Individual Volunteer Opportunities
Information and Referral Desk/Hygiene Desk:
 Are you interested in working the front lines?
Help Front Steps’ staff monitor the Information and Referral Desk and the Hygiene Desk by connecting clients to services, coordinating mail and messages, answering the phones, maintaining the laundry list, and dispensing hygiene products.
Circle of Care Mentor:
Mentor a formerly homeless man or woman as they move into their own home!
If you are interested in learning more about our Mentor Program, please attend one of the following information sessions (see below). Please rsvp to
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if you are interested in attending one of these sessions. If you have never attended a volunteer orientation, please also fill out our application here, as this will be required. All information sessions will be held at the ARCH (500 East 7th Street) in Conference Room A.
Computer Lab Staff & Tutor:
You do not need to be a computer expert!
Rather, you will supervise the computer lab, help monitor clients and assist them with resumes, employment applications, and general computer usage.
The computer lab is managed by Austin Free Net, and interested volunteers need to fill out their application, available here, and attend a volunteer orientation session.
Employment Support:
Do you have professional skills that you would like to share with homeless men and women?
Help our clients conduct job searches in the computer lab and prepare for interviews by practicing mock interviews with them.
The computer lab is managed by AustinFreeNet, and requires that interested volunteers fill out their application and attend an orientation session before volunteering.
Blankets and Cold Weather Shelters:
Are you available on-call during the winter to help Front Steps distribute blankets and move homeless clients into shelters?
During the winter, area churches open up as Cold Weather Shelters on severe weather nights. Some churches need volunteers to help run these shelters. Volunteers can give out food and blankets as well as spend the night at the church to ensure the safety of our homeless neighbors.
We also need volunteers to help us distribute blankets, sleeping bags, and jackets on nights that the temperature is expected to fall below 40 degrees.
Obtaining Donations:
Would you enjoy networking with local businesses and organizations to help us obtain donations?
Help Front Steps obtain much needed donations for clients such as basic hygiene items (toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, razors, etc.), underwear, socks, and gift certificates for incentive based programs, as well as larger items such as backpacks, sleeping bags, jackets, and blankets.
Projects Ideas for Younger Volunteers:
Though you need to be 18 to volunteer at the ARCH, there are many other ways that younger volunteers can help those who are experiencing homelessness!
Gift card/certificate drive – Americans are sitting on about $30 Billion in unused gift cards, and we are happy to accept any cards that people might not otherwise use! For example, we could use gift cards to grocery or retail stores for folks moving into housing or to purchase much needed/necessary items; we could use entertainment cards for folks in case management and for our Volunteer Mentor program (movies, bowling, etc); we could use other cards (massage, restaurants, etc) for volunteer/employee appreciation gifts. The list goes on! Gift Cards are always a top need request from the clients and case managers, particularly for places like Target or HEB.
Bus Passes – Front Steps is always in need of daily, weekly, and monthly bus passes, particularly for folks who are elderly or who have a disability. We can purchase them at a discounted rate, so perhaps the students could hold a fundraiser to help us buy these items:
- Hot Chocolate Stand
- Lemonade Stand
Movie Night/Event – The students could host a movie event and watch a film such as The Pursuit of Happyness, and then discuss family homelessness afterwards. I am always happy to come in and facilitate these conversations.
Make Welcome Home Baskets – For folks moving into housing, especially with a homemade card.
- Toilet paper, shower curtain, shower hooks
- Toiletries
- Cups, plates, utensils
- Easy recipe books
- Books and movies
- Coupons
For more information or help with any of these projects, please email
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.
Administrative Work:
Would you prefer to help us behind the scenes?
Volunteers can provide much-needed assistance with data entry, community mailings, updating resource materials, and various other projects.
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