volunteer_requirements | House of Dreams

Volunteer Requirements

House of Dreams Volunteer Requirements

If your interests and schedule match current openings, a House of Dreams volunteer coordinator will get back to you as soon as possible. All volunteers must complete a volunteer interest form, attend orientation, and go through training before joining the House of Dreams team.

Volunteers must also be:

At least 18 years old
Able to squat, bend, twist, kneel, lift, or stand for long periods (when cleaning)
Possess good communication skills
Able to work with other people and independently
Able to understand and follow written and spoken directions
Able to commit to scheduled volunteer times
Able to handle cats safely and compassionately
Able to take and seek direction and have a self-motivated work ethic
Possess reliable transportation to get to the shelter or other volunteer locations (vehicle, bicycle, mass transit, walking)

Although all positions are House of Dreams are volunteer, the expectation is that all volunteers will show up for their appointed shifts on time and will give advance notice if they are unable to come at their scheduled time.

Volunteer Code of Conduct and Acceptable Use Policies

Volunteers are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and treat others with respect, fairness, and dignity. House of Dreams does not tolerate harassment or discrimination, including behavior, comments, jokes, slurs, e-mail messages, pictures, phone calls, text messages, or other conduct that contributes to an intimidating or offensive environment. Volunteers must comply with applicable federal, state, and local statutes prohibiting discrimination or harassment based on race, ethnicity, color, religion, age, sex, pregnancy, disability, national origin, ancestry, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other non-job-related factor.

The following activities violate the Acceptable Use Policies of the House of Dreams regarding electronic media and the shelter email list and are grounds for immediate dismissal from the shelter:

Sending unsolicited email messages, including the sending of "junk mail" or other advertising material to individuals who did not specifically request such material (e-mail spam).
Any form of harassment, whether through language, frequency, or size of messages.
Sharing the e-mail list with individuals and/or businesses that are not part of the House of Dreams community without express written permission of the House of Dreams Board of Directors and all House of Dreams members.
Sharing personal information about House of Dreams volunteers via email, Facebook, blogs, twitter, or other social media without express written permission of said volunteers.