Hope House volunteers assist our paid staff in nearly every aspect of our services. Due to the nature of our work, it is important to ensure that our volunteers are well trained, responsible, and sensitive to the issues of domestic violence. Volunteers first fill out an application. They are asked to include personal references, who are contacted before the initial screening. Prospective volunteers then go through a short interview. This gives us a chance to get to know each volunteer as an individual, which makes it easier to determine which aspect of Hope House would best suit the volunteer.

Once the volunteer has completed the application and screening process, they are asked to go through training. Volunteers who are interested in special events, facilities, daycare or clerical work attend a two-hour training focusing on Hope House services, domestic violence, and volunteer opportunities. This training is offered monthly. Those who are interested in direct service, which includes working in the shelter, courts, or the on-call program, are required to attend the first two-hour class in addition to six hours of specific training on counseling techniques, the court system, and the shelter. After completing this training, offered quarterly, most volunteers choose to concentrate on one volunteer position. Some have a regular schedule in court or in shelter, and some choose to be available to us on an on-call basis.