Habitat for Humanity/ AmeriCorps VISTA

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Member Duties & Responsibilities:
This VISTA will develop a home repair program for HFH Wisconsin River Area to help the affiliate
grow and serve more low income families.

PREPARE THE AFFILIATE and STUDY THE ENVIRONMENT- Review the programs,
policies and procedures, leadership and resources that are currently in place at the site and
identify best practices from other programs. Identify what additional needs the project requires.
Document research and communicate findings to the project sponsor and gain further direction
to move forward with developing a program.

o Complete an organizational and community assessment.

o Create project proposal: Based on research findings, create a proposal for a repairs
program that fits the communities’ needs and affiliate’s goals to help low income
homeowners repair and preserve their housing.

o Pending approval, develop a plan to design and implement the repairs program.

DESIGN THE PROGRAM - Based on the information gathered, develop a Repairs Program
that will address the needs of the local community and is sustainable for the affiliate.

o Establish partnerships: Using resources available from HFHI and locally, connect with
existing HFHI Repairs Program partner organizations as well as other organizations
that will support the program, develop leadership, and leverage resources.

o Develop systems to accurately track and record project-related data, with a focus on
ensuring sustainability. Develop evaluation tools that will assist in projecting and
assessing project impact.

o Develop methods to foster participation with project, including presentations, materials
and systems for recruitment of partners, volunteers and leadership.

o Research potential grants and funding sources, using HFH resources and others.
Holding events or executing tailored solicitations may also be options.

IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM - Implement the Repairs Program to sustainably partner with more
families to preserve their housing. Pilot the project using the developed tools, processes, etc.

o Write grant applications. Create a grants calendar and a system to track the grant
process.

o Conduct community outreach to increase participation with project, including
recruitment of partners and leadership and training them on presentations, materials
and systems.

o Implement systems to accurately track and record project related data, focused on
ensuring sustainability. Implement the use of evaluation tools to assist in projecting and
assessing project impact.

o Collect feedback on pilot, make necessary modifications.