What is Mission Serve? How does Mission Serve partner with cities to work on sub-standard housing? How did the city of Birmingham classify Mission Serve? Where does Mission Serve recruit its volunteers? What is the financial benefit of using volunteers? How can I get more information about using Mission Serve in my city? What kind of work can Mission Serve provide?

What is Mission Serve? Top

Mission Serve is a faith based non-profit (501c3) that enlists volunteers to work on low-income housing all over the United States.  Mission Serve does this through pre-packaged and customized missions experiences.

How does Mission Serve partner with cities to work on sub-standard housing? Top

Mission Serve works with local city governments who provide qualify and select residents as well as pay for building materials.  This model saves these governments the cost of high-priced labor.  Mission Serve can also develop long term partnerships with cities to work year-round in additional to the summer.  Mission Serve has done this in the past with the city of Birmingham, as well as other cities.

How dis the city of Birmingham classify Mission Serve? Top

The city of Birmingham pays Mission Serve through a program delivery fee from their community development block grant funds. The building materials and the dollar match are both part of this program delivery fee, and it is for this reason that the city of Birmingham only paid Mission Serve after work was completed.

Where does Mission Serve recruit its volunteers? Top

The majority of the volunteers that Mission Serve enlists come from churches. These churches participate in pre-packaged projects (mostly in the summer) that MS manages. Mission Serve also has given local churches the opportunity to adopt homes for work throughout the year. Although the majority of the volunteers come from churches and other faith-based organizations, Mission Serve also has the ability to recruit local businesses, civic organizations, fraternities/sororities and other organizations to work on low-income housing.

What is the financial benefit of using volunteers? Top

The amount of money saved on labor costs depends on the normal cost of labor is the area for contractors. On average, labor cost is three times the amount of materials. With a dollar match, the savings are on average two dollars for every dollar spent on building materials. This equals at least 25% savings.

How can I get more information about using Mission Serve in my city? Top

For more information or to get your city involved, please contact Andy Morris, Executive Director of Mission Serve at 1-888-421-4408, ext. 82.

What kind of work can Mission Serve provide? Top

Most of the time, volunteers will work on roofing, siding, painting, repairing porches, building handicap ramps and other projects that take four to five days to complete. However, Mission Serve is also able to provide complete home rehabilitation, which could take place over the course of several weeks or months.