Frequently Asked Questions
What is it going to cost us to run the Joining Hands Program?
To get started, likely in the range of $3,000 - $4,000 in the first year, including upfront capital purchases
When the program is fully running, it will cost between $38,000 - $45,000, depending on the size of the community being served
Please see Budget Consideration for more information
What is the time commitment for running this as the Joining Hands Program’s champion?
You should anticipate approximately 10 hours per week, involving on-site activities, flyer/communication prep, organizing/orienting volunteers, etc.
How much time does it take to
set-up the program?
The upfront work depends on a number of factors, including the receptivity of local government (the community’s landlord), the receptivity of the community itself, and the level of support the Champion receives from their organization
You should anticipate one month lead time
How do I find the right community to work with?
There is no right or wrong community to work with
We recommend identifying an at-risk social housing community near to where your organization is based, and then investigating whether there is interest in participating, from the local government (the community’s landlord) and the residents
Please see Tips on Selecting an Appropriate At-Risk Social Housing Community
You will need to measure what you are doing to understand the impact
Please see Measurement for more details on how to do this
How will I know if the Joining Hands Program is having an impact?
Some potential risks include:
The residents do not participate in programs, resulting in few relationships built, discouraged volunteers
ensure you have support from key community leaders, you have built sufficient awareness among all residents, you are delivering programs with a transparent, giving approach, and all volunteers are committed to a slow, on-going effort
Unable to effectively deliver programs because volunteers don’t commit or don’t show up when scheduled
gauge interest/support among volunteers before starting, and on an on-going basis, ensure adequate organization of the volunteers, discontinue efforts if support wanes over time
The Landlord/Site manager blames you for damages or garbage left behind that occur during your programs
work hard at the outset to establish a positive working relationship with the landlord, and maintain that relationship going forward by on-going interaction, and quickly addressing any issues, concerns, or complaints
There isn’t enough funding for the programs
make fundraising a priority before beginning, build in efforts for fundraising on an on-going basis, and discontinue or scale back programs if funding is insufficient
What risks should I be aware of in setting up and running the Joining Hands Program?
You will need a Certificate of Insurance that satisfies the requirements of the landlord
Do I need special insurance for running these activities?
Yes, you will need to have police checks done for anyone interacting with children
Do I need police checks for myself and my volunteers?
After reading the material on this site, if you still have questions please feel free to Contact Us with your question
What if I have questions on what to do?
No, you do not need to follow our approach for the Joining Hands Program exactly. In fact, we encourage you to explore what works best for the community you are working with. Our only advice is to ensure your efforts, and activities, are all working toward building meaningful, genuine relationships with the residents.