09. Programming & Evaluation - Civic Engagement

Establish a civic engagement program

Rationale: Programs that sponsor and provide support for civic engagement activities promote volunteering and voting, which significantly increases community engagement, satisfaction, and fulfillment.

For the most accurate strategy and documentation requirements, please refer to the digital scorecard made available on the Fitwel Platform.

Requirements

Demonstrate compliance with one of the options below:

Option 1 - Civic Engagement Program (Full Credit):

Demonstrate compliance with all of the following requirements:

Low-Rise Residential with shared interior spaces (LR+), Low-Rise Residential with no shared interior spaces (LR)

1. Implement a minimum of one qualifying civic engagement program(s).

   Qualifying civic engagement programs may include but are not limited to:

   • including a polling place within the project
   • providing information for voter registration
   • providing shuttles or transportation to voting stations on voting days
   • organizing volunteering events
   • events surrounding food or clothing drives (drop boxes alone do not qualify)
   • advocacy groups
   • hosting community groups
   • hosting community engagement programs (such as workshops or talks)
2. Ensure that the civic engagement programs are offered to all residential occupants.

Option 2 - Off-Site Civic Engagement Information (Partial Credit):

Demonstrate compliance with all of the following requirements to achieve partial credit:    

Low-Rise Residential with shared interior spaces (LR+), Low-Rise Residential with no shared interior spaces (LR)

1. Provide a list of volunteer opportunities within the area that is maintained and updated monthly.
2. Ensure the volunteer opportunities are available a minimum of once per month to all residential occupants within the project.
3. Provide the following information about volunteer opportunities with all residential occupants each month:
   • a list of volunteer opportunities available in the area.
   • information about the monthly opportunities available.
4. Share the volunteer opportunities information with all residential occupants through a minimum of one of the following methods:
   • a digital platform, such as a website, digital application, or display screen in common areas
   • monthly communication material, such as notification emails or newsletters

Option 3 - Community Support Program (Partial Credit):

Demonstrate compliance with all of the following requirements to achieve partial credit:

Low-Rise Residential with shared interior spaces (LR+), Low-Rise Residential with no shared interior spaces (LR)

1. Provide a minimum of one community support program that benefits a local cause within the building(s).

   Qualifying community support programs may include but are not limited to:
   – Charitable donation programs such as drop-boxes for clothing, non-perishable food, books, or other needed items for local shelters, food banks, or community centers.
   – Community resource drives, such as collections of school supplies, personal care items, or seasonal necessities for local organizations.
   – Nonprofit fundraising campaigns, such as drop-boxes to support local nonprofits or social service organizations.

2. Ensure community support programs are offered within the building(s) at least once per quarter and are accessible to all residential occupants.
3. Provide the following information about the communty support programs with all residential occupants each month:
   – a list of community support programs offered and the local cause the programs benefit
   – information about the quarterly opportunities available
   – annual schedule of the community support programs offered.
4. Share the community support program information with all residential occupants through a minimum of one of the following methods:
   – a digital platform, such as a website, digital application, or display screen in common areas
   – monthly communication material, such as notification emails or newsletters.

Compliance Documentation

Design Pathway (LR+, LR)

Option 1: 

• Requirement 1:
  • Upload a description of the type of qualifying civic engagement program that will be offered.       
• Requirement 2:
  • Checkbox to certify that the civic engagement program will be offered to all residential occupants.        

Option 2: 

• Requirement 1:
  • Upload the list of volunteer opportunities in the area identifying:
    • the volunteer opportunities available
    • that the opportunities are available in the nearby area.   
  • Checkbox to certify that the information about volunteer opportunities will be maintained and updated each month.       
• Requirement 2:
  • Upload information showing that the volunteer opportunities will be available a minimum of once per month and is open to all residential occupants within the project.       
• Requirement 3:
  • Upload a copy of the information that will be shared with all residential occupants identifying all of the following required information that is included:
    • the list of volunteer opportunities
    • the schedule of volunteer opportunities
  • Checkbox to certify that the information about volunteer opportunities will be shared with all residential occupants each month.       
• Requirement 4:
  • Checkbox to certify that the information about volunteer opportunities will be shared with all residential occupants through the following methods (select all that apply):                       
    • a digital platform, such as a website, digital application, or display screen in common areas   
    • monthly communication material, such as notification emails or newsletters    

Option 3: 

• Requirement 1
  • Upload the list of community support programs offered within the building(s) identifying:
    • the local cause
    • the type of community support programs.
• Requirement 2
  • Upload a schedule showing that the community support programs will be available within the building(s) a minimum of once per quarter to all residential occupants.
• Requirement 3
  • Upload a copy of the information that will be shared with all residential occupants identifying all of the following requried information that is included: 
    • a list of community support programs offered and the local cause the programs benefit
    • information about the quarterly opportunities available
    • annual schedule of the community support programs offered.
  • Checkbox to certify that the information about community support programs will be shared with all residential occupants each month.
• Requirement 4
  • Checkbox to certify that the information about community support programs will be shared with all residential occupants through the following methods (select all that apply): 
    • a digital platform, such as a website, digital application, or display screen in common areas
    • monthly communication material, such as notification emails or newsletters.

Built Pathway (LR+, LR)

Option 1: 

• Requirement 1:
  • Upload a description of the type of qualifying civic engagement program that is offered.      
• Requirement 2:
  • Checkbox to certify that the civic engagement program is offered to all residential occupants.        

Option 2: 

• Requirement 1:
  • Upload the list of volunteer opportunities in the area identifying:
    • the volunteer opportunities available
    • that the opportunities are available in the nearby area.  
  • Checkbox to certify that the information about volunteer opportunities is maintained and updated each month.      
• Requirement 2:
  • Upload information showing that the volunteer opportunities are available a minimum of once per month and is open to all residential occupants within the project.      
• Requirement 3:
  • Upload a copy of the information that is shared with all residential occupants identifying all of the following required information that is included:
    • the list of volunteer opportunities
    • the schedule of volunteer opportunities
  • Checkbox to certify that the information about volunteer opportunities is shared with all residential occupants each month.      
• Requirement 4:
  • Checkbox to certify that the information about volunteer opportunities is shared with all residential occupants through the following methods (select all that apply):                      
    • a digital platform, such as a website, digital application, or display screen in common areas  
    • monthly communication material, such as notification emails or newsletters    

Option 3: 

• Requirement 1
  • Upload the list of community support programs offered within the building(s) identifying:
    • the local cause
    • the type of community support programs.
• Requirement 2
  • Upload a schedule showing that the community support programs are available within the building(s) a minimum of once per quarter to all residential occupants.
• Requirement 3
  • Upload a copy of the information that is shared with all residential occupants identifying all of the following required information that is included: 
    • a list of community support programs offered and the local cause the programs benefit
    • information about the quarterly opportunities available
    • annual schedule of the community support programs offered.
  • Checkbox to certify that the information about community support programs is shared with all residential occupants each month.
• Requirement 4
  • Checkbox to certify that the information about community support programs is shared with residential occupants through the following methods (select all that apply):
    • a digital platform, such as a website, digital application, or display screen in common areas
    • monthly communication material, such as notification emails or newsletters.