Residential Support Staff Internship

Homeless Solutions' motto is: "A Hand UP, Not a HandOUT". As an organization, we pride ourselves in providing people in need with the tools they need to succeed. From financial education to career preparation, housing navigation assistance and childcare scholarships, mental health and addiction support, and so much more, Homeless Solutions has a vast menu of services that help our guests achieve financial self-sufficiency and housing stability, all of which would not be possible without our dedicated and compassionate staff.

Our Main Shelter is staffed 24/7, 365 days a year with professionals who truly care about the well-being of our guests. With over forty years of success under our belt, we know well that the most important skill our staff members possess is a purpose for fulfilling our mission. We also know that the future of our programs lies in our ability to continuously retain and attract passionate staff members who want to help transform the lives of people experiencing homelessness.

To that end, our paid internship program offers college students the unique experience of working for a robust nonprofit organization and gaining hands on experience with a multitude of subpopulations while receiving ample support and guidance from a team of some of the most experienced and knowledgeable professionals in the industry.

Our Residential Support Staff Interns work front-line shifts in our Main Shelter alongside our permanent employees, during which they learn the internal operations of an emergency shelter, including specific skills, such as: drug/alcohol testing, safety checks and contraband searches, de-escalation and crisis prevention techniques, medication monitoring, volunteer engagement, emergency response procedures, conflict resolution, child welfare interventions, and more. Opportunities to learn about non-profit operations, advocacy and management career paths are also available.

Our paid interns typically work 16-24 hours per week for one semester or 3-4 months at a time. Many interns are offered the opportunity to continue working for Homeless Solutions beyond their initial internship period either as regular or per-diem employees dependent upon performance, interest, and availability. Many of our former interns have since built careers at Homeless Solutions post-graduation including some who currently work as Specialists and even Division Managers.

Throughout our internship program, interns will gain valuable hands-on experience by meeting directly with clients, developing proficiency in using NJHMIS, and assisting with clerical work. They will also have the opportunity to shadow case management and gain firsthand exposure to social work responsibilities. Additionally, interns will have the opportunity to benefit from direct mentorship through our Mentorship Program, where they will receive guidance and professional development from experienced higher-level staff.

Opportunities for paid internships at Homeless Solutions are limited and competitive. All candidates must be fingerprinted, possess a minimum of a high school diploma or the equivalent of a high school diploma and be currently enrolled in a higher education program, and be motivated to learn.

Requirements:

1. Currently enrolled in a secondary education program in the field of social work, criminology, sociology, psychology or related field.

2. Knowledge, skills and abilities

   1. Good oral, written and basic computer skills.

   2. Regular and predictable onsite attendance and reliable transportation are required during the scheduled hours for this position.

   3. Physically capable of lifting and carrying supplies, up to 30 pounds

   4. Ability to occasionally move about inside the residential housing facility, including navigating stairs and ramps.

   5. Clarity of vision at close and long range.

HSI is an equal opportunity employer, and we appreciate and celebrate the diversity of our staff. We believe that diversity not only includes race and gender, but also age, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, religion and many other parts of an individual's identity. HSI recruits, hires, trains, promotes, compensates and administers all policy and actions with equal opportunity for all employees and applicants. The points of view of all of our staff are important, and supporting a culture of inclusion is everyone's responsibility.

• Satisfactory results of applicable periodic background checks is a requirement.