or faith organization in our community serve as a member of this committee, a lofty goal to be sure.

Women Build Committee

Every few years, this committee moves into action to coordinate a Habitat build that brings together women from all walks of life to raise the money to build a home for a single-mother in our community.  This program, which is a nationwide program carried out by Affiliates throughout the U.S. and the world, encourages women to work together to learn building skills and advocate for simple, decent, affordable housing in their communities.  Volunteers on this committee plan the project and help to fundraise, plan the logistics for the build, and together share in the amazing experience of building a home for a deserving single mother.  Learn more about the current Women Build project.

Interested in Serving on a Committee?

As was mentioned earlier, there is a staff liaison to each committee.  If you’d like to serve on any of these committees, please contact Greg Woods, Operations Director, at (970) 488-2610 or e-mail him at gwoods@fortcollinshabitat.org.