Shelter Associate

About the role

The Housing Navigation Center (HNC) is a resource center that provides services to people experiencing homelessness, helps people regain housing, and helps households in Weld County navigate local housing resources. As part of Weld’s Way Home, Weld County’s initiative to address and prevent homelessness, the HNC provides clear access to housing services ranging from homelessness prevention to overnight shelter. The person in this role will use a Housing First focus to assist in overnight shelter operations and tasks, working directly with people experiencing homelessness to provide a safe, effective, and welcoming emergency shelter.

Responsibilities

• Work with people experiencing homelessness during shelter hours to provide a welcoming shelter environment, ensuring guest and staff safety, and providing guests with appropriate resources.
• Maintain overnight shift availability, including the ability to fill in shifts when needed.
• Perform shelter check-in/check-out responsibilities including completing intakes, assisting with meal service, preparing sleeping areas, handing out donations, and maintaining shelter cleanliness and organization.
• Carry out HNC policies and procedures for overnight shelter activities including COVID-19 procedures, shelter safety policies, and general operational procedures.
• Direct and guide new guests to orient them to the space and policies as needed.
• Utilize trauma-informed de-escalation techniques to address guest concerns and mitigate conflict.
• Maintain relationships among community partner agencies, key stakeholders, and the Weld County community to increase awareness of shelter resources and to maintain shelter stability.
• Coordinate with the HNC staff to ensure seamless service delivery between daytime and night-time operations.
• Assist in staffing extreme weather days during daytime shelter hours, when required.
• Assist in staffing offsite overflow shelter if activated during weather emergencies.
• Maintain neighborhood relationships around the HNC.
• Participate in training around Housing First, Trauma-Informed Care, Mental Health First Aid, and other necessary topics.
• Accurately record services, intake, and assessment data for the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).
• Support and promote the mission, values, goals, and objectives of United Way, including representing United Way in professional organizations and the community (as assigned).
• Support fundraising efforts of United Way and activities that support United Way.
• Support United Way annual events, disaster response, and other activities as assigned.
• Participate in staff meetings and in service opportunities.
• Contribute to organizational promotions including writing promotional copy, proofreading informational and campaign materials, and participation in outreach.
• Other duties as assigned.

Core Competencies

• Mission-Focused: Catalyze others’ commitment to mission to create real social change that leads to better lives and healthier communities.
• Relationship-Oriented: Understands that people come before process and is astute in cultivating and managing relationships toward a common goal.
• Collaborator: Understands the roles and contributions of all sectors of the community and can mobilize resources (financial and human) through meaningful engagement.
• Results-Driven: Dedicated to shared and measurable goals for the common good; creating, resourcing, scaling, and leveraging strategies and innovations for broad investment and impact.
• Brand Steward: Steward of the brand and understands his/her role in growing and protecting the reputation and results of the greater network.

Working Conditions

• Frequent walking and standing on concrete and tiled floors.
• Brief periods of outdoor work required during winter months.
• Possible exposure to communicable diseases.
• Handling of guest contraband items including paraphernalia and weapons with proper PPE and training.

Skills

• Ability to work flexible hours including evenings, weekends, and overnight shifts.
• Self-motivated; proven excellent performance standards and quality of work.
• Excellent customer service and phone skills.
• Effective interpersonal communication skills including one-on-one conversations.
• Ability to effectively respond to escalated situations or crisis.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Docs.
• Data and intake experience in HMIS or related data systems.
• Networking and community relationship building skills.
• Ability to work independently and as a team player.

Requirements

• High school diploma.
• Homeless services, case management, social work, health/human services, public health, or related nonprofit experience preferred.
• Experience utilizing trauma-informed care, de-escalation, Housing First, and person-centered care principles.
• Experience and willingness to work with highly vulnerable individuals and people experiencing homelessness.
• Current first aid and CPR/AED certification preferred.

Schedule

• Part-time (20-30 hours/week), hourly, non-exempt.
• Work hours are in the evenings, overnights, and weekends.
• Holidays required, holiday pay included at 2x hourly rate.
• Background check required.

Pay

Salary range: $16.94/hour – $19.07/hour. Additional $2/hour overnight differential. $0.72 per hour bilingual differential available.

Benefits

• Flexible schedule.
• Paid time off including vacation, sick, parental leave, and short-term disability.
• Flexible work hours with potential downtime for school work, ideal for college students.