Shelter Advocate- Job Description

Hours: Part-time, 9:00 pm to 8:00 am evenings (overnight weekday and weekend) and daytime weekend hours, as scheduled

Pay: $16/hr

Responsible To: Associate Director

Responsibilities:

Advocate will create a safe and welcoming environment for residents by greeting residents, responding to resident request(s) for assistance or supplies needed from the office/storage areas, and ensuring clients are provided a high quality of emotional support.
Complete intakes and orientate survivors and their children to the shelter as needed and ensure their initial needs are met.
To ensure cleanliness and order of the shelter, Advocate will restock interior storage as needed, do laundry to maintain linen supply, sweep the main stairwell and programming unit, keep entryway free of any clutter, and any other task needed to maintain order.
Advocate will complete a walk through of all units ensuring residents properly complete their assigned chores and sign off on resident chore sheets.
To maintain overnight shelter safety and security, set all alarms, and ensure quiet hours throughout the shelter.
As tasks at shelter vary each day, Advocate should assist in providing crisis intervention services. These services will include: answering emergency hotline and business lines, providing emergency financial assistance, making referrals, individual support, resource and referral information as needed.
We believe teamwork leads to better quality services. Advocate should consult on-call staff in handling emergencies and issues related to children and adults living at the shelter, documenting appropriately and timely. Advocates should also inform staff about night shift activity during the monthly staff meeting.
In an effort to ensure 24/7 coverage, Advocate will be on time for their scheduled shift and complete their entire shift without leaving the premises.
Assist with special projects and tasks as assigned by the Associate Director or Executive Director

Necessary Skills:

Desire to gain experience working with victims/survivors of domestic violence
Attentive to detail, demonstrate emotional maturity, flexible in management of responsibilities, ability to work independently, and creativity problem solve to meet needs of clients
Ability to climb steps and lift occasional bulky items such as donations, large containers, household goods and laundry
Ability to respect and adapt to differences in perspective, backgrounds, beliefs and needs; Ideal candidate should have the ability to prioritize tasks, above average skills in time management, and adaptability to unplanned situations