CEF Advocates work side by side with community members who are experiencing or at-risk of homelessness and working towards goals of greater income, affordable housing, savings, and financial independence.
Click here for the Chapel Hill Advocate Application!
CEF Chapel Hill is seeking volunteer Advocates who can commit to working with Members over the long haul – before, during and well beyond their transitions out of housing insecurity. Volunteer Advocates can be anyone– undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, staff and even community members! Responsibilities include committing to weekly meetings for two or more years and utilizing antiracism tools to advocate for Black and Brown Members in a larger context. A great Advocate is someone who is committed to lifelong learning.
Read more about the opportunity and apply here! Applications are September 5, 2024.
If you have additional questions about the Advocate Program, please reach out to the Advocate Program Coordinator Chloe Wells, at chloew@
Click here for the Durham Advocate application!
Apply to volunteer as an Advocate here.
We seek passionate and highly committed applicants for our 2-year Advocate program.
Advocates are trained 3 times per year in the fall, winter, and summer. Community members and students are welcome to apply to become Advocates, and people with lived experience with housing and financial insecurity are especially encouraged to apply. For questions about being an Advocate at our Chapel Hill office please contact Chloe Wells (chloew(at)communityef(dot)org) and for questions about being an Advocate at our Durham office please contact Shuhud M. (shuhudm(at)communityef(dot)org).
About the CEF Advocate Program:
Who are Advocates?
Advocates can be anyone (community members, undergraduate or graduate students, working folks, retirees, CEF Members, or anyone else) looking to get connected and support their fellow community members! Advocate volunteers are trained to walk alongside community members in achieving their housing, employment, and financial goals. They are not experts but are curious, empathetic, and highly dedicated team players who are enthusiastic about joining the CEF community. Folks with lived experience with financial and housing insecurity are strongly encouraged to apply.
What's the commitment of a CEF Advocate?
Advocates commit approximately two to three volunteer hours per week during the academic year. This includes a weekly two-hour Advocate shift in the office, time to prepare for CEF Member meetings, and attendance at ongoing learning opportunities to gain new skills and build a trauma-informed, antiracist praxis among Advocates. This commitment varies slightly between the Durham and Chapel Hill offices.
How do I become a CEF Advocate?
CEF accepts applications for new Advocates 2 to 3 times per year in our Chapel Hill and Durham offices. After applying, prospective Advocates are invited to attend a brief interview. This process allows us to ensure that all Advocates share CEF’s values and are committed to building multi-year relationships with CEF Members. When selected, new Advocates commit to attending 10+ hours of training prior to the start of their Advocate hours. Updated information about Advocate applications for Chapel Hill and Durham can be found at communityef.org/hiring.
How does this look differently due to COVID-19?
CEF has altered our office practices to allow Members and Advocates to meet together safely in person. All Advocates are required to be vaccinated and everyone in the office is required to wear a mask. There are not any remote volunteer opportunities at this time.
