Frequently Asked Questions
GENERAL QUESTIONS:
How do I volunteer? If you are an individual who would like to volunteer, please follow link to Volunteer Now! If you would like to book a corporate group, civic or community group, please email Beth Bowman, Resource Development Director at development@habitatsc.org or
call 831-469-4663.
Can I still help if I don’t want to do construction? There are plenty of other opportunities that are listed on our Volunteer Form.
Where is the construction site and the Habitat office? We have one construction site, which is located at 16 ½ Blake Lane in Scotts Valley. Our office is located at 1007 Cedar Street in downtown Santa Cruz.
CONSTRUCTION QUESTIONS:
I’ve never held a hammer in my life; can I still work on site? We welcome volunteers of ALL skill levels and we provide the training that you need! Be aware that construction is a physically demanding activity, and there are dangers associated with it. As such, we ask you to sign a waiver, which you can sign on the first day that you volunteer.
What kinds of construction work will I do? All sorts of work takes place on a Habitat construction site. Please be prepared to assist in whatever that day’s tasks may be and remember that every job helps to build homes. Tasks may include preparing foundations; framing walls with lumber; installing roofing, windows, doors, and exterior siding; painting interior walls and exterior siding; installing interior trim, hardware, fixtures, cabinets, and countertops; and cleaning and organizing the construction sites. If you have special skills – don’t be shy! – let construction staff know upon your arrival in case you can be of special assistance. While tasks often include using power tools or working at heights, we do not want you to take on a task that makes you feel uncomfortable. Our goal is to have a safe work site, and for everyone who participates to feel that their contribution is valued.
What safety information should I know prior to working? Please view our safety videos. There are several training videos to choose from—we suggest you take the “Volunteering on a Habitat Job Site” and “Fall Safety.” If you take the simple tests after watching the videos, we will have a certificate ready for you on your first day on the construction site.
How old do I have to be to work on site? You must be at least 16 years old to work on the construction site; additionally, you must be at least 18 to work on roofs and/or scaffolding and use power tools. All minors under the age of 18 must arrive with a waiver signed by their parent or guardian. You can download the waiver form here and bring it with you on the first day you volunteer.
Is there parking at the site? No, there is no parking at the Blake Lane site. It is located on a very narrow street and the Fire Department will not allow any on-street parking. Try to car pool as much as possible, or Blake Lane Parking Information.
When should I arrive at the site?Arrive at 8:30 AM in order to sign in and register. An orientation and a safety talk begin at 8:45 AM and work starts promptly at 9 AM. For safety reason, we cannot allow anyone to come late; if you miss the safety talk, you may not be able to work on the site that day. We usually end at 3:00 PM.
Can I come late/leave early? The construction day is nonnegotiable. We ask for a full-day commitment from all of our volunteers. When people show up late or leave early, it makes it difficult for our supervisor to properly train volunteers or accomplish the construction goals for the day. Late arrivals may also cause delays in the start of safety instruction and task assignments. If you miss the safety talk, late arrivals may be asked to leave.
What if I get injured? Habitat Santa Cruz staff are trained in First Aid and CPR and can attend to minor cuts and scrapes. Please notify staff of any pre-existing conditions and of any necessary precautions, such as a bee sting kit, inhaler, etc. We ask that all injuries, no matter how minor, be reported to the site manager. If a serious injury occurs, a staff person will assist you in getting emergency medical care.
It’s raining! What do I do? Construction can continue during rain showers, depending on the state of the site. Often we will have enough work to do indoors to continue working in inclement weather. To check on the status of the build day, check the Twitter Box on the home page of our Website.
What should I wear? Wear sturdy, closed toe shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty or ruined. Also be aware that much of the work is outdoors, so dress appropriately for the weather, including wind, sun and/or fog.
What should I bring to the construction site? First of all, bring a lunch and a water bottle. Habitat Santa Cruz will provide hand tools and power tools you will be using. You may bring your own hand tools if you like, but be sure to label them with your name. If you have your own gloves or safety goggles you may want to bring them as well. Also, be sure to bring your own personal comfort items – sunscreen, a hat and layered clothing for weather changes. Please leave your valuables at home! There is no storage space at the site.
When is lunch? Are there restaurants/shops nearby? Lunch is from 12:00 – 1:00p.m. There are places to eat, but they are several blocks away. It is recommended that you bring your own lunch.
What can I expect to do when I work on the site? Upon arrival, volunteers must sign the sign-in sheet and, if it is your first day on the site, a Release and Waiver of Liability Form. After signing in, volunteers will receive safety instructions from the Volunteer Coordinator, and work assignments from the Site Manager.
Work day schedules vary depending on the site; however, the following is a typical workday schedule:
8:30-8:45 Volunteer sign-in 8:45-9:00 Orientation, safety overview and task assignments
9:00-12:00 Workday tasks
12:00-1:00 Lunch 1:00-3:00 Workday tasks 3:00-3:30 Cleanup Volunteers are expected to work for the duration of the day but should be aware that on occasion the workday may end before 3:30 p.m. You may be asked to perform the same task for the duration of the day, in order to maximize productivity.
How many people can work on site? The optimal number of site volunteers depends on the site and the work plan for the day. Each site has different capacities but there can be as few as five or as many as 25 volunteers each day. The safety and adequate supervision of our volunteers is extremely important to us, and our Construction Site Manager determines the number of volunteers we have on our sites.
When is the Site Open? The construction site is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Tuesdays are usually reserved for our “expert” volunteers. The workday starts at 8:30 a.m. and typically lasts until 3:30 p.m. Volunteers need to arrive at the worksite at 8:30 a.m. It is critical for volunteers to arrive on time and sign in!
