Frequently Asked Questions
Is prior medical experience required?
I have a few college loans. What happens to them?
Where will I live?
When can I start?
Are there religious requirements?
Can I volunteer at Christ House through another volunteer program?
How much time will I get to spend with the patients?
Can I go to school or work part-time during my volunteer year?
Is the neighborhood around Christ House and Emmanuel House safe?
Can I come and visit Christ House and Emmanuel House before I apply to volunteer?
Do I need to complete the application on the AmeriCorps website and your application?
What about the rest of your application process?

Is prior medical experience required?
With the exception of Staff Nurse, medical experience is not necessary for our volunteer positions.  Some experience in a medical setting is preferable for the Nursing Assistant volunteer position, however it is not required.  We will train you in any relevant treatments or procedures. All other positions simply require an interest in working in a medical setting. If you have questions about other specific job requirements, please contact us.
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I have a few college loans. What happens to them?
Most federal-backed college loans are eligible to go into 'forbearance', meaning that you are not required to make payments during your term of volunteering but that interest will continue to accrue. For volunteers who are eligible for the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, all or part of the interest that accrues on these federal loans during your time of volunteering will be paid by the National Service Trust. Please contact your loan holders for more information about placing loans into forbearance.
PLEASE NOTE: AmeriCorps awards are subject to availability. For more information on this program, please contact the Director of Volunteers.
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Where will I live?
Christ House volunteers are required to live in a community of volunteers. If you choose to apply directly to Christ House, you would live at Emmanuel House, an intentional community with other Christ House volunteers. We also accept volunteers through other programs (both secular and non-secular), in which case your housing will be arranged by your specific volunteer program.
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When can I start?
The yearlong volunteer program begins on the first Monday in August and ends on the last Friday in July. Under special circumstances, the Volunteer Selection Committee may choose to accept applicants interested in starting their service at an earlier or later date. Short-term volunteers begin their service at a mutually agreeable time. For further questions about the term of service, please contact the Director of Volunteers.
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Are there religious requirements?
There are no religious requirements to become a yearlong volunteer and work at Christ House. We do consider community living an important part of volunteering, however, and we require yearlong volunteers to live in community with other volunteers while working at Christ House.  Emmanuel House welcomes individuals from all faiths and beliefs; it is a place where each member of the community can address relevant social justice issues through his or her individual lens, be it religious or secular. Please contact us if you have more questions on this topic.
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Can I volunteer at Christ House through another volunteer program?
Yes!  Christ House accepts yearlong volunteers through both secular and non-secular volunteer programs.  If you will be joining another volunteer corps and would like to volunteer at Christ House, please have your program coordinator contact the Director of Volunteers.
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How much time will I get to spend with the patients?
All staff and volunteers at Christ House are actively engaged in a ministry of presence with the patients. Regardless of whether you are working in the kitchen, serving on the medical team or planning activities, you will have plenty of opportunities to interact with the patients in many different settings. That said, naturally some volunteer opportunities will always have more interactions with the patients than others.
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Can I go to school or work part-time during my volunteer year?
No. Christ House asks that all full-time volunteers, whether they are short-term or yearlong, make a commitment to both their volunteer work and to community living.  Primarily because of this, volunteers are not to hold other employment or enroll in area universities.
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Is the neighborhood around Christ House and Emmanuel House safe?
Yes, however like any urban living environment some precautions need to be taken.  You will find Adams-Morgan (our neighborhood) to be an exciting, vibrant, multi-cultural area with many different stores, restaurants, parks and trails to explore. There are areas, though, which are less safe than others. Safety discussions are held within the community at Emmanuel House. Christ House is committed to the safety of our volunteers and will address individual safety concerns as they arise.
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Can I come and visit Christ House and Emmanuel House before I apply to volunteer?
Prospective volunteers are welcome to schedule a visit to Christ House. Generally we are not able to provide housing for visitors, however we would love to show you around our facilities and let you talk with current volunteers and other staff members about what they do here and what you would be doing.
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I'm interested in receiving an AmeriCorps Education Award. Do I need to complete the application on the AmeriCorps website and your application?
No. You do not need to contact AmeriCorps, nor do you need to do any of their paperwork as part of this application process. If you are accepted into our program, we will complete the AmeriCorps entrance forms upon your arrival at Christ House, thereby making you eligible for the Education Award. Please contact Christ House if you have any questions about this.
PLEASE NOTE: AmeriCorps awards are subject to availability. For more information on this program, please contact the Director of Volunteers.
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What about the rest of your application process?
Applications for yearlong volunteers are accepted on a rolling basis, beginning in January. The volunteer selection committee usually starts meeting in February of each year to select volunteers for the following August.  We will continue to accept applications until all positions are filled.  Early application is encouraged.  The selection committee will review completed applications and select candidates that they would like to invite for a telephone interview.  After completing the interviews, the selection committee will make a final decision.
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