Family Support Committee

Mandate

The Family Partnership Committee reports to the Board of Directors via the Executive Director. The Committee is responsible for planning, implementing and evaluating the affiliate’s partnership program.

Scope

The committee works with families through the Sweat equity program, homeownership education, the closing process and adjustment to the new responsibilities. On-going support may be provided for up to a year after the family has moved into the home, on the principle of providing a hand up, but not a hand out.

Committee Activities

• Support families as a friend and information source.

• Provide homeowner training sessions.

• Train family sponsor/advocate/friends (S/A/F).

• Develop tools and materials for supporting families, which may include a homeowner manual and tracking sheet.

• Provide feedback to the board regarding the effectiveness of current policies and procedures

• Ensure that families understand and have opportunity to complete required sweat-equity hours.

Keep records of sweat equity hours and report to the Board as requested.
• Assist families throughout the entire process of becoming homeowners (answering questions, helping with planning and budgeting, identifying other community resources, follow-up explanations of training workshop materials, providing home maintenance tips, etc.).

• Maintain an environment of appropriate confidentiality.

• Develop an annual plan and submit a budget to the board.

Members

• Have good “social/people” skills.

• Understand the difference between “doing for” and “doing with.”

• Understand HFH sweat-equity philosophy and guidelines.

• Know HFH house design criteria and understand the underlying principles.

• Know the parameters for decisions families can and cannot make regarding house design and decorating options.

• Know HFH “closing” process.

• Be familiar with HFH family selection process and homeowner orientation procedures.

• Know the basics of house construction and maintenance.

• Know the volunteer sign-up procedures.

• Be familiar with the basics of public relations and dealing with the media.

• Be familiar with adult learning principles.

• Understand confidentiality policies.