HOW TO VOLUNTEER
Thanks for your interest! We build our homes with all-volunteer labor, so you all are the heart and soul of our community. Most of our volunteers have zero construction experience, and none is required. As a new volunteer, you’ll be paired with a more experienced Team Leader who’ll guide you safely through the day’s work. Regardless of age or ability, there’s always something to do! That being said, safety dictates that all our volunteers must be at least 16 years old.
We regularly build five days per week at The Hope Factory: from 9a-2:30p Mon-Thur & Saturdays, and also 2p-6p on the 2nd Sunday of each month. We are always closed on Fridays. If you wish to volunteer to help our neighbors experiencing homelessness by building tiny homes with us, click the blue button to sign up for our newsletter for the weekly details. Our newsletter comes out on Wednesday evenings at 5pm with short bits of information, and also the link to sign-up for volunteering the following week – just pick the day that suits your schedule. No experience necessary, we train willing hearts. See you soon!
“The [tiny] home team was fantastic. They provided training for tools like nail guns, clearly communicated the steps in building the house and had the process systemically organized. Well run, well managed and most importantly the mission is FANTASTIC. Ending homelessness. Love it.”
~ Microsoft volunteer, 10/16/25
BUILDING WITH YOUR GROUP
Bring your friends, family, civic group, or coworkers to The Hope Factory to build tiny homes. Group signups do fill in advance so email volunteer@soundfoundationsnw.org for details on signing up with a group of six or more. Groups of five or fewer may simply sign up as individuals on the weekly sign up.
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“On behalf of our group today, we wanted to THANK YOU for the privilege of building … with your team. What we all took away from the experience was: 1) The mission and the vision of the organization is impressive. 2) The set up and design of the build was efficient and well thought out. We loved the jigs and processes! 3) The team hosting us was wonderful to work with. They were focused, patient and great educators.”
~ group organizer, 01/08/26
GENERAL INFORMATION
- THE MINIMUM AGE TO VOLUNTEER IS 16 YEARS. PLEASE, NO EXCEPTIONS. There is no upper limit to volunteering.
- We are usually at The Hope Factory by 8:30 am Monday-Thursday & Saturday, and by 1:30 pm on any Sunday we are open. Make sure you double check the times in SignUp Genius or with your group’s leader if you’re coming as part of a group.
- You can come and go as your schedule permits. If this is your first time volunteering, please try to be on time for a brief orientation. If you need to leave early, just let us know so we can plan accordingly.
- Volunteer at your own risk for Covid or any other illness. If you are experiencing any symptoms, please stay home.
- Masks are optional when volunteering at The Hope Factory. There is no shame in wearing a mask.
- We use Honey Bucket restrooms.
- We understand that sometimes life gets in the way of good intentions. If you must cancel at the last minute, please be sure to cancel your sign-up on the SignUp Genius form, or contact us, so others may join off the wait list.
- No experience necessary. We train willing hearts.
What to Wear
- Closed toed, stable, comfortable shoes are required. No heels, sandals, crocs, or flip flops.
- Shorts are permitted if you like.
- Our warehouse is not heated or cooled, so please dress appropriately. Whatever the temp is outside, expect that inside, too. But hey, at least it’s dry!
- For safety, come prepared to tie up or tuck long hair. Also, strings on hoodies, dangling necklaces, or anything else that hangs away from your body will need to removed or secured for safety.
What to Bring
- Bring your own work gloves if you can, please.
- Please leave your own tools at home.
- Please bring your own lunch and water. A microwave is available. If you’re coming with a group, check with your leader about group lunch plans.
- No matter what you do, please come prepared to paint.
When You Arrive
- There is parking in front of our warehouse space and along the fence just past our dumpster, west of the storage yard. Do not park in the fenced-in lot marked “Border Patrol.” Please do not block our large roll-up door, or the large rolling gate into the storage yard that is just past the dumpster.
- Limited space means we “stack” parking. If you are earlier to arrive, please pull forward up to the building. If you arrive later, please park behind the car in front. Grab an index card from the volunteer check-in station inside, write your first name, and place it on your dashboard so drivers can find you if they need to leave before you.
- Come inside to the volunteer check-in station, sign in on our list to accept our liability waiver (posted at the station), and make yourself a name tag (first names only) using the blue tape and Sharpies available next to the sign-in.
- Store your things in any open cubby. We’ll start promptly with a circle-up for announcements and to assign jobs for the day. Welcome!
No Discrimination or Harassment
As an organization, Sound Foundations NW comes together for a common goal: to provide transitional housing for our neighbors experiencing homelessness. We are a diverse community of staff and volunteers dedicated to this cause. We are not only committed to our cause but respectful of each other and our differences as well as our commonalities. Our organization has zero tolerance for harassment of any kind based on age, sex or sexual orientation, gender or gender identification, race, religion, or anything else that one might consider “different”. If you engage in harassment of any kind, you will not be welcome in our organization. When we are inclusive, we not only help our homeless neighbors get to a better place, each one of us gets to be in a better place as well. And we have the honor to live our logo, to “build community.”