Description

Our mission for the Hope House is to provide safe shelter for a diverse community of homeless women, including gender non-conforming individuals, particularly those most vulnerable. We strive to create an environment of dignity, respect, and compassion. We recognize the intrinsic value of every shelter participant and honor their unique experience. Shelter Support Staff will support Hope House’s mission of assisting women from homelessness to independence by providing direct service to program participants, helping them adapt to community living and program policies, and ensuring effective operations of the shelter.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work:

Scheduled shifts will fall Sunday-Saturday (typically in four or five day increments) including holidays. Scheduled shifts vary between day (8:30 AM - 4:30 PM), swing (4:00 PM - 12:00 AM), and overnight (11:00 PM - 9:00 AM) and will be decided on employee availability and program needs.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each of the essential duties/responsibilities listed below. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties/responsibilities of this job. The essential functions of the position include, but are not limited to the following:

• Provides consistent coverage for assigned shifts, working as part of the team and independently to complete all shift tasks.
• Monitors and supervises shelter and client activities; maintains shelter order in accordance with Hope House Emergency Shelter policies.
• Assists clients of the shelter with needs and questions; helps clients resolve any issues as they may arise.
• Monitors the activities of clients to ensure the safety of clients, volunteers and staff.
• Provides crisis intervention as needed, including determining when it is necessary to involve other staff, administration or the authorities.
• Enforces shelter policies and follows staff policies and procedures.
• Maintains written and oral communication of incidents in accordance with policies.
• Reports any problems to the Shelter Supervisor, Weekend Lead Shelter Support, Assistant Director and/or Director.
• Receives new clients, completes intake paperwork, creates proper client files and orients new clients to Hope House Emergency Shelter and its policies.
• Verifies clients’ homelessness.
• Performs general administrative functions such as noting within the communication log, answering the phone and responding to in-person inquiries in a professional manner.
• Provides appropriate information and referrals for those who need other resources.
• Helps volunteers with questions or issues when necessary.
• Attends staff meetings and participates in activities designated by the Personnel Manager, Weekend Lead Shelter Support, and/or Managing Director.
• Accurately logs work time after every shift and submits work timesheets bi-weekly.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities:

• Performs other related duties as required or assigned.
• Travel as required. Travel is primarily local and during the business day; although very occasional out-of-the-area travel may be expected.
• This role has no supervisory responsibilities.

Compensation:

• Monetary compensation for this role is $20.00 per hour. Hours worked in the night are subject to a shift differential of an additional $0.50 per hour so if you worked overnights, you would make $20.50/Hour.

Benefits:

Full time only:

• 8 Paid Annual Holidays
• Up to 5 additional discretionary annual holidays (depending on hire date)
• FREE Dental and Vision Insurance
• Life insurance, Medical and Disability

Full time & Part time:

• Paid Sick Leave
• Paid Time Off
• Mileage Reimbursement
• Three Aflac Insurance Policies to electively enroll in: Accident Protection, Critical Illness and Hospital Indemnity
• 403(b) Retirement Plan including up to 25% employer match up to $500 per year
• FREE CPR/First Aid Training
• FREE Bloodborne Pathogens Certification
• FREE WA State Food Handler’s Permit
• Shift Differential: increase of $0.50/hour between the hours of 5pm-8am
• Ongoing program specific training and professional development training
• Opportunity for career growth and professional development
• Work/Life Balance: We are dedicated to being flexible for family and self-care!

Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must meet the minimum qualifications listed below. These qualifications are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required to perform this job.

Required Education and/or Experience: To perform this job successfully, an individual must have:

• High School Diploma or GED

Certificates and/or Licenses: To perform this job successfully, an individual must:

• Be eligible to be licensed as Agency Affiliated Counselor (AAC) and apply for credential within 30 days of hire.
• Become CPR/First Aid/BBP Certified within 6 months of employment
• Have a Food Handler’s Permit
• Successfully pass a Comprehensive Criminal History Background Check and Driving Record Review

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Two years of experience working in the Human Service field with one or more of the following:
  • Women experiencing homelessness
  • Mental health related issues
  • Substance abuse
  • Domestic violence
  • HIV/AIDS related issues
  • Populations living in poverty

Bona Fide Occupational Qualifications:

Due to required hours of operation, must be at least 18 years of age.

Skills, Abilities, and Competencies:

• Strong positive verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills.
• High professional standards regarding confidentiality.
• Ability to multi-task and work in a high volume, fast-paced environment, balancing changing priorities.
• Critical thinking and problem solving skills to determine the best level of response, intervention and support.
• Proven ability for attention to detail and strong analytical and organizational skills.
• Ability to interact effectively with employees and managers from diverse socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds.
• Excellent public speaking skills for large and small groups.
• Knowledge of Medicaid and/or Medicare and/or Medicare enrollment services and process.
• Proficient in word processing applications and associated software such as Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Outlook; including Google Suite, CMIS (HMIS), and behavioral health software systems.
• Proficient reporting skills including auditing data and processes regularly to produce reports and/or communications to applicable stakeholders.
• Ability to assess emergency situations and respond effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain professional boundaries with clients using the Reamer’s Model.

Physical Requirements: In order to meet all expectations of this position, an individual must be able to:

• Regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. Ascend and descend stairs. Required use of washers and dryers, as well as standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. Perceive text and buttons on the computer screen and discern print and handwriting on paper forms.
• Frequently remain in a standing position and move about inside and outside of the shelter. Lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Access file cabinets, office machinery etc.
• Occasionally lift and/or move client possessions, small to medium objects in the office, and/or cleaning supplies (up to 50 pounds). Required to climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.

Work Conditions:

While performing the essential duties/responsibilities of this job, the employee may experience the following environmental conditions:

• Noise Conditions: This job operates in a women’s shelter environment. The noise level in the work environment can be loud.
• Heat/Cold: May be subject to heat, cold, wet, and/or humid weather conditions, and occasionally extreme heat and/or cold.
• Injury Exposure: Position requires working with standard office equipment – copy machine, computers, and phones.
• Atmospheric Exposures: May be exposed to various scents and perfumes, less than sanitary or uncomfortable conditions, various pests and pathogens, participants’ service and emotional support animals, as well as clients in physical, mental or emotional distress.