Virtual Financial Focus Mentor (must be 55 or older)
Volunteers for Community Impact
This opportunity is to mentor families that are receiving a home from Habitat for Humanity. This is located in Seminole County Florida, but mentors can be anywhere in the US. Must have a reliable computer.
The Focus Mentor, as a member of the Financial Focus program, is committed to providing support and resources to those in the preparation process of their homebuyer journey. The Focus Mentor’s essential role is to assist participants of the Financial Focus Program by empowering and guiding them to complete their Focus Goals. The Focus Mentor relates to them holistically, respecting the values and individuality of each participant.
Financial Focus Program:
A 7-week financial education course and 6-month mentor program. It is designed to provide financial guidance to help individuals and families qualify for homeownership. Classes will take place on Thursday evenings.
Training: Each Focus Mentor will attend a training session on how to work with people in poverty, how to create SMART Goals, and the Habitat program requirements.
Prior Experience:
- Volunteers are expected to have experience as a successful homeowner.
- Volunteers are expected to have Financial Literacy experience, including:
- Volunteers should be able to read a credit report and make recommendations for repairing and building credit.
- Volunteers should have the ability to put together a budget.
Expected Commitment:
- Volunteers will be matched with a participant(s) and will work with them through the duration of their 7-week Focus course and for the following 6 months to assist with Focus goal achievement.
- The Focus Mentor may choose to discontinue involvement after their assigned participant(s) has received their certificate of completion. The Focus Mentor may choose to be assigned to a new participant for the next Focus program term. If the Focus participant is accepted into the Homeowner Program, the Focus Mentor may choose to become a H.O.M.E. Mentor for the participant.
Responsibilities:
- Work hard at building a rapport with the participant(s) you have been assigned.
- Serve as a liaison between the participant(s) and Habitat to ensure that they understand the
requirements of becoming a certified Focus graduate and the requirements of acceptance into the homeownership programs
- Assist the participant(s) with the development of and achievement of Focus Goals.
- Mediate in time of conflict.
- Encourage your participant(s) to tap into appropriate community resources.
- Contact the participant at least twice per month. Contact can made either via video call or face to face, depending on the safety and comfort level of both the mentor and participant.
- Provide the Homebuyer Services Department with a once a month report via the check-in worksheet. Include:
- Goal development and progress updates
- Accomplishments, joys, questions, and concerns
About Volunteers for Community Impact
Location:
3545 Lake Breeze Dr., Orlando, FL 32808, US
Mission Statement
Our mission: "Improving Lives Through Volunteerism."
Description
We are the leading organization for senior volunteerism in the greater Central Florida area, serving Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia counties. Just last year, 1,186 caring adult volunteers gave 438,683 hours of service. That is more than $9.5 million dollars worth of volunteer service being poured back into our communities.
Previously known as Florida Senior Programs, VCI has been the sponsoring agency for the REtired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) and Foster Grandparent Programs since 1977. Our 36 year presence has proven our aptitude for providing meaningful and impactful volunteer experiences.
VCI provides membership benefits and support to volunteers aged 55+, at no cost to the volunteers or their volunteer stations. Just a few of the benefits of membership include: Supplemental insurance while volunteering, a dedicated coordinator, and matching to find the perfect position to fit the interest of the volunteer.