We know that often people don’t volunteer simply because they have not been asked. On behalf of the thousands of people needing homes in St. Louis, please ask your friends to consider becoming a Habitat volunteer construction leader. We need volunteers and leaders so that “one house at a time we can change lives forever.” As Jim Kennedy, a long-time Habitat house leader, says, “Go ahead and make the call. We’ll teach you what you need to know, as long as you are willing to help others.”

On behalf of Habitat Saint Louis and all of our wonderful partners, we want to give a special thank you to all of our volunteer construction leaders. You make our mission possible.

How could we build houses without someone who knows what to do? We can’t! We are looking for Construction Leaders. If you read the description below and say “I could do that”, please see the “Next Steps to Leadership”!

Habitat Volunteer Construction Leadership Roles

HOUSE LEADER:

Partners with the HFHSL Project Manager to direct and supervise the Crew Leaders, Task Leaders, Site Safety Observers, and volunteers. It is possible for two to three qualified people to share this responsibility throughout the duration of the build. The House Leader should have the experience required to guide the Crew Leaders/Task Leaders through most aspects of residential home construction. This person also should have experience in reading construction documents, developing a work plan for a crew, laying out specific material placement, and accurately explaining the layout to Crew and Task Leaders and volunteer groups.The House Leader also serves as a liaison between Habitat for Humanity and the sponsor group by insuring Habitat equipment is returned, and by attending House Leader meetings, training sessions, and other relevant activities. House Leaders are needed Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays during blitz weekends, and Saturdays throughout our entire build.

CREW LEADER

The Crew Leader’s principal function is to coach the volunteers to produce acceptable results in a safe manner.A Crew Leader can usually guide four to five unskilled or semi-skilled volunteers. Crew Leaders demonstrate tasks, maintain standards, monitor safety, and assure that the volunteers have enough meaningful work to have a satisfying experience. A Crew Leader should be a people person, possess some basic construction aptitude, enjoy leadership, and be able to learn tasks quickly and then demonstrate those tasks to others. Crew Leaders are needed Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays during blitz weekends, and Saturdays throughout our entire build.

TASK LEADER

The Task Leader coaches volunteers to complete a specialized task at the worksite. A Task Leader for framing works only on framing days of the blitz week, while a painting Task Leader works only on finishing Saturdays. The Task Leader could lead a team to execute a specific task during one or more blitz days or multiple Saturdays. Task Leaders are needed Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays during blitz weekends, and Saturdays throughout our entire build.

SITE SAFETY OBSERVER

The Site Safety Observer observes the work activities of the volunteers on the build site. This is a person who has become familiar with the HFHSL House Leader's Safety Manual. This person performs audits of the work site conditions and the condition of the tools and equipment that are being used. This person also provides safety coaching for the volunteers, as needed. The Site Safety Observer discusses specific safety issues associated with the day's tasks with the House Leaders and Crew Leaders prior to the arrival of the volunteers at the work site, and then with the volunteers prior to beginning the work. Site Safety Observers are needed Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays during blitz weekends, and Saturdays throughout our entire build.

Click here to download a brochure on the above job descriptions.

Next Steps to Leadership

Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis started a partnership with St. Louis Community College Continuing Education at Forest Park in 2008.The partnership between St. Louis Community College and Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis is about spreading the reach of Habitat to be able to recruit, train, and retain more and more volunteer construction leaders every year.

Through this partnership we are able to provide construction leadership with the necessary tools to be successful construction leaders on our site. There are two prerequisite courses, Construction Leadership & Diversity and L.E.E.D. & Safety, which everyone takes. Once those two courses are complete, one can take any of the specialized task courses offered.

As a volunteer completes courses he/she is required to complete a field day on the build site in which they will lead volunteers completing that task, under the supervision of the instructor or Habitat staff. However, if you are an industry professional and/or have several years experience in a particular area we will have you talk with our Director of Construction and/or our Construction Manager.Once you have shared your previous experiences with them they will determine if additional courses are necessary.Sometimes volunteers with previous construction experience catch on to “the Habitat way” rather quickly and other times they may need to see how we do it.

STEPS TO LEADERSHIP

Step 1—Read the Construction Leader Process Overview.

Step 2—Sign up for classes at St. Louis Community College at Forest Park.

Step 3—Attend class and sign up for your field day.

Step 4—Participate in a field day for each class

Step 5—Sign up to lead volunteers as a construction leader!

IMPORTANT NOTES: All classes are taught by Habitat staff and/or volunteers on the Forest Park campus or Habitat construction build site.Volunteers must be at least 18 years old to be construction leaders.There is a nominal fee for attending each class which helps defray facility and material costs.

Course topics include the following:

·Construction Leadership & Diversity

·L.E.E.D. & Safety

·Framing

·Flooring & Stair Basics

·Siding, Windows, Flashing & Soffits

·Cabinets, Trim & Doors

Click here to see a detailed description of each class.

To see a current list of course offerings click here to visit the St. Louis Community College Continuing Education course offerings.

For questions about construction leadership email jacinta@habitatstl.org.

Revised: April 3, 2009