On-Call Engagement Specialist Shelter Staff

OUR JUST FUTURE•Portland, OR

6h•$21 - $24•Onsite

About The Position

Provide direct service shelter staffing at the Chestnut Inn Women’s Shelter, Gresham Women’s Shelter, or Lilac Meadows Family Center. The shelters are intended to provide a safe and warm space for families and women, trans-women, non-binary, gender fluid/queer individuals experiencing homelessness. HSI shelters are low-barrier access for people who would otherwise be sleeping outdoors or in vehicles. Staff are to monitor the milieu to support participants with their independent living as they work to transition to more permanent housing solutions. Shelter can be an extremely high stress environment- participants may experience acute mental health needs, behaviors associated to trauma response, drug and alcohol use, and emergency health episodes that require an increased crisis response. Engagement Specialist work together to problem solve, act quickly, and be thoughtful with their response.

Requirements

Knowledge of: Social and economic issues creating poverty, working successfully with practices and techniques related to people experiencing homelessness in our region.
Knowledge of: Community resources and agencies providing social services needed by the homeless population.
Knowledge of: Basic principles of HIPAA, DV/SA confidentiality requirements, crisis de-escalation, Assertive Engagement, Child Development, Mental Health First Aid/ Suicide Prevention, impact of Drug and Alcohol dependency, Harm-reduction practices, Restorative Justice, LGBTQIA+ inclusive best practices, and Trauma-Informed Care.
Ability to: Stay self-motivated and be proactive in completing daily tasks
Ability to: Deliver shelter services in a compassionate and humane way.
Ability to: Show consistent work attendance as shifts depend on full staffing patterns.
Ability to: Communicate clearly and respectfully with shelter participants
Ability to: Empower and support individuals experiencing homelessness and low income persons in life choices and change.
Ability to: Work cooperatively with other providers, volunteers, and staff.
Ability to: Develop and maintain productive working relationships within Human Solutions
Ability to: Be culturally sensitive to diverse client populations
Ability to: Prepare and maintain clear, accurate, complete and timely records
Ability to: Maintain strict confidentiality and professional boundaries with all households served
Ability to: Understand and follow complex written and oral instructions, guidelines and procedures
Ability to: Represent Human Solutions professionally, accurately and effectively
Ability to: Work independently and at the same time be a vital and contributing part of a team.
Ability to: Follow Multnomah County COVID-19 guidance for shelter settings
At least one year experience in a social services and knowledge or awareness of low-income or people experiencing homelessness and the barriers they confront.
Experience with crisis intervention and customer service.
General computer, word processing and spreadsheet skills.

Nice To Haves

Any bi-lingual fluency preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Work with the Shelter Managers, Volunteer & Donations, and Kitchen team, Engagement Specialists, and other agency department to ensure that the shelters are safe and welcoming to a broad diversity of individuals experiencing homelessness; inclusive of people of all races, nationalities, languages, ages, abilities, gender, and families of all configurations.
Conduct full intakes and orientation with patience and in a Trauma-Informed manner to all new participants on a daily basis, including but not limited to reviewing Participant Agreements and Guidelines, shelter expectations, and emergency procedures.
Provide ongoing services, connection to resources, and assistance in navigating social service systems to all participants as detailed on their individualized service plans.
Distribute and prepare meals as needed.
Offer blankets, bedding and other needed items in a fair and equitable manner to participants as needed.
Assist staff, volunteers, community groups, and help them to have a positive volunteer experience in our shelter environments.
Enforce shelter guidelines through Verbal Warnings, Written Warnings, Behavior Agreements, and Behavior Contracts.
Hold participants accountable and conduct Exclusions and Exits from the shelter program when appropriate to do so.
Notify police, fire, and emergency medical or other emergency personnel if warranted by events at shelters.
Interact with participants, staff, and volunteers in a strengths-based, trauma-informed manner and always using an Equity Lens in decision making processes.
Complete detailed and accurate Incident Reports that may be shared with the shelter team, agency upper management, JOHS contractors, and County/City officials.
Maintain accurate, complete, up-to-date daily documentation of participants served and their basic demographic information. Enter data into ETO (Efforts to Outcomes) and ServicePoint (under supervision). Submit reports and proper documentation in a timely manner to the Quality Assurance Team.
Provide regular fire and safety watch walk-throughs and record these on a form provided by the fire marshal.
Record each shifts significant activity in each shelter’s communication log. Read over previous shift’s log entries to stay on top of shelter occurrences and provide consistency.
Debrief extensively with coworkers between each shift, during the overlap time.
Provide constructive feedback, open communication, and clear intention in order to provide the best shelter experience to participants and each other. Maintain an open-minded perspective to hear and accept feedback and redirection when appropriate.
A desire to seek and offer solutions – Does the candidate handle conflict in a positive way, offering solutions and not only complaints?
Frequently clean and sanitize shelter common areas, including doing laundry for communal bedding and towels, clearing beds to make them available for the next referral, fully turn over shelter rooms once participants exit to a defined standard.
Process participant belongings when they leave shelter due to an exit or exclusion.
Take out garbage and recycling when they fill up to the outside receptacles.
Submit maintenance request to Shelter Manager or Maintenance Specialist, follow up to ensure that hazards and safety concerns are addressed.
Restock bathrooms and hygiene supplies so that they are always accessible to participants.
A desire to learn and grow, taking opportunities to go outside of their comfort zone of shift duties they’re used in order to keep a safe and healthy environment.
Meet with supervisor and participate in department staff meetings and monthly all staff trainings as scheduling permits.
Assist each participant in obtaining information about internal Housing Program as well as other agencies that may be able to help them access housing or other services, including but not limited to housing specialists, Rent-Well classes, mental and physical health services, benefits, culturally specific resources, and employment support services.
Other duties as assigned.