Building Houses, Building Hope, Building Philadelphia.

Do I need to have construction skills?

No, we do not require previous construction experience  – just a willingness to work hard, listen and learn. But, if you have construction experience (carpentry, electrical, drywalling, etc), we certainly encourage you to come volunteer with us!

How old does a construction volunteer need to be?

To be present on our construction sites, all volunteers must be at least 16 years of age. Youth ages 16 and 17 years of age are not permitted to use power tools or work more than 10 feet off the ground. All youth ages 16 and 17 must bring a liability waiver form signed by a parent/guardian when they come to site.

When can I volunteer on a construction site?

We build year-round with volunteers on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and the occasional Friday.

What is the time commitment asked of volunteers?

We work a full day from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. We ask that volunteers arrive on-site promptly at 8:30am for our safety orientation. 

What do I need to bring to the construction site?

Every Habitat site is supervised by our construction staff and we provide all tools and safety equipment (hardhats and safety glasses).  We ask that you bring your own water, lunch, and wear sturdy/closed toe shoes as well as clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty.

What do I bring for lunch?

We encourage volunteers to bring a brown bag lunch.  We will take a lunch break.  In some of the neighborhoods where we build, there is the option to walk to a cornerstore for a drink/sandwich.

Can I come late/leave early?

To meet our construction schedules and project deadlines, we ask for a full-day commitment from all our volunteers. Prompt arrival at 8:30 by all volunteers ensures that the safety orientation and training occurs.  Likewise, we are counting on you to help us achieve the assigned task for the day - to help keep the project on schedule.  Late arrivals and early departures hamper the training and day's agenda.  

What will I be doing?

Please note, you will most likely find out your assignment when you arrive on-site.  We ask that our volunteers step up to do what is needed on that particular day. We aim to provide a mutually beneficial volunteer experience - your desire to volunteer is fulfilled and our construction schedule stays on track.  Our volunteers help from demolition to painting and everything in between. Not all jobs are glamorous, but every task is important.

Where do we build?

We build throughout the City of Philadelphia including neighborhoods in: South Philadelphia, North Phidelphia, West Philadelphia and Germantown.

How do I sign up to volunteer?

All individual volunteers are asked to register through Volunteer UP!  You'll be asked to create a username and password.  Once logged in, you'll have access to the schedule, projects and volunteer opportunities.

How do I get my company involved?

Please read more about our Team Building Adopt A Day program.  If interested,  please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@habitatphiladelphia.org or call 215.765.6000 x10.

Why do you ask for financial contributions for Group Build Days?

As an Adopt-a-day participant, your group helps to defray the costs of acquisition, construction materials and supervision that are needed to safely build affordable homes in partnership with families in need. Funds can be raised by individuals, companies, matching funds or through other grants. We ask that Adopt-A-Day Groups to contribute $2,500 (tax-deductible) towards their build day.  Habitat Philadelphia depends on the financial support of volunteer groups to advance Habitat’s mission of making decent, affordable shelter for all people a reality. 

What about cancellations for inclement weather?

We rarely cancel a build day due to rain because the majority of the work takes place inside/under the roof.  However, if extreme weather conditions occur (winter blizzards or extreme rains), we will notify you via email of the cancellation.  We also encourage volunteers to use common sense - if you do not feel safe/ comfortable getting to site in the weather conditions, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator to notify us of your cancellation (and we won't worry about you) volunteer@habitatphiladelphia.org or 215.765.6000 x10.

Do you accept students who have to complete community service hours?

All volunteers must be at least 16 years old to participate on our construction sites.  If you are interested in doing community service hours of any type with us, we ask that send the following information in an email to our Volunteer Coordinator:  number of hours that need to be completed and the timeline of when the hours must be completed.  The student will be responsible for tracking/documenting hours and providing necessary paperwork for Habitat authorization.  volunteer@habitatphiladelphia.org

What are your safety standards?

We provide an on-site safety training during the morning orientation session.  We adhere to strict safety stands - ie, googles, hard hats will be provided.  Individuals using power tools will be trained and supervised by Habitat construction staff.  All Habitat Construction Staff and AmeriCorps members are First-Aid and CPR certified.

How do I get involved if I don't live in the Philadelphia area?

To volunteer at your neighborhood Habitat affiliate, please visit www.habitat.org.  Enter your zip code which will locate your nearest Habitat affiliate.  However, Habitat Philadelphia certainly welcomes and encourages your participation with our affiliate.