Volunteer Opportunities in Tucson | Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity Tucson offers several ways to volunteer, including construction, CHUCK Center, HabiStore, administrative support, youth and student opportunities, community service hours, group volunteering, and Affinity Builds. The best place to start is by choosing the opportunity that fits your schedule, age, interests, and group size.

Popular volunteer opportunities include:

• Construction volunteering: Help build or preserve homes in Tucson and surrounding areas. No construction experience is required, just a willingness to learn and work alongside others. Typical construction shifts are currently available Tuesday-Saturday usually from 6:30am to 12:30pm.
  Link: Explore construction and individual volunteer opportunities
• CHUCK Center volunteering: Support modular wall construction, warehouse organization, and construction trades learning activities at Habitat Tucson’s CHUCK Center.
  Link: Learn about CHUCK Center volunteer opportunities
• HabiStore volunteering: Help welcome customers, organize merchandise, restock products, move items onto the sales floor, and support store operations. HabiStore sales help fund Habitat Tucson programs.
  Link: Learn about HabiStore volunteering
• Administrative and skilled volunteering: Support front desk coverage, data entry, mailings, phone calls, volunteer organization, or professional support for departments such as Homeowner Services and Marketing.
  Link: Explore individual volunteer opportunities
• Youth and student volunteering: Young volunteers, high school students, college students, and youth groups can support Habitat Tucson through age-appropriate service, advocacy, fundraising, and campus chapter opportunities.
  Link: View youth and student opportunities
• Group volunteering: Companies, churches, schools, service clubs, and community organizations can volunteer together through scheduled group opportunities.
  Link: Volunteer as a group
• Community service hours: Habitat Tucson may accept school, service-related, religious, group, and select court-ordered community service volunteers.
  Link: Review community service requirements
• Affinity Builds: Habitat Tucson’s Affinity Builds include community-centered programs such as Women Build, Rainbow Build, Veteran Build, and Faith Build. These programs may include volunteering, donating, sponsorship, committee involvement, and other ways to participate.
  Link: Explore Affinity Builds

You can also view current opportunities through Habitat Tucson’s volunteer registration system.

We accept volunteers with all skill levels and backgrounds! While we welcome skilled volunteers, on and off the worksite, we want to encourage those in the building trades to join us on site; the majority of our volunteers have few construction skills. Numerous volunteers remain with us on a long-term basis and volunteer regularly in order to build skills. We will train you in all aspects of construction (or other areas) with the hope that you will continue to volunteer, and even perhaps share your skills with unskilled volunteers in the future.

Group builds and corporate build days are a meaningful way to serve together, spend time outside the usual routine, and support affordable housing in Tucson. If your company, church, school, service club, or organization is interested in a group volunteer day, please email ginah@habitattucson.org or fill out our group build interest form.

For more information, please review our Group Build Guide.

Yes, we accept volunteers who need to complete community service hours for school or for court ordered restitution. Please click here to learn more.

Volunteer schedules vary by opportunity. Some roles follow a regular schedule, while others depend on current project needs, staffing, events, or seasonal changes. For the most accurate schedule, please contact Volunteer Resources at volunteer@habitattucson.org.

Construction: Habitat Tucson typically builds year-round, except for holidays. Construction opportunities are usually available Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 6:30am to 12:30pm. Hours may vary slightly because we move with the sun.

HabiStore: HabiStore volunteer opportunities are located at 935 W Grant Rd., Tucson, AZ 85705. Shifts may be available Monday through Saturday, with shift times including 8:30am to 1:00pm, 10:30am to 3:00pm, and 12:30pm to 5:00pm and Sunday 9:30am-1:00pm and 12:30 pm-4:00pm.

Yes, volunteers are expected to arrive on time and stay for the full shift whenever possible. Habitat Tucson plans each volunteer day around the number of people registered, and staying for the full shift helps our staff keep the day safe, productive, and well organized.

Construction and CHUCK Center shifts usually begin with a welcome, safety briefing, training, and task assignments. It is important for all volunteers to be present at the beginning of the shift so everyone receives the same instructions.

We understand that schedules change. If you need to leave early or adjust your shift, please let Volunteer Resources or the site supervisor know ahead of time whenever possible.

Habitat Tucson volunteers are supervised by trained staff and experienced volunteer leaders.

On construction sites, professional construction staff and knowledgeable volunteer crew leads work alongside volunteers, provide task instructions, and help create a safe and productive build day. Volunteers do not need to be experienced builders to participate in many construction opportunities.

Habitat Tucson offers volunteer opportunities for a range of ages, starting with youth opportunities for ages14 and up. Age requirements vary by role, project type, location, and safety guidelines. (Note: you must be 16 years old to volunteer on the construction site and you must watch the first-time volunteer orientation.) 

Construction: Volunteers age 16 and older may register and sign up for construction shifts online. Volunteers who are 16 or 17 must have a waiver of liability signed by a parent or guardian. For safety reasons, volunteers under age 16 are not allowed on active construction sites. Volunteers ages 16 and 17 may not use power tools or ladders.

Neighborhood Revitalization and A Brush With Kindness Projects: Volunteers ages 14 and 15 may be able to participate in these projects with a parent or guardian present and a signed waiver of liability.

HabiStore: Volunteers age 18 and older may register and sign up for shifts online. Volunteers ages 16 and 17 must provide a waiver of liability signed by a parent or guardian. Volunteers ages 14 and 15 may volunteer at HabiStore with a parent or guardian present.

Youth Groups: For groups with volunteers under age 18, Habitat Tucson requires a 5:1 ratio of youth to adults.

Please visit our youth volunteer page for more information about opportunities for young volunteers.

Construction volunteering can be physically active. Volunteers should be prepared for the tasks planned for the day, which may include standing, lifting, bending, carrying materials, using hand tools, or working outdoors.

Some tasks are more physically demanding than others. Please tell the construction supervisor about any concerns, limitations, or tasks you are not comfortable doing, such as climbing ladders, lifting heavy items, or using certain tools. Habitat Tucson staff will help guide volunteers toward appropriate tasks whenever possible.

Acceptable attire includes close toed shoes (no open toed/back shoes) , T-shirt, jeans or shorts. Please make sure you wear clothing you do not mind getting dirty or soiled and make sure to dress for the weather. No offensive or political shirts and shorts must be at least mid-thigh or longer.

Habitat Tucson provides all the tools you will need, including hard hats! We also provide small snacks and plenty of water!

However, we know many volunteers like to bring their own tool belts, tools or other items and we welcome that. We suggest writing your name on your belongings just in case it becomes misplaced.

Volunteers are also welcome to bring their own lunch, snacks or drinks.

Currently, we are not providing in-person orientations, but we do require interested volunteers to watch a quick self-paced online orientation and take a small quiz before beginning to sign up for any opportunities with Habitat Tucson. Learn more about orientation.

We also require volunteers to sign up in our volunteer database, CERVIS, as this is how you will sign up for shifts, keep track of volunteer hours, track rewards and more. ALL volunteers must be in our database before volunteering anywhere.

Time commitment can vary depending on the opportunity. Habitat is always looking for volunteers to volunteer on a regular basis with us, but we also understand that some cannot make a long-time commitment for various reasons or may be interested in one-time opportunities. We suggest you reach out to the volunteer resources department volunteer@habitattucson.org to determine the best opportunity for you or check out our website further for more info on volunteer opportunities.

You must first be approved and accepted into the home ownership program in order to accrue sweat equity hours. If you join Habitat Tucson as a volunteer before applying and being accepted into the program, the hours will not count towards your sweat equity. If you are interested in owning a home through Habitat Tucson please check out more information here.