About New Home Construction

Thank you for supporting Habitat’s ministry! The mission of Trinity Habitat for Humanity is to build homes and hope in partnership with God’s people.

We look forward to seeing you on Friday, October 25, 2013 at 8:00am-3:00pm

Please read the following volunteer information so you will be prepared for the volunteer day.

General Building Information:
Habitat requests that volunteers arrive on site prior to the start of your shift to get signed in. To help us accomplish our tasks, we ask volunteers to plan to work to the end of the registered shift.

Construction Schedule
What to do when you arrive at the work site
• Introduce yourself to the Project Manager or the Site Host at the welcome/sign in table.
• Sign in – Please print legibly and note the group you are with (if you are volunteering with a group). Your assistance in this capacity helps Habitat secure grant funding and Habitat carries secondary insurance coverage for all volunteers who have signed in for work on the site. The sign-in sheet is on site each build day.
• Provide your completed Waiver of Liability form to the Site Host/at the welcome table (or fill out a Waiver of Liability form on site if you have not completed one during the course of that year). If you are between the ages of 12-17 years old, you must have your parent or guardian’s signature on the Youth Waiver of Liability BEFORE you can work. Everyone must sign and have a Waiver of Liability once per year of service. ALSO: the e-mail addresses on the Waiver form are used to send an electronic invitation to all volunteers for the DEDICATIONS and VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION DINNER. This helps us maximize our donated dollars. If you do not wish to receive information for Habitat, please note that on your waiver. If you do not use e-mail, correspondence can be sent to your physical address.

Working Safely
The Project Manager supervises both construction and safety on the work site. Please share your skill and experience level, and be patient. Every shift begins with an overview of site safety and work objectives. Then teams form and let the fun begin!
Please work safely:
• Never attempt any task that feels risky or unfamiliar. Seek guidance from the Project Manager and crew chiefs.
• Anyone with medical concerns should be mindful of their condition. If you have health issues, it is your responsibility to inform the Project Manager.
• All volunteers need to drink plenty of water and avoid overheating.
• Hard hats, eye protection, and hearing protection are in the Site Host Box on the site.
• Shared responsibility: watch for any unsafe conditions, help your crewmates, and keep a clean site.

What to do when you leave the work site
• Let the Project Manager know you are leaving.
• Sign out – this helps us account for volunteer hours donated when we are reporting to grant entities.

Weather
In most cases, the workday is not cancelled unless there are predicted adverse weather conditions. Please call 817.920.9220 option 2 or access our “Weather on the Web” site, http://trinityhabitatweather.blogspot.com/ , to find out if their specific site is going to be working or not. An update will be left no later than 45 minutes prior to the start of work IF the site will be canceled. Weather is difficult to predict, so we ask for your grace as we attempt to make the best decision.

Lunch
Habitat does not provide lunch. We may have a group that wishes to provide lunch this day, but we recommend that you bring a sack lunch with you for your convenience to ensure you are fed.

Tools, Dress, and Additional Topics
Habitat provides the essential tools and materials required to build our houses. Hard hats and safety glasses are available at each work site. Every volunteer should bring:

o Work Gloves
o Sun Screen
o Insect Repellant
o Hard-soled shoes (NO open toed shoes)
o Hat and Sunglasses
o Water Bottle

Habitat recommends volunteers wear comfortable clothing that you would not mind getting dirty and work boots or no-skid, thick-soled shoes. No sandals! Very loose clothing should be avoided because it can catch on ladders and tools.

Volunteers may bring their own tools if they like, but Habitat is not responsible for lost or damaged tools.

Please: No framing nail guns are allowed on the construction site.

There is a portable restroom on site, if needed.
…
House Dedication
You are invited to join in the celebration of the house you helped build. Sometime during the latter half of the construction process, we all gather to bless the house and homeowner family. This fall’s Building on the Faith Dedication will be held on December 5, 2009, at the Back Forty in Stockyard Station. An electronic invitation will be sent to all volunteers – we will send it to the e-mail provided on the Waiver.

No Alcohol
No alcoholic beverages are permitted on the worksite. Anyone who has consumed alcoholic beverages prior to coming on the worksite will be asked to leave.

Age Limit
Habitat staff will strictly enforce the guidelines below. Minors must abide by the following age and activities restrictions:
11 years old and younger are not allowed on site.
12-15 year olds can landscape or paint, however, construction on the house must be complete (excluding minor punch list items).
16 and 17 year olds are allowed to participate in general construction (everything listed above plus framing, siding, windows, doors, trim, sheathing, sheetrock, etc…), but ultra hazardous activities such as using power tools, excavation, demolition, or working on rooftops is not permitted.

Keep Volunteering!
Working on a Habitat house is contagious—you may catch “Habititis” and want to keep building. If you need more information about volunteering, call our office at (817) 926-9219 x108 or we can also be reached via email, [email protected].