Safe Harbor of Grand Traverse is looking to build our team!

Temporary/Seasonal Shift Staff Member

Who is Safe Harbor?

Food, Shelter, Hope

Dedicated to the preservation of the physical health and spiritual welfare of adults experiencing homelessness, a primary goal of Safe Harbor is to offer food, shelter, and hope for our guests.

We operate a non-profit, volunteer-run Seasonal Emergency Shelter and a year-round Housing & Human Services Resource Center. As part of the Continuum of Care, we also focus on community partnerships in order to better collaborate on long-term solutions to ending homelessness in our region

Our Vision and Mission

Our Vision: Safe Harbor envisions a community with housing options for all, with homelessness being rare, brief, and non-recurrent

Our Mission: Safe Harbor supports the physical and spiritual welfare of people experiencing homelessness by providing emergency shelter, food, and hope.

Our successful Safe Harbor employees live by 5 Core Values

Compassion
Commitment
Faith
Respect
Collaboration

This position is a 100% onsite opportunity located in Traverse City, Michigan.

Paid training is provided before and throughout the Safe Harbor season. All staff members are expected to participate.

The Shift Staff will report to the Staff Supervisor and is responsible for providing excellent levels of guest service, according to the mission and vision of the organization. As a member of the Safe Harbor staff, he/she will maintain confidentiality, excellence in guest relations and continued support of our often vulnerable population. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in working with the homeless population or other similar populations

• Understanding and delivery of trauma informed care, approaches and practices (training provided).

• CPR/First Aid Certification (provided).

• Narcan Training (provided).

• Mental Health management knowledge and training (provided).

• Completion and understanding of Safe Harbor specific training programs, modules, workshops and resources (provided).

• Background and/or trainings and experience in mental health, overall social work and community resource management

• Ability to learn, be coached and open to empowerment from management as well as finding ways to best utilize own skills for the greater good

Responsibilities:

• Provide appropriate professional understanding and intervention in response to emotional, behavioral, physical needs of guests.

• Maintain a safe, supportive Trauma Informed environment within the shelter. 

• Foster positive relationships with guests.

• Enforce shelter Guidelines, Policies, and Procedures and assist guests in following all shelter expectations, when needed.

• Adhere to shelter policies, procedures and professional code of ethics.

• Utilize effective conflict resolution skills and help guests work through possible conflict with others while staying in the shelter.

• Maintain confidentiality of all guests who enter the shelter and exercise good judgment and discretion in dealing with confidential information.

• Monitor facility to maintain safety and security of shelter property, and report concerns to Management/On-Call or to local law enforcement authorities, when appropriate.

• Assist in keeping shelter clean, according to overall expectations and guidelines.

• Perform basic maintenance as needed (ex. changing light bulbs, plunging toilets) and report any major maintenance issues to management immediately. 

• Provide resource information or triage questions, for individuals we serve and to those who call shelter to ask for information. 

• Provide guest services referrals to Shelter Leads and Supervisor, as deemed necessary.

• Participate in shift change processes, allowing for staff efficiency and effectiveness.

• Participate in staff meetings as required and share information in a respectful & non-judgmental manner.

• Complete all necessary documentation (at minimum of once per shift) including but not limited to call logs, checklists, incident reports, involuntary exits and any other pertinent information regarding interactions with guests or observations made, via the provided database. 

• Perform other organizational duties as assigned.

• Learn and understand health and safety standards, regulations, policies and procedures and comply with them.

• Access and utilize the When 2 Work app for work schedules, requested time off and the ability to pick up/drop assigned work shifts according to staff policies and procedures.

• Support a focus on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion - this includes non-judgment of the ways that people may be different. Refrain from using slurs or other derogatory terms, gossiping or coming to conclusions based on race, gender identity, sexual orientation, primary language, religion, physical or mental ability or other ways in which people we serve may be most vulnerable.

Skills & Personal Attributes: 

• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.

• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as an effective team member.

• Ability to deal effectively with conflict and crisis.

• Ability to put emphasis on self-care, when needed (resources available).

• Ability to maintain a compassionate and servant heart while also keeping the safety of the overall shelter, its staff, guests and volunteers in the forefront at all times.

• Ability to remain mobile during the entire shift, including but not limited to walking around the shelter for long periods of time.

• Ability to reliably work a designated number of various shifts (e.g. evenings, overnights &/or weekends).

• Reliable transportation.