every
door
opens a new opportunity.
Students & Community Service
Complete your service hours while building a better community.
Help provide the manpower and support needed to build affordable homes for families in need.
Student Volunteers
Students 16 and older needing to complete service hours can volunteer in our ReStore with just a few simple steps.
Getting Started
1
Apply
Create Your Volunteer Account
Create your account on our volunteer portal. This will allow you to sign any necessary documents (for those 18 and older), sign-up for shifts, and track your hours. After creating your account, you will need to wait for approval from the Volunteer Coordinator before you can select your shift.
Need help?
Ready for online orientation?
Looking for the minor liability waiver?
Why complete your hours with us
work experience
Gain valuable work experience and practice the necessary skills for a busy retail environment
teamwork
Our ReStore takes many hands to get things done, and volunteering with us gives you the opportunity to be a part of the team
leadership
We encourage our student volunteers to take ownership of their volunteering with us - from getting started with orientation to completing independent tasks with minimal supervision
friends and contacts
Giving your time to the ReStore is a great way to meet people outside of your immediate circle
make a difference
By lending your time and talents to the ReStore, you help Greater Matthews Habitat allocate more resources to support homebuilding and critical repair projects that benefit families in our community.
Community Service
We offer opportunities in our ReStore for those needing to earn community service hours. However, we generally ONLY accept court-ordered (or lawyer-recommended) community service for the following charges: traffic violations, DWIs/DUIs, and minor possession charges. ​
Certain charges are an automatic disqualification for any individual interested in completing community service at the ReStore including, but not limited to: disorderly conduct, larceny, theft, uttering, forgery, breaking & entering, assault, felonies, weapons-related charges, and any violent offenses.
All community service volunteers will be expected to:
-
regularly lift up to 50 lbs. during their shift and must willing to do so/can do so safely.
-
Provide a physical letter on letterhead from either the court or lawyer stating your offense, the number of hours needed to be performed, and when they need performed by.
-
Show up for scheduled shifts and work the entire shift
View the complete Community Service Policy
Court-ordered community service volunteers will need to provide documentation verifying their charges and receive approval from either the Volunteer Coordinator or ReStore Manager prior to beginning their volunteer work.
Here are answers to the questions we hear most.
-
How do I get a house?Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity does not give away homes. We provide a hand up, not a handout. You will be purchasing your home, and we work with you to make sure you have an affordable housing cost after purchasing the home. Each applicant must agree to partner with us in the program, which includes providing all documentation needed as well as attending homebuyer education classes and completing volunteer "HIP-hour" requirements.
-
Are Habitat homes free?No, Habitat homeowners purchase their home, and pay an affordable mortgage.
-
When will you accept applications again?At this time, we do not have a date set for our next application period.
-
How much does a Greater Matthews Habitat mortgage cost?Your mortgage payment (including principal, interest, taxes, and insurance) will be no more than 30% of your gross monthly income. This helps to ensure that you are able to continue making payments on your home while having enough remaining income to provide a healthy, stable life for you and your family.
-
What is meant by "ability to pay"?Must be able to afford monthly mortgage payments Debt-to-income ratio has to be lower than 13% Stable income of at least $45,000 a year but less than 80% of the AMI based on family size.
-
Do I need enough savings for a down payment?No. We consider the required 150 volunteer "HIP-hours" as down payment. However, you are required to cover closing costs.
-
What do you mean by "family"?Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity understands that there are many types of families, and all are welcome to apply to our program. You determine who your family is. Just a few examples of family are: an individual applying alone, a married couple with children, a single parent, a non-married couple, or a family that includes aunts, uncles, or parents. Unless there are circumstances outside of your control, you must have lived with all the household members shown on your application for at least 6 months.
Need more help?
Send a message to our Volunteer Department.
-
How do I get a house?Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity does not give away homes. We provide a hand up, not a handout. You will be purchasing your home, and we work with you to make sure you have an affordable housing cost after purchasing the home. Each applicant must agree to partner with us in the program, which includes providing all documentation needed as well as attending homebuyer education classes and completing volunteer "HIP-hour" requirements.
-
Are Habitat homes free?No, Habitat homeowners purchase their home, and pay an affordable mortgage.
-
When will you accept applications again?At this time, we do not have a date set for our next application period.
-
How much does a Greater Matthews Habitat mortgage cost?Your mortgage payment (including principal, interest, taxes, and insurance) will be no more than 30% of your gross monthly income. This helps to ensure that you are able to continue making payments on your home while having enough remaining income to provide a healthy, stable life for you and your family.
-
What is meant by "ability to pay"?Must be able to afford monthly mortgage payments Debt-to-income ratio has to be lower than 13% Stable income of at least $45,000 a year but less than 80% of the AMI based on family size.
-
Do I need enough savings for a down payment?No. We consider the required 150 volunteer "HIP-hours" as down payment. However, you are required to cover closing costs.
-
What do you mean by "family"?Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity understands that there are many types of families, and all are welcome to apply to our program. You determine who your family is. Just a few examples of family are: an individual applying alone, a married couple with children, a single parent, a non-married couple, or a family that includes aunts, uncles, or parents. Unless there are circumstances outside of your control, you must have lived with all the household members shown on your application for at least 6 months.
