Home Free Volunteer Opportunities
As an award-winning domestic violence intervention program, Home Free provides emergency and transitional services to adults and their children who are living with or escaping from domestic violence. Services also include a crisis line, emergency housing, mobile and out-stationed advocacy, intensive case management, restraining order advocacy, parenting support, children’s services, support groups, and systems navigation, along with ongoing support and transitional services for up to two years.
All volunteers must complete a 40-hour training and undergo a criminal background check. To learn more about this position and apply, contact Jen at 503-802-0494 or by fax at 503-771-5347
Available Opportunities:
Restraining Order Room Advocate
Kids' Group Facilitator
Women's and Children's Hotline Advocate
Children's Support Group Facilitator
Women's Support Group Facilitator
POSITION: Restraining Order Room Advocate
Duties: Volunteers are trained to assist petitioners with the necessary paperwork to file for a Temporary Restraining Order at the Multnomah County Courthouse. In addition to assisting survivors with the petition, volunteers also provide information and referrals, make safety plans with survivors, share information about navigating the civil legal system, and provide emotional support. Restraining Order Advocates are often the first contact with domestic violence services that survivors have had, and are a critical source of information, safety planning, and support.
Qualifications: Awareness of issues of domestic violence, homelessness, and diversity a plus. Must be 17 years or older.
Day/Hour: Monday-Friday, 10am-1pm
Commitment: 6 months-1 year at roughly 3-4 hours per week (one shift per week)
POSITION: Kids' Group Facilitator
Duties: Kids' Group is a time for children to gain support and information about the violence in their lives and in their homes. Volunteers are trained to facilitate playgroups for children surviving violent homes. Children get to spend time with consistent, trusted adults, and play in a safe, relaxed environment. Children's self-esteem is strengthened as they learn positive ways of relating to others and safe ways to solve problems. You can be the person to bring this experience to the life of a child surviving domestic violence.
Qualifications: Awareness of issues of domestic violence, homelessness, and diversity a plus. Must be 17 or older.
Day/Hour: Mon. and Weds. Evenings, 5:45-7:45.
Commitment: 6 months-1 year at roughly 2-3 hours per week (one kids group per week)
POSITION: Women and Children’s Advocate - Hotline
Duties: Survivors of domestic and sexual violence who access our services or call our hotline often need a supportive listener. Volunteers are trained to answer the hotline, assess for safety and make safety plans with each caller, listen to and discuss the caller's immediate and long-term needs, and offer the caller emotional support and information. Volunteers who answer the hotline have the opportunity to truly support survivors, become familiar with community resources, and are often the first point of contact for survivors starting to navigate the support system in our communities.
Qualifications: Awareness of domestic violence, homelessness, and diversity a plus. Must be 17 or older.
Day/Hour: Monday – Wednesday, 8am- 4pm.
Commitment: 6 months-1 year at roughly 3-4 hours per week
POSITION: Children’s Support Group Facilitator
Duties: Volunteers are trained to co-facilitate support groups for children surviving violent homes. The group provides a safe place for children to begin to identify the difficult experiences that have had to endure and start their healing process.<
Qualifications: Awareness of domestic violence, homelessness, and diversity a plus. Must be 17 or older. Must volunteer for 4-6 months as Kids Group Facilitator before starting as a children’s support group facilitator.
Day/Hour: Varied
Commitment: 1 year at roughly 3-4 hours per week
POSITION: Women’s Support Group Facilitator
Duties: Volunteers are trained to co-facilitate support groups for survivors of domestic violence. In groups women can find emotional support, information, develop new skills, connect with other women, and begin healing.
Qualifications: Awareness of issues of domestic violence, homelessness, and diversity a plus. Must be 17 or older. Must volunteer for 4-6 months with survivors of domestic or sexual violence (either hotline shifts, restraining order advocacy shifts, etc) and complete a support group facilitators training before co-facilitating support groups.
Day/Hour: Mon. and Weds. Evenings, 5:45-7:45.
Commitment: 1 year at roughly 3-4 hours per week