Volunteer Program Guide
Reinstatement of the Community Service
and Self-Sufficiency Requirement
On June 20, 2003 the Community Service and Self-Sufficiency
Requirement of the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of
1998 was reinstated. This portion of the Act requires that every
adult resident of public housing contribute eight hours of community
service each month or participate in an economic self-sufficiency
program for eight hours per month. Some authorities may choose to
provide in-house opportunities for volunteer work to satisfy the
requirements of the Act. If you utilize volunteers at your
authority, they should be well managed to avoid potential liability.
The Community Service and Self-Sufficiency Requirement is intended
to assist adult public housing residents in improving their own
economic and social well being and give residents a greater stake in
their communities. The community self-sufficiency requirement allows
residents an opportunity to "give something back" to their
communities and facilitates upward mobility.
*By July 31, , housing authorities should provide written notice
about the reinstatement of the community service and
self-sufficiency requirement as outlined by 24 CFR 960.605. This
notification must alert residents of the requirement.
**By October 31, , housing authorities should assure that all
affected residents are performing their community service or
self-sufficiency requirement.
To the greatest extent possible, housing authorities should help
residents find community service activities. This can be done in two
ways:
1. By providing names and contacts of agencies that can provide
opportunities for residents, including disabled, to fill their
community service requirements, and/or
2. Provide in-house opportunities for volunteer work at the housing
authority.
Residents may be able to volunteer their time doing such jobs as
participating in a "crime watch," performing building and ground
maintenance, or staffing day care centers. By allowing residents to
volunteer at the housing authority a good Volunteer Management
Program should be in place. Volunteers can be a great asset to
housing authorities that have become understaffed as a result of
funding cuts. On the other hand, there are many liability issues
that may arise.
Housing Authority Insurance Group has put together a Volunteer
Manual outlining the basics of Volunteer Liability and ways to avoid
such issues. A CD ROM accompanies the manual and offers materials
such as volunteer applications and release forms that may be edited
and used at your housing authority. If you are interested in more
information or would like to request a package, please contact the
Risk Control Department at 800-873-0242, ext. 276.
The Volunteer Manual and materials is also available for download
by clicking
here.
(Accessing this resource requires you to
log in to the HAI Group
Member site. You will be prompted for a user name and password. If
you do not have one, please click
here to request login
access.)
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