Volunteers are Our Foundation

From a regular member to our leadership team, our members are all those who donate their time and energy to make a lasting impact. What we lack in capital, we make up for in passion towards our mission: Combating chronic homelessness.

We recruit only volunteers who have shown a clear dedication to our mission. Through experience with the state of homelessness in their community, we provide our volunteers with the knowledge and cultural humility to become service navigators.

550K

People living in homeless situations in the U.S.

200+

College students received hands-on training through our outreach program

6

University chapters: UC San Diego, UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara, UC Irvine, San Diego State University, University of Oregon

1

Mission to combat chronic homelessness

What We Do

At Mustard Seed Project, one of our core values is excellence. We are constantly striving to bring long-lasting impact and quality services to the individuals we serve. We are looking for volunteers and team members that exhibit the following qualities: passion for social change, social competence, commitment, empathy, and open-mindedness. As a Mustard Seed Project member, you will gain the skills to make a direct impact in your community through:

  • Innovating volunteer-based services for homeless individuals.

  • Providing low barrier access to basic needs and services.

  • Fostering a person-centered approach to homeless services.

  • Applying best practice and data-driven techniques to homeless outreach. 

  • Developing student leaders in professionalism, cultural humility, and ethics. 

  • Educating the public of the complex truths, aspects, and details of homelessness. 

How to Join

 

We deeply appreciate your interest to join our Mustard Seed Project family. Hundreds of volunteers have worked diligently and compassionately to make this project everything it is today, and we welcome you to join us to make a difference in our communities. 

Volunteers are required to:

1. Attend information sessions and apply during their university’s chapter recruitment season (usually the beginning of spring terms). Prospective volunteers who apply may be given an interview, and once accepted, must undergo formal homeless outreach training. 

2. Pay annual membership dues. All dues can be waived under the conditions set by the chapter treasurer. All funds go directly into homeless outreach and volunteer case management. 

3. Commit to a set amount of service hours per term, as set by the chapter. 

4. Attend 2 volunteer meetings per term. 

To learn more about recruitment, please contact your respective chapter. 

Establish a Chapter

We are always looking for ways to bring our services to as many people as possible. If you’re interested in starting a chapter at your university or if you want to join our team and you have special skills such as fundraising, public speaking, data analysis, or graphic design, please send an email with your resume to:

UC Riverside

Riverside, CA

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: msp_ucr
Facebook

UC San Diego

La Jolla, CA

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: msp_sdsu
Facebook

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: msp_sdsu
Facebook

UC Irvine

Irvine, CA

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: msp_uci
Facebook

UC Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA

University of Oregon

Eugene, OR

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: msp_uo
Facebook

Interested in combating chronic homelessness?

Start a chapter in your community!