Veteran Support Advocate, Charleston Veterans Village, Homeless Veteran Program

About the role

The mission of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation is to honor the sacrifice of firefighter Stephen Siller who laid down his life to save others on September 11, 2001. We also honor our military and first responders who continue to make the supreme sacrifice of life and limb for our country. The Tunnel to Towers Foundation is committed to eradicating homelessness amongst our veterans. The Foundation is seeking an experienced Veteran Support Advocate to work collaboratively with the Program Staff serving Veterans who are seeking long-term supportive housing. The Veteran Support Advocate will utilize a trauma-informed, person-centered, strength-based, recovery-oriented approach when working with Veterans. The position will support Veterans in developing skills, connections, and resources necessary to maintain housing stability, increase community integration, and improve overall quality of life. Candidates will be responsible for providing self-help and empowerment tools to participants in the community through participant led groups as well as providing individual services. Candidates will also manage the front desk operations while monitoring CCTV surveillance systems and conducting regular walking rounds to ensure the safety and security of the premises.

Responsibilities

• Provide peer support and mentorship to Veterans through shared lived experience, promoting hope, resilience, self-advocacy, independence, recovery, and successful community reintegration while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
• Build trusting relationships with participants and utilize trauma-informed, person-centered, culturally responsive, strengths-based, and recovery-oriented practices to support individualized goals and overall wellness.
• Assist Veterans in accessing and navigating community and internal resources, providing advocacy, referrals, and support services that enhance housing stability, quality of life, and self-sufficiency.
• Facilitate individual and group activities, community events, resident meetings, and wellness-focused programming that encourage engagement, social connection, and personal growth.
• Observe, assess, and respond to participant needs and challenges, including barriers related to mental health, substance use, trauma, homelessness, and community adjustment. Document concerns and communicate them to the supportive housing team in a timely manner.
• Recognize and appropriately respond to crises, including mental health, substance use, behavioral health, or safety concerns, following established emergency, incident-reporting, mandated reporting, and crisis intervention protocols.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including Case Managers, Licensed Clinicians, Employment and Entitlement Coordinators, and emergency services personnel, to coordinate care and support positive participant outcomes.
• Maintain a visible and supportive presence within the facility by conducting routine walkthroughs, monitoring common areas, tracking participant and guest activity, enforcing visitor policies, assisting with front desk coverage, and promoting a safe and respectful living environment.
• Utilize case management systems (e.g., AWARDS/Foothold