Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville (“Habitat”) is a cutting-edge non-profit housing and community development organization creating simple, decent, affordable homes in partnership with low-income families, volunteers, and the communities of the Greater Charlottesville region. We are advocates, promoting innovations and policy solutions designed to increase the affordable housing supply across the communities we serve. Home construction capacity is multiplied by a volunteer labor force including homeowner families, corporate, civics, and faith groups. Habitat is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International (“HFHI”), a global ministry working to end housing poverty worldwide.
In 2013, Habitat completed construction at Sunrise, the first trailer park transformation in the nation without resident displacement. Currently, Habitat is redeveloping the Southwood Mobile Home Park with similar objectives. Southwood is the area’s largest single concentration of affordable housing and its greatest remaining redevelopment opportunity. When complete, the redeveloped Southwood will be unprecedented in scale nationally. Habitat has also partnered with the Piedmont Housing Alliance and the City of Charlottesville to purchase the Carlton Mobile Home Park. In the short term, our plan is to manage the park responsibly while helping residents develop the collective capacity to be leaders in the eventual redevelopment of the property into a mixed-income community without resident displacement.
Habitat is a national pioneer in mixed-income community development. To date, Habitat has contributed to 12 mixed-income neighborhoods and built and sold almost 400 homes.
The Family Empowerment Coach (FEC) is a key member of Habitat’s Department of Family and Community Partnerships, which delivers direct services and support to Habitat applicants, homebuyers, and homeowners. The FEC works with low- to moderate-income individuals and families to strengthen financial stability and achieve long-term goals. This includes:
- Providing personalized, one-on-one financial coaching
- Conducting assessments of financial capabilities for individuals and households
- Facilitating financial empowerment workshops
Empowerment coaching requires the ability to engage and motivate clients, build greater expertise in financial literacy, and translate that knowledge into practical, actionable strategies for others. The FEC helps clients create and implement customized action plans designed to build financial skills, overcome barriers, and promote lasting stability for themselves and their families.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
One of the Family Empowerment Coach’s key responsibilities includes meeting monthly with clients for personalized one-on-one financial coaching sessions. As many of Habitat’s low to moderate-income families are employed 9-5 PM on weekdays, the Family Empowerment Coach must have the flexibility to accommodate others’ schedules. The Family Empowerment Coach may creatively design their work schedule to better accommodate more frequent evenings or weekend hours as needed.
Direct Client Services
- Use motivational interviewing techniques and strengths-based approaches to build trusting, effective relationships.
- Provide one-on-one financial coaching and facilitate workshops on topics such as budgeting, credit building, savings, predatory lending, and more.
- Assess clients’ financial health, create action plans, and develop budgeting/ savings strategies to support long-term goals.
Case Management
- Maintain accurate client records in Outcome Tracker (a client management system), including income documentation, credit reports, and financial outcomes.
- Use financial tools to track Partner Families’ program requirement progress, including sweat equity, down payment, debt, and income.
- Collect and manage data for surveys, grant applications, and reports.
- Document and share stories and successes of program participants.
Program Development
- Develop and adapt workshop materials to address the needs of participating families.
- Create and maintain a referral network of local agencies to connect clients to community resources, including employment services, childcare, healthcare, and other critical supports.
Application Support
- Guide applicants through the application process and provide information about the Habitat Homeownership program(s).
- Collaborate with the Homeowner Selection Committee to review applications, conduct financial interviews, and present partnership recommendations to the Habitat Board of Directors.
