outside the box applicant recruitment ideas portland,...
Post on 03-Jul-2020
4 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
Outside the Box
Applicant Recruitment
Ideas
Portland, OR
Oct. 24, 25, 2014
Participants will:
Review the work of HFHI on the subject
Share best practices
Gain experience through Q and A
Group Activity
Share the family selection roadblocks that
your affiliate is experiencing today.
Mortgage Procedures and Regulations
MPARAll homeowner selection staff and committee
members review MPAR University on
my.habitat.
Download the mortgage origination
checklist
All selection staff and committee members
take the ABA courses offered. slee@habitat.org
June 2008© Copyright 2008
Recruit Internally
Ask your homeowners for suggestions.
Ask homeowners how the process went
for them?
Homeowner satisfaction survey
Homeowner focus groups
Consider making changes in the selection
process based on feedback.
Spread the Word within the affiliate
Board of Directors
Short 10 minute presentation
statistics on # of families applied, #
chosen
roadblocks to successful application
roadblocks to families applying
Present a list of how they can help
suggestion for outreach
make presentations
suggest coalition partners, etc.
Who else can help?
Utilize Your ReStore
Mission posted – big and easy to read
ReStore staff know the brief criteria
Resource Center
Information about the affiliate
Information about applying
Computer for applying
Columbus Area Habitat for Humanity
ReSource Center
@ ReStore Computer Stations
Internet
HFH materials
Lending Library
Reading Lounge
Kid-Friendly Activities
8
www.columbusareahabitat.com
Outside the Affiliate--Shared Marketing
IdeasMarket throughout your GSA
• Fliers in utility bills
• E-mail blasts to other non-profits
• schools
• posters
• want ads
• Craigslist
• Business cards for family selection
• Educate other non-profits / banks so they can refer
Outside Information Sessions –Wake Co.
June 2008© Copyright 2008
In Raleigh area Wake Co. HFH, these
include large hospitals, school district office
& city public transit
Outside of Raleigh, approach largest
employers and local churches
HFH of Greater Memphis
FY 14 Recruitment Objectives
• Develop a strategic recruitment campaign,
including paid ad placement.
• Earn at least 3 news stories annually.
• Secure a minimum of 200 visits per month to the
online application page.
• Reach 1,200 potential applicants annually (100
per month)
• Host 4 offsite orientation sessions annually.
• Launch quarterly homeowner newsletter
HFH of Greater MemphisElements of the Plan
Paid Advertising – TV, Radio, Inside Busses
Social Media
Other Habitat Channels - Newsletter, E-Mail
Blasts, ReStore, Website, Blog, etc.
Grassroots Outreach
More Offsite Orientations
More Aggressive Follow-Up Process
Direct Mail
Public Relations
HFH of Greater Memphis
Paid Advertisement
• TV – Goal is to place via Comcast on targeted channels
(BET, CMT, Lifetime, etc.) and a local network, like FOX
or ABC. Later, a placement on a Spanish-language station
may be considered.
• Radio/TV Memphis Habitat purchased spots from Kent
County, MI, affiliate and re-edited for Memphis use. The
sound will be used for radio spots. There is also a Spanish
version.
• Online – Facebook promoted posts and perhaps Google
AdWords
• Signage inside local busses
Houston County HFH, GA
Message for media and local employers.
Tom Prior: “Employers know who their dependable,
low-wage employees are, ones that have been with
them for a while. They can essentially give them a
$300-a-month pay raise by pointing them to Habitat,
and it won’t cost them a cent. When employers help
do that, their employee’s housing cost can easily
drop by $300 a month.”
Wake County HFH, NC
-
Wake Co. still looking to do better
June 2008© Copyright 2008
Inducing large employers to allow significant
information distribution to staff
Biggest personal goal….to convince Wal-Mart
to allow presentations to associates
Analyze your current process.
Open Application Cycle
vs
Closed Application Cycle
Application Distribution
Applicant Meeting vs Sending Applications
Review applicant meeting data:
Attendance, completed applications, number approved
What are families saying:
Location, Length, Presentation, Child Care
Former process:
Brief criteria for program on phone.
Take contact info.
Send postcard with meeting time and place.
Volunteers available to help with application.
Indian River Example: Evaluating Process
Personal Touch vs Applicant Meeting
“Individualizing our Family Selection process remains to
be one of the most successful changes we have made
over the last 5 years.” Lindsey Goodall, Indian River HFH
New Process:
Brief criteria for program on phone, invite to office
Staff meets with all applicants that come to office.
Orientation video in office.
Every applicant gets a 3-step plan
Indian River New Process
Each 3 step plan is personalized for the applicant.
For one that qualifies, it might be:
Complete application
Make copies of documentation
Turn in application
For someone who doesn’t qualify, it may look more like:
Pay down bad debt to meet our guidelines
Reduce debt to income by paying off a credit card or increasing
income by filing for child support.
Start collecting paperwork needed by Habitat when you’re
ready to qualify.
Indian River HFH 3-Step Plan
Greater San Francisco Homebuyer Readiness
2010 began an outreach and learning program
designed to educate and inspire potential applicants.
We conduct a three-session seminar on credit, debt
and budgeting;
We include a free credit report and 1:1 counseling
session;
We picked five cities/neighborhoods to focus efforts;
and
We visit each city twice a year and use a local CBO
facility.
21
Collaborate with Other OrganizationsMitchell-Yancey, HFH, NC, Example
Applicants with credit problems referred to a
volunteer at a credit union
Volunteer works with the family
Charlotte County HFH, FL, Example
Use a pre-application
All applicants put into timed pipeline:
• 6 months (meet criteria), 18 months (small
problem), Beyond (referred to Solstice for credit
counseling)
• Regular check-in with affiliate required
Other Partnerships Ideas
Housing Authority
Bank homebuyer programs
IDA programs at churches
Broaden Your Family Selection Criteria
Need
Need varies from family to family. Can changes be
made to serve a wider audience?
Overcrowding
Unhealthy housing situations—mold, mildew
Factors beyond obvious structural inadequacies such
as the family being cost-burdened.
• Households paying more than 30% of income to
housing costs (including utilities) are said to be
“cost burdened.” Households paying more than
50% of income for housing are said to be “severely
cost burdened
Avoid Creeping Affluence
Check your costs:
Are houses still affordable?
Use an ability-to-pay calculator to help the
Family Selection Committee determine
affordability.
Has the Cost of Your Houses Eliminated
Applicants?
Payment shall not exceed 30% of gross monthly income.YEARLY HOUSING EXPENSES
Sales Price _____
Years Amortized _____ total number of monthly payments _____
MONTHLY MORTGAGE PAYMENT _____Taxes _____
Insurance _____
Other _____
MONTHLY ESCROW PAYMENT _____
PROJECTED MONTHLY UTILITY _____
TOTAL MONTHLY EXPENSES _____
TOTAL YEARLY EXPENSES _____
MINIMUM GROSS INCOME REQUIRED (Family of 4—
AMI 35,000)At 30% At 33%
At 38% At 40%
Payment shall not exceed 30% of gross monthly income.YEARLY HOUSING EXPENSES
Sales Price 100,000
Years Amortized 30 total number of monthly payments 360
MONTHLY MORTGAGE PAYMENT 278Taxes 80
Insurance 50
Other (termite bond) 10
MONTHLY ESCROW PAYMENT 140
PROJECTED MONTHLY UTILITY 100
TOTAL MONTHLY EXPENSES 518
TOTAL YEARLY EXPENSES 6,126
MINIMUM GROSS INCOME REQUIRED (Family of 4—
AMI 35,000)At 30% 10,500 At 33% 11,550
At 38% 13,300 At 40% 14,000
What is wrong with this scenario?
Are We Counting All Income?
Family Income is all the money that is legally
received on a regular schedule by all family
members from all sources (salary, retirement,
pension, Social Security, disability, child
support, alimony, public assistance, etc.).
Sources of income that will continue for at least
three years.
Does your affiliate have a policy?
Use a time limit
Classify different debt differently
Are there extenuating circumstances to consider?
No credit vs long history. (Some cultures do not
believe in credit.)
Consider current situation and actions
– repaying and improving?
–willing to consider counseling?
--attitude?
What is Good Credit and Bad Credit for
Your Affiliate?
June 2008© Copyright 2008
The Fair Credit Reporting Act was amended by
the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and
Consumer Protection Act and, effective July 21,
2011, creditors must include the disclosure of
credit scores and related information if a credit
score was used in taking adverse action (such
as the denial of a homeowner’s application by
an affiliate). My.habitat sample letter available
soon.http://my.habitat.org/download/g32e58/HFHI-Legal-Advisory--Denial-for-
Credit-Reasons-under-Fair-Credit-Reporting-Act-Oct-2011
New Credit Rule
Evaluate Willingness to Partner
Assess willingness to partner criteria:
• Completion and return of the application in a
timely fashion still appropriate.
• Review the affiliate’s sweat equity requirements.
• Do you need accommodations for saving a
down payment or closing costs?
Other Resourcesmy.habitat.org
Recipes for Financial Fitness
http://www.habitat.org/habitat_learns/nefe/index.html
Clearpoint (online courses)
National Endowment for Financial Education
(NEFE.org)
Conf. calls on my.habitat http://my.habitat.org/audiorecordings/g34624/Finding-
Creditworthy-Applicants-during-the-Recession-61-minutes-
2009
http://my.habitat.org/audiorecordings/g353b2/Determining-
Family-Ability-to-Pay-2011-73-minutes
October, 2011
Thank you for your important role
in this ministry!
top related