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Hotline Support Volunteer

How You Can Make a Difference

Volunteering

Volunteering can be tremendously rewarding.  It can allow for insight on how the LGBTQIA+ community ls living, it can be a way to learn about the many different programs and organizations that serve our family and community from big cities to small towns.  It can be a way to give back and help the next person who is coming into their own.

The LGBT National Help Center has several different types of volunteer positions for different types of volunteering.

Because we are a national organization our volunteer positions are all remote. Most are positions that require internet access and some require having a quiet and private space.

All positions require potential volunteers to be 18 years of age or older.

All of our volunteers positions are remote and volunteers must be at least 18 years old

Peer-support volunteers must identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community

Volunteers need to have an up-to-date-computer with reliable, high-speed internet, and a private work area

Volunteering Time Commitment

It's Important That You Can Honor Your Commitment

Peer support volunteers must be able to make a minimum commitment of three consecutive hours a week, the same time each week, for at least 12 months after training is complete.

What it Means to Volunteer

Volunteers must be very good listeners and non-judgmental, must be able to keep their opinions to themselves, and should be comfortable talking with a wide range of callers about difficult issues. Peer-support volunteers are the backbone of our support system and answer calls from all over the US and Canada. Online chats can come from anywhere in the world.​

The LGBT National Help Center operates several national hotlines: the LGBT National Hotline, the Coming Out Support Hotline, the Youth Talkline, and the Senior Hotline. In addition, we also operate the LGBT Switchboard of New York, our founding hotline started in 1972. Volunteers answer calls on all of these hotlines as well as our online peer support chat.

We Are Not Mandated Reporters

Potential volunteers who do identify as mandated reporters in their professional careers must understand that they cannot act in that capacity while volunteering with us. We understand that some professions do not allow for that. If that is the case for you, this type of volunteering isn’t going to be the right fit. If you identify as a mandated reporter and are not sure if you are able to legally remove those restrictions from yourself while volunteering with us, you may need to contact a lawyer or employer before continuing on with this application.

Other Requirements

Volunteers must have a quiet, private space to answer calls and chats.

Volunteers cannot use a smartphone or tablet. You must use a laptop or desktop computer.

Also, your computer must be able to run Google Chrome version 75 or higher. Those using Macs need to have an operating system of Sierra or higher.

Flexibility

If you are selected as a peer-support volunteer, we want to stress the importance of feeling highly confident that you can honor your commitment to being available for your scheduled hotline shift (with the exception of illness or vacation). Some volunteer opportunities lend themselves to greater flexibility. This is NOT the case with this type of work, since volunteers are answering a crisis prevention hotline, and if someone doesn't show up for their shift, the phones can go unanswered. So please, give careful thought to your schedule to make sure you feel comfortable with making this one-year commitment.

Peer-Support Volunteers go Through a Training Program that Consists of Several Components

Peer-Support Volunteers go Through a Training Program that Consists of Several Components

Step 1

Completing the application and shift availability form below.

Step 2

Phone conversation and interview. This will be a chance to get to know us, and for us to get to know you. We'll be able to answer questions you may have and give you a chance to answer a sample (not real) call.

Step 3

Complete a multi-part online study course.

Step 4

Complete seven training shifts where you will work with an experienced peer-support trainer (one 2-hour shift for
seven weeks).

Want to Volunteer?

We realize there are many volunteering opportunities out there, and we want to thank you for your interest in volunteering with us. Again, take a moment to think about the requirements and the availability of your schedule.

If you wish to continue, please fill out the application form below and we will get in touch with you shortly

(contact information in the application will not be shared with any third parties)

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STEP Personal Information
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STEP Personal Information (cont)
3
STEP Responsibility and Commitment
4
STEP LGBTQIA+ Requirement
5
STEP Training Availability
6
STEP Volunteer Availabilty
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STEP Skills
8
STEP Technology Requirements
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STEP Agreement
Are you a student?*
Are you employeed?
If you are not currently working, are you seeking employment?*
Have you ever been convicted of a felony?*

We are deeply honored that you are interested in volunteering with the LGBT National Help Center. If you are selected as a peer-support volunteer, we want to stress the importance of feeling highly confident that you can honor your commitment of being available for your scheduled hotline shift (with the exception of illness or vacation). Some volunteer opportunities lend themselves to great flexibility. This is NOT the case with this type of work, since volunteers are answering a crisis hotline, and if someone doesn't show up for their shift, the phones can go unanswered. So please, give careful thought to your schedule to make sure you feel comfortable with making this one-year commitment. We also commit to you that we will give you the training and support you need to enable you to feel prepared and excited about volunteering with us.

I understand the responsibility and commitment needed to be a peer-support volunteer

Because our callers define "peer" as either being gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or queer, our phone volunteers need to fall into one of these categories. (Please note that if you do not, you can contact us about other volunteer opportunities.)

Do you meet this LGBTQIA+ volunteer requirement?

Once training is completed, you will move to a permanent volunteer shift decided on by the times you list below of your availabilities.

Are you avaiblable during training sessions? If so, please check the shifts you are available for. (You can check as many as you are available for)

Training Availabilty:

All of our volunteer shifts are 3 hours long. Please select all of the shifts on all the days that you would be available for volunteering.

IMPORTANT: You will not be assigned more than one weekly shift, but knowing all available times will help us schedule your training and volunteer shifts.

Monday Volunteering Availabilty:
Tuesday Volunteering Availabilty:
Wednesday Volunteering Availabilty:
Thursday Volunteering Availabilty:
Friday Volunteering Availabilty:
Saturday Volunteering Availabilty:

Because our volunteer positions are remote, volunteers need to have an up-to-date computer with reliable high-speed internet.

Volunteers must have a quiet, private space to answer calls and chats.

Volunteers cannot use a smartphone or tablet.

Also, your computer must be able to run Google Chrome version 75 or higher.

Those using Macs need to have an operating system of Sierra or higher.


Online volunteering requires a large amount of data use. To ensure training and volunteering is viable, please open a separate tab and go to www.SpeedTest.net and click "Begin Test" or "GO".

When the test is complete, please report the 3 test results: Ping, Download Speed, and Upload Speed. (If you prefer you can use any other speed test you would like; we just need to have those three results).

Applications without speed test results will not be considered.

speed test information
Do you have a Mac or PC?*
Do you have a quiet and private space to take calls where you will not be disturbed?*

Individuals may volunteer for the LGBT National Help Center in many different capacities. Relevant to the programs they are volunteering for, the Help Center does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth), disability, age, citizen status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression, HIV status, military or veteran status, and other reasons as protected by law.

Individuals who specifically want to become phone and chat peer-support volunteers must be at least 18 years of age, and because our callers define “peer” as someone who identifies as LGBTQIA+, our peer-support volunteers must identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community.

We understand that everyone comes with their own history, experiences, and levels of education and knowledge on LGBTQIA+ issues. We use our training program to help potential peer-support volunteers gain the skills and knowledge needed to create a Safe Space for our community to feel comfortable to talk about issues and concerns in their lives. Nevertheless, because of the critical nature of our work, peer-support volunteers must reach a high level of competency in order to complete their training.


It’s important that you:

  • Feel you can ask questions when you’re not sure about something (there are no foolish questions - this is how we learn)
  • Have the willingness to identify areas where you can grow
  • Have the ability for self-reflection
  • Accept constructive guidance
  • Have the willingness to learn

The LGBT National Help Center provides support to those seeking affirmation and acceptance, and we strive to create a safe space for all. We accept people as they are and how they wish to be addressed. This includes, and is not limited to, using the pronouns, names, and labels those who contact us use for themselves.

Peer-support volunteers will under no circumstances obtain any identifying information from callers and will not give out their own personal identifying information. The only contact we have with callers is when THEY call into our one of our hotlines. Peer-support volunteers will also not make outgoing calls on behalf of callers.

The LGBT National Help Center reserves the right to remove volunteers who are unable to comply with our mission and values during training or while on shift. We will work with you to make training an enjoyable learning experience, but please give careful thought about volunteering and your openness to learning.


Our calls are confidential and never recored. We also do not report calls or make outgoing calls for our callers, though we will attempt provide them with additional information for their health and safety.

We are not mandated reporters. Potential volunteers who do identify as mandated reporters in their professional careers must understand that they cannot act in that capacity while volunteering with us. We understand that some professions do not allow for that. If that is the case for you, this type of volunteering isn’t going to be the right fit. If you identify as a mandated reporter and are not sure if you are able to legally remove those restrictions from yourself, you may need to contact a lawyer or employer before continuing on with this application.

I understand and accept the statement above.*