Program Aide

LIFEMOVES • Santa Clara, CA

6d • $24 - $28 • Onsite

About The Position

LifeMoves is the largest and most effective provider of housing and services for neighbors experiencing homelessness in Silicon Valley since 1987. Our Mission is to end homelessness by providing interim housing, supportive services, and building collaborative partnerships. With 40 programs, LifeMoves gives our neighbors experiencing homelessness a temporary place to call home while providing intensive, customized case management through site-based programs and community outreach. POSITION PURPOSE LifeMoves | Palo Alto is a new program and once implemented will provide interim supportive housing in Palo Alto 24 family units and 64 individual units. During their stay, clients participate in holistic services tailored to each household’s unique needs and goals. Clients receive support to build self-sufficiency and return to housing stability, including but not limited to accommodations, meals, laundry, case management, and therapy. The team supports clients with housing, employment, benefits, physical and behavioral health through case management, workshops, and connection to specialized resources. The Palo Alto Program Aide plays an important role in keeping the program site safe, welcoming, and running smoothly. Reporting to the Program Director, this position is often the first to respond to client needs, helping with both everyday requests and urgent situations. Additionally the position supports volunteers, donors, and community visitors, making sure everyone feels respected and informed. Key responsibilities include keeping the site secure by monitoring access, completing regular safety checks (rounds), and supporting daily tasks like welcoming new clients, preparing rooms, and organizing supplies. This role requires strong attention to the safety and emotional well-being of clients, especially during times of stress or crisis. Staff use a calm and compassionate approach to help resolve problems and support stability. By creating a supportive environment, this position helps clients feel safe and builds trust to work toward their goals, including finding permanent housing. The Program Aide (PA) supports a smooth and welcoming entry process for new clients by coordinating and leading welcomes with care, professionalism, and consistency. When supervisors are offsite, this role is key to observing what’s happening at the site, sharing updates, and keeping clear written and verbal communication with the team. Additionally, the role supports program operations by helping with administrative tasks, such as ordering supplies, organizing materials, and assisting with office duties to keep daily activities running smoothly.

Requirements

• Associate's Degree in related field preferred; or High School Diploma/GED with 2-5 years of equivalent experience in related field. Related fields may include direct involvement in peer advocacy, community outreach, housing services or roles within the homelessness services field.
• Technology: Comfortable using basic technology, including phone and messaging systems, email, Microsoft and Google Suites, and databases to complete administrative tasks and case management, reporting, and tracking outcomes.
• Care, Respect, Empathy: Demonstrates empathy, professionalism, and respect for all individuals.
• Emotional Regulation: Stays calm and supportive in stressful situations and uses de-escalation skills.
• Documentation: Maintains clear documentation and organization.
• Organization/Prioritization: Organized, detail-oriented, and proactive.
• Advocacy Skills: Actively advocates for clients in accessing benefits, navigating systems, and ensuring equitable treatment across agencies.
• Resource Identification: Able to identify and connect clients to housing, employment, health, and social services by leveraging community resources effectively.
• Research Skills: Uses strong analytical skills to research, track, and resolve client needs.
• Partnership Engagement: Builds and maintains collaborative relationships with community organizations and service providers through communication and collaboration skills to strengthen client support networks.
• Group Facilitation Skills: Confident leading group discussions or workshops that promote learning, collaboration, and empowerment.
• Specific Knowledge: Specialized demonstrated knowledge in Employment Resources.
• Job Knowledge: Understands job duties and performs tasks with accuracy.
• Commitment to Growth: Demonstrates a selfless commitment to others on the team, including activity-based dependability, self-improvement activities. Actively seeks opportunities to contribute at higher levels in service to LifeMoves and others on the team.
• Performance Improvement: Sets performance goals, establishes the approach, creates a learning environment.
• Time Management and Reliability: Manages workload effectively and meets deadlines.
• Proactive Collaboration: Actively seeks opportunities to partner with colleagues across teams andfunctions. Shares knowledge, communicates openly, and anticipates needs to support collective goals. Builds trust by contributing ideas, offering assistance, and ensuring alignment to achieve results together.

Responsibilities

• Provide calm and supportive crisis response, connecting clients to appropriate resources as needed.
• Support daily operations by responding to needs and questions from clients, volunteers, donors, and visitors with professionalism, compassion, and radical hospitality.
• Monitor site safety through regular rounds and camera observation, maintaining a clean, safe, and welcoming environment.
• Report maintenance or pest issues promptly and assist with pest control by preparing spaces and maintaining cleanliness.
• Manage facility meals, supplies, and donations, ensuring proper inventory and organized storage.
• Support team collaboration by creating reports, updating shift logs, and participating in meetings.
• Maintain high ethical standards, including confidentiality, professional boundaries, and fostering a supportive environment.
• Fully participate in all required trainings, completing them by deadlines, engaging actively, and applying learning to daily work.
• Complete first 90-day trainings including CPR, Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), Nonviolent Crisis Intervention, HMIS, and internal database systems.
• Complete additional required online trainings through Relias on trauma-informed care, homelessness, mental health, substance use, crisis intervention, professional boundaries, LGBTQ+ affirming services, privacy/confidentiality, and abuse prevention/reporting.
• Attend continuing education opportunities to grow expertise and uphold agency standards.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support program, department, and organizational needs.
• Coordinate, conduct, and train staff on client referrals, welcomes, move-ins, transitions, and move-outs, ensuring positive client experiences and accurate documentation.
• Take initiative to observe site operations, provide timely updates, and communicate effectively with the team, especially when supervisors are off-site.

Benefits

• This rewarding role offers a competitive annual base salary and an opportunity to participate in the LifeMoves benefits package.
• LifeMoves is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) committed to building a culturally diverse staff representing the communities we serve. We provide equal employment opportunities to all individuals without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, physical or mental disability (non-disqualifying), sexual orientation, membership or non-membership in an employee organization, personal favoritism, lived experiences or any other non-merit-based factor. Candidates who are bilingual/bi-cultural, of color, Native/Indigenous, with disabilities, who identify as LGBTQIA+, or who are members of other marginalized groups are strongly encouraged to apply. We aim to create and sustain inclusive, equitable, and welcoming environments where everyone can thrive.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees