DescriptionJOB SUMMARY
As an Advocate at the Homeless Alliance Night Shelter, you will play a critical role in providing compassionate support and assistance to individuals experiencing homelessness during the overnight hours. Your primary responsibility will be to ensure the safety, well-being, dignity and worth of shelter guests. This role requires empathy, strong communication skills, crisis intervention abilities, and a commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of the clients.
Additional areas of responsibility include, but are not limited to, effective collaboration with partner agencies and organizations; communications with clients about services and community opportunities; ensuring laundry is properly managed, daily cleaning, distribution of hygiene items, maintaining the pet kennel area, and monitoring clients’ carts and belongings.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Complete all tasks required to open and/or close the night shelter.
- Complete all tasks required to operate a low barrier night shelter.
- Will be required to be flexible with scheduling.
- Manage guests using showers and facilities and assist with the associated tasks.
- De-escalate any conflict or crisis situations that may arise between guests during the shift.
- Build effective relationships with the agency representatives that result in positive engagements with guests.
- Maintain appropriate records in data management system.
- Other duties as assigned.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The employee will work in a normal office environment and in all areas of the Night Shelter and WestTown Campus. Hectic situations can occur in the public area of the facility characteristic to working with the homeless community and the related concerns and situations related to homeless conditions. Potential exists for volatile and unpredictable situations to occur. Exposure to strong odors such as soiled clothes and poor hygiene, are common.
Qualifications
REQUIREMENTS
- Willing to work early or late shifts (3:30pm-11:30pm; 11:00pm-7.00am)
- Willing to work overnight shifts as needed.
- Must be willing to work holidays.
- The ability to work flexibly to the differing demands of the role: working with people, completing the daily activities of the Night Shelter, dealing professionally with colleagues from partnering agencies
- Very effective people skills:
- Ability to demonstrate empathy
- Exceptional listening skills
- Ability to use defusing techniques to deal with conflict
- Able to relate well with people from a variety of diverse backgrounds: especially clients who are vulnerable, those with mental illness, and substance use, etc.
- Work in a fast paced and slower paced environment, depending on the time of the shift.
- IT literate: confident user of Microsoft365, MS word, excel, email, and internet browsing.
- Perform other duties and responsibilities as requested in a professional, courteous, and helpful manner.
EDUCATION & WORK EXPERIENCE
- Prefer a High School diploma or GED
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
- Sitting or standing for long periods of time.
- Occasional lifting (25-50 pounds) of materials for laundry, cleaning, receiving donations, receiving clients’ carts and belongings and other activities.
- Accommodation may be made for some physical limitations for otherwise qualified individuals who require and request such accommodation.
Accommodation may be made for some physical limitations for otherwise qualified individuals who require and request such accommodation.
This position is a temporary, seasonal position. It will expire on March 31, 2026.
