Shelter Support Staff PRN – Beacon House

Position Title: Shelter Support Staff - Beacon House

Reporting To: Shelter Shift Supervisor

Department: Homeless Services

Position Status: PRN Non-Exempt Position without Benefits

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Organization Overview:

Prevention Point Philadelphia (PPP) is a multi-service public health organization dedicated to protecting the health and welfare of the homeless, drug users, sex workers, and the uninsured. Using a harm reduction approach, PPP offers culturally sensitive, non-judgmental services to address the health and social service needs of drug users and sex workers in Philadelphia. PPP meets people where they are, providing information and access to resources with dignity and respect. PPP promotes harm reduction through mobile medical care, sterile syringe exchange, referrals to social services, and comprehensive prevention case management services.

Shelter Support Staff Position Overview:

At Beacon House, PPP operates an emergency shelter for up to 69 individuals experiencing homelessness and actively using drugs. Every day guests are provided housing, food, showers, and other supportive services. Our goal is to assist these individuals with accessing necessary resources including treatment and long-term housing. Support staff are responsible for creating and maintaining a clean, safe, and comfortable environment for guests. Staff are expected to build trusting relationships with guests and assist them in their efforts to secure housing and other necessary services.

**Please note that shelter staff are essential and may be required to report to work during holidays, inclement weather, or other situations where employees would otherwise remain home.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Enforce all program policies and procedures.
• Maintain the safety and security of shelter guests, co-workers, volunteers, equipment, and building.
• Regularly monitor the location and activity of all guests, including physical checks at timed intervals.
• Engage, interact with, and work toward fostering positive relationships with shelter guests.
• Possess the ability to make quick and sound decisions within the shelter environment.
• Provide support during emergent situations as needed, including participant de-escalation and medical emergencies.
• Be trained and willing to administer Narcan in the event of an opiate overdose.
• Complete training and obtain BLS certification and effectively respond to emergent situations as needed.
• Assist medical and clinical staff in connecting shelter guests to necessary services and community resources.
• Willingness to be trained and assist with the distribution and management of resident medications.
• Support and assist guests in completing activities including laundry and personal space cleanliness and organization.
• Monitor all resident bathroom and shower facilities.
• Complete shift checklist and logs in a timely and efficient manner.
• Assist with meal prep, facilitate meal distribution and manage distribution of snacks and other food items.
• Assist facilities staff with maintaining the cleanliness of the space.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Minimum Qualifications and Preferred Skills:

• Knowledge of and experience working with persons experiencing homelessness, substance use, and mental health issues.
• Dedication to assisting others while fostering their self-esteem and dignity.
• Commitment to a harm reduction philosophy including meeting people where they are and creating a safe, non-judgmental environment.
• Bi-lingual/Spanish speaking preferred
• Willing to familiarize self with and implement crisis de-escalation, overdose reversal, and mental health emergency protocols.
• A working knowledge of Microsoft Office products including Outlook, Word and Excel is preferred.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $17.00 - $18.00 per hour

Application Question(s):

• Are you available to work weekends?
• Do you have experience or interest in working with people in varying stages of recovery?
• Why are you interested in working in Shelters?
• In your own words, what does harm reduction look like in a shelter environment?
• Tell us about the last time you helped someone you didn't have to. Be as descriptive as possible and explain why you did it?

Work Location: In person

Salary : $17 - $18