Residential Support Specialist - Part time MM

Avalon Housing•Ann Arbor, MI

9d•Onsite

About The Position

Avalon Housing is a non-profit supportive housing provider dedicated to building healthy, safe, and inclusive supportive housing communities as a long-term solution to homelessness. Supportive housing combines affordable housing with services like case management to help individuals find, maintain, and thrive in their homes. This role is for a Residential Support Specialist (RSS), which is Avalon's 24-hour front-line support staff. RSS monitor front desks, answer tenant and visitor questions, and provide hands-on help. The individuals served by Avalon often face challenges such as mental illness, substance use disorders, and chronic medical conditions, along with a history of chronic homelessness. Avalon is committed to creating diverse, inclusive, and equitable communities and encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds, including those with disabilities, mental health conditions, lived experience with homelessness or recovery, and criminal histories.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED
Ability to work well with diverse people, including other staff, in a non-judgmental way
Reliable transportation

Nice To Haves

At least one year's experience working with people who are homeless or struggle with mental illness, chronic health issues, and/or addiction disorders, and/or educational experience in social or behavioral science or relevant field
Capacity to respond to crisis situations
Strong verbal and written communication skills
Computer skills: email, web searches, online documentation
Possess a highly positive and enthusiastic attitude and strong commitment toward helping those in need
Interest and experience in working with individuals who are difficult to engage and refer to traditional programs, knowledge and/or acceptance of harm reduction principles

Responsibilities

Check visitors in and out, answer phones and monitor security systems
Maintain safety and security of residents by monitoring all general access areas and enforcing program rules
Intervene in crises, respond to emergencies, and initiate action as required, including contact with emergency response systems
Coordinate services for tenants and contact outside service providers as necessary
Work cooperatively with other staff onsite in addition to visiting service providers; refer tenants to clinical and other staff as necessary
Initiate maintenance requests
Attend staff meetings, retreats and professional training sessions
Assist tenants with activities of daily living, including meal preparation, medication, shopping, and/or other hands-on assistance (depending on location)
Perform a weekly on-call shift (compensated at hourly rates plus a bonus)
Complete required training within the first 30 days of hire, with some training potentially outside regular shift hours (all training time is compensated)