Chapter 2: Building Team

1. House Leader

The house construction is led by one or two people who can commit to being on the work site every Saturday to work as partners with the HFHSL Construction Manager or Site Coordinator in directing and supervising the Crew Leaders, Site Safety Observer, and volunteers. It is possible for 2 – 3 qualified people to share this responsibility throughout the duration of the build. It is expected that the House Leader have the experience to guide the Crew Leaders through most aspects of residential home construction. If qualified personnel cannot be recruited from within the sponsoring organization for this role, HFHSL can provide this resource: however, this may affect other HFHSL projects that are underway concurrently. The House Leader begins the workday by meeting with HFHSL construction staff at 7:00. The House Leader then meets with crew leaders at 7:30. The House Leader typically leads the morning meeting at 8:00. When the day is done, the House Leader is authorized to sign for sweat equity hours.

2. Crew Leader

The Crew Leader’s principle function is to coach the volunteers to produce acceptable results in a safe manner. A Crew Leader can usually guide 4 – 5 unskilled or semi-skilled volunteers. There are often 10 – 25 volunteers on the job site. A House Leader cannot direct the work of that many people and run a safe, orderly, and productive job site. As such, each work period requires the services of 2 – 4 Crew Leaders to demonstrate tasks, maintain high standards, monitor safety, and assure that the volunteers have enough meaningful work to have a satisfying experience. It is not necessary that the Crew Leaders actually perform any work on the job site. They may elect to perform tasks if all the volunteers are adequately engaged in the work.

Crew Leaders meet with the House Leader at 7:30 for instruction.

If additional Crew Members arrive after the morning meeting, the Crew Leader and the Site Safety Observer are expected to assure that the late arriving volunteers are fully aware of the issues that were discussed during the morning meeting.

While the volunteers will generally only work on the Saturday that their segment of the organization is working, Crew Leaders may elect to work several Saturdays throughout the project.

HFHSL has begun a Crew Leader training program to train Crew Leaders in basic construction techniques and to create a pool of Crew Leaders who could be asked to volunteer.

3. Site Safety Observer

A Site Safety Observer will observe the work activities of the volunteers that work on Saturdays. This is a person who has become familiar with the HFHSL Volunteer Safety Manual and the HFHSL Safety Process. This person will perform audits of the work site conditions, the condition of the tools and equipment that are being used and provide safety coaching to the volunteers as needed. The specific safety issues associated with the day’s tasks will be discussed with the House Leader and Crew Leaders prior to the arrival of the volunteers at the work site and then will be discussed with the volunteers prior to beginning the work.

While the volunteers will generally only work on the Saturday that their segment works, the Site Safety Observer may elect to work several Saturdays throughout the project.

4. Family Partner

The role of the Family Partner in the construction process is to facilitate the involvement of the Homeowners in the project. This includes making introductions on the work site and assuring that one of the Crew Leaders is responsible for including the Homeowner Family and those working specifically on behalf of the Homeowner Family in the day’s activities.

The Family Partner will also accompany the Homeowner Family and the HFHSL Construction Manager on the walk-through at the end of the project. During this walk-through, the group will develop the final Punch List for the project.

It will be the responsibility of the Family Partner to work in partnership with the HFHSL Construction Committee to facilitate the completion of the Punch List. At the completion of the Punch List, the Family Partner will be involved in the Homeowner Family and the HFHSL Construction Manager “signing off” on the completed Punch List.

The Family Partner will also attend meetings during the build designed to promote dialog between the Construction Staff and the representatives of the sponsoring organization about how the build is progressing.

5. Volunteers

There will be 10 – 25 unskilled and semi-skilled volunteers (15 years or older) who actually perform the construction tasks by following the guidance and direction of the HFHSL Construction Manager, HFHSL Site Coordinators, House Leader, and Crew Leaders.

6. Sub-contractors

If there are licensed contractors within the sponsor organization’s network who would be interested in working on this project at the terms that would provide a benefit, this information should be forwarded to the HFHSL Construction Staff. Sub-contractors are usually used for excavation, foundation, waterproofing, installation of roofing shingles, drywall hanging and taping, basement floor, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC.

7. Material Suppliers

If there are material suppliers within your organization’s network who would be interested in submitting bids on materials for this project at terms that would provide a benefit, this information should be forwarded to the HFHSL Construction Staff. It is rarely possible to use odd lots or extra material left over from other jobs on a Habitat project.

8. Mid Week Volunteers

HFHSL has a mid week group called the Wednesday Crew which has worked during the week for many years to perform tasks that require finesse, expertise, and/or patience. These people often complete work left over from the previous Saturday, repair construction errors, or make preparations for the tasks to be performed during the next Saturday work period.

It is usually beneficial for each sponsoring organization to establish a mid week volunteer crew that can provide similar services on their project. The HFHSL mid week volunteer crew is assigned to the highest priority tasks which by definition presumes that some tasks are not addressed on each project prior to the next Saturday work period. If each project has a mid week resource, these potential speed bumps can be smoothed out.

If there are people within your organization who work in this mid week environment on your project and would like to continue in this role after completion of the home your group has sponsored, ask them to contact the HFHSL office or Construction Staff to arrange participating in the HFHSL mid week group.

9. Couriers and Bobcat Crew

Volunteers are also utilized as couriers to transport materials as needed. A bobcat crew consists of individuals trained and authorized in the use of a bobcat on the job site.

10. HFHSL Construction Committee

The Construction Committee works in partnership with the HFHSL Construction Staff to design the structure to be built, determines the sequence and techniques by which it is built and seeks to provide continuous improvement to the overall construction process. The HFHSL Construction Committee maintains relationships with material suppliers and subcontractors which may be used on the project if these resources are not available from within your organization’s network.

This committee also sponsors subcommittees as needed, one of which is the Safety Subcommittee that manages the HFHSL Safety Process.

11. HFHSL Construction Manager and Site Coordinators (staff)

The construction manager and site coordinators serve as a consultant to the House Leaders. The HFHSL Construction Manager and the Site Coordinators will provide management services for the project. The HFHSL Construction Manager or designated Site Coordinators generally provide guidance and direction to the subcontractors used on the project.

12. HFHSL Construction Administrator (staff)

This individual works in partnership with the Construction Manager and Site Coordinators to manage the commercial aspects of the arrangements between HFHSL and any subcontractors and suppliers from within your organization, the commercial issues (even if Pro Bono) are still managed through the HFHSL office in order to maintain consistency in our process and to assure the proper consideration of the interests of all parties.

13. Family Support Coordinator (staff)

The Family Support Coordinator participates on the Building Team through his or her partnership with the Homeowner Family, the Sponsoring Organization’s Family Partner and by providing liaison with the HFHSL staff.

The Family Support Coordinator coordinates the tracking of “sweat equity” provided by the Homeowner Families.

The Family Support Coordinator will also coordinate the involvement of the Homeowner Family in groundbreaking, dedications and other events associated with construction.

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Page last updated Saturday, May 3, 2008 at 6:39:45 PM