Description

Position Title: Residential Advocate 

Reports To: Division Director, Lead Residential Advocate 

Classification: Non-Exempt, Part-Time

Location: NW, Washington, DC

Hours:  Saturdays and Sundays, 7am-3pm, 3pm-11pm, or 11pm-7am

About Us:

Friendship Place is a nonprofit organization serving the Washington, DC, region, empowering individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness to rebuild their lives with community involvement. Friendship Place offers the most effective model for addressing homelessness, with innovative, customized programs with positive, demonstrable results and a lasting impact on the community and beyond. Our programs are person-centric and individualized to meet the needs and goals of individuals, families, youth/young adults, and Veterans experiencing homelessness. We provide outreach, hospitality, health care, shelter, case management, housing, job placement services, and advocacy. We have established a national presence and are known for sharing best practices in the field.

Our Core Values: Friendship Place is a Person – First Organization that promotes transparency and ethical practices among our team and those we serve. All individuals in our organization are expected to carry out their job tasks in a manner that is consistent with our core values. This includes the following:

• Excellence and Innovation

• Finding Ways to Say “Yes”

• Caring at the Core

• Agents of Change

• Support, Empowerment, and Development

• Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Collaboration

• Integrity and Accountability

Summary:

The Residential Advocate at Friendship Place ensures resident and building safety, security, and optimal operations. As a Residential Advocate, you will warmly greet residents and maintain a safe and secure building. This role involves conducting resident wellness checks, monitoring building activities and operations, and assisting residents from time with needed items that are available for their use. The Advocate role is part of the La Casa Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) team. The PSH program follows the Housing First model and philosophy, applying best practices and comprehensive case management to ensure resident success. The program provides on-site services to 40 previously chronically homeless single males. The new apartment building consists of seven floors, with 40 studio-sized units that contain a private kitchen and bath. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

· Warmly greet and direct residents and building guests at the front desk of this Permanent Supportive Housing program for 40 single men. 

· Monitor security cameras in the building and ensure staff/participant/building safety by appropriately responding to any security issues that may arise. 

· Become familiar with the Housing First Model, HSRA, and HIPPA to inform job duties and program philosophy. 

· Develop rapport with each resident through routine contact and communication. 

· Ensure the safety and well-being of residents by providing routine wellness checks. 

· Monitor residents’ medical and psychiatric needs while reporting any concerns to the case management team, case manager supervisor, and division director in a timely manner.

· Provide crisis intervention as needed and contact emergency response teams such as Mobile Crisis, MPD, the fire department, and paramedics when necessary. 

· Complete incident reporting when necessary and communicate any incidents, allegations, security breaches, or sensitive situations to case managers, the Case Manager Supervisor, and the Division Director on resident and program outcomes, including areas for improvement.

· Demonstrate empathy and flexibility in responding to residents’ needs and requests.

· Work collaboratively in a team environment to address crisis needs. 

· Attend and participate in supervision meetings, staff meetings, agency training, and professional training and conferences as required. 

· Follow all agency policies and procedures. 

· Ability to work beyond the designated 8-hour tour of duty and display flexibility with last-minute shift needs. 

· Perform all other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Background & Qualifications:

· HS Diploma/GED and 3 years of general work experience, including one year of experience in direct human service.

· Associate and/or bachelor's degree with 6 months of direct human service experience (Preferred)

· Capacity to maintain strict confidentiality.

· Bilingual in Spanish is a plus.

· Experience working with individuals with mental health concerns or addiction preferred. 

· Ability and willingness to work in a diverse and challenging environment.

· Ability and willingness to work as a team player. 

· Knowledge of Microsoft Word; ability to learn database programs. 

· Ability to maintain healthy and professional boundaries.

· Must be able to arrive to work and scheduled meetings on time. 

· Strong commitment to mission, including racial equity and social justice.

Working conditions:

The office is located in an apartment building and exposed to conditions that arise in homes, including occasionally biohazards (e.g., blood, tissue, human waste) and conflict. 

Physical and Environmental Requirements:

Must be able to lift and/or move up to 25 lbs.

Consistent sitting, walking

Background checks: 

The selected candidate will be required to complete and pass background checks specific to contract requirements that may include criminal history background check and fingerprinting, FBI Background Check, DC Metropolitan Police Background Check, State-of-Residence Police Background Check, DC Child Abuse Registry (CFSA), National Sex Offender Registry Check, Drug Panel and Alcohol Screening, Tuberculosis Test, and Driving Record check (for positions transporting participants). Friendship Place shall comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws and guidance, including guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) and public health and licensing authorities. It is also consistent with contract requirements and other protocols that will provide for the optimal safety and health of our employees and the clients we serve.

Direct reports

None

Specific Requirements:

Must have reliable transportation