Shelter Advocate

YWCA of Spokane•Spokane, WA

4d•$22 - $26

About The Position

YWCA Spokane is looking to hire a Shelter Advocate. The Shelter Advocate's primary function is to provide support to survivors of domestic violence in our safe shelter and 24/7 helpline. Offering compassionate listening, safety planning, and advocacy. Assisting with intake safety planning, crisis intervention, and ongoing emotional support, ensuring survivors' needs are met and YWCA services are safe and supportive.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a social sciences or related field OR equivalent combination of education and experience required.
Minimum of 1 year of experience working in direct services, preferably with survivors of domestic violence or in a shelter environment.
Must meet the requirements of YWCA Spokane’s Driver Policy for transportation between the agency and shelter locations.
Must be 21 years of age or older
Must have valid driver’s license
Must have active personal auto insurance
Satisfactory motor vehicle report (no more than 1 moving violation in the past 12 months) OR probationary motor vehicle report (no more than 2 moving violations in the past 24 months)
Must maintain 20 hours of ongoing training on domestic violence issues annually.
Cultural Humility - Demonstrate a commitment to self-reflection, ongoing learning and respectful engagement with diverse cultural perspectives, emphasizing an awareness of the impact of power dynamics and a willingness to learn from and address them.
Commitment to Equity and Inclusion - Strive to create fair and just conditions for all, while recognizing systemic inequities. Foster a sense of belonging that promotes diversity, works to address barriers, and ensures that everyone, across all backgrounds and identities, has access to the same opportunities and resources.
Trauma-Informed Practice - Create environments and approaches that acknowledge the prevalence and impact of trauma, prioritize safety, and foster healing and resilience. Understand, recognize, and respond to the effects of trauma while actively working to avoid re-traumatization.
Fostering an Empowering Environment - Encourage an atmosphere where individuals feel valued, supported, capable, and resourceful.
Professional Conduct -Consistently act in a manner that is honest, fair, and respectful while taking responsibility for one’s actions and decisions. Maintain integrity and build trust while adhering to the agency's code of ethics and professional guidelines.
Adaptability and Resilience - Demonstrate openness and flexibility to work with changing circumstances and unexpected challenges. Adapt to the current situation by contributing solution-oriented ideas while advocating for the support needed to reset and achieve set goals.
Effective Communication - Communicate clearly, accurately, and in ways that are understood by the intended audience. Actively listen and respond in a constructive, open-minded, and empathetic manner that ensures mutual understanding and respect.
Problem Solving and Critical Thinking - Help identify potential solutions to challenges proactively. Contribute ideas, perspectives, and strategies that contribute toward informed decisions that align with the agency’s mission and values while helping to achieve set goals.
Human-Centered Approach - Prioritize providing compassionate, respectful service that aims to create solutions that are not only functional and effective but also meaningful and engaging for clients, staff, and our community.
Effective Interpersonal Skills - Be supportive, kind, empathetic, and patient with colleagues, administrators, clients, and community partners. Contribute toward a climate of mutual respect and appreciation.
Independent Work Efficiency - Works independently in an efficient and productive manner, utilizing available resources and support as needed.
Reliability and Continuous Improvement - Demonstrate reliability and a commitment to continuous improvement.
Demonstrate Understanding and Acceptance of Mission, Values, Goals, and Objectives - Clearly understand and actively support the mission, values, goals, and objectives of YWCA Spokane and its programs.

Nice To Haves

Experience in the domestic violence-related field is preferred.
Experience providing crisis intervention, safety planning, and resource referrals is highly preferred.
Experience working with diverse populations, particularly those from marginalized or underserved communities.
Prior experience in a trauma-informed care environment is a plus.

Responsibilities

YWCA 24-Hour Helpline Offering compassionate, non-judgmental listening, respecting survivors' experiences and promoting their autonomy.
Collaborating with survivors to create personalized safety plans, ensuring their immediate needs are met.
Offering resources, conducting screenings into shelter, and providing advocacy-based support, particularly during high-demand periods, including LAP (Lethality Assessment Protocol) support with law enforcement.
Triaging and referring eligible crisis line callers for CE assessment in partnership with housing programs.
Providing ongoing safety planning, domestic violence education, crisis intervention, and emotional support to residents.
Conducting intake for new shelter residents, including; Completing intake paperwork while explaining shelter expectations in a way that acknowledges survivors' trauma and honors their autonomy.
Providing shelter tours for survivors and their dependents, answering their questions, and ensuring that survivors feel safe and supported in their new environment.
Ensuring residents' basic needs are met, such as support with medical aid, bedding, clothing, hygiene items, and food with a focus on comfort and safety.
Fostering an atmosphere of empowerment, safety, and dignity within the shelter, checking in regularly with residents and offering support as needed.
Providing ongoing advocacy and emotional support throughout a resident's stay, assessing their changing needs.
Supporting quality assurance checks to evaluate service effectiveness and make necessary adjustments to ensure survivors' needs are met in a trauma-informed manner.
Adhering to confidentiality standards and ensuring privileged communication in all interactions with residents.
Providing ongoing support for residents' safety planning and connecting them with necessary services such as legal aid, housing, healthcare, and community resources.
Maintaining detailed and accurate resident files in accordance with YWCA standards and requirements set by funding agencies.
Ensuring that all documentation is thorough, complete, and up-to-date, with particular attention to the sensitive nature of the information being shared.
Ensuring appropriate stock levels of essential supplies (food, hygiene items, etc.) to meet the needs of residents.
Assisting with room turnover, ensuring resident belongings are safely packed, and rooms are cleaned according to the room turnover checklist.
Supporting shelter cleanliness by performing light cleaning of communal spaces (inside and outside), especially during less busy times.
Completing and signing off on the nightly shelter maintenance checklist when working overnight to ensure a clean, safe environment for all residents.
Referring to the shelter's to-do list during slower periods and assisting with other maintenance or programmatic needs as necessary.
Sorting and storing donations, ensuring they are distributed equitably based on residents' preferences and needs.
Ensuring that items given to residents are safe, clean, and in good repair.
Disposing of expired, stained, or worn-out items.
Reporting any hazardous or unsafe situations to shelter management or on-call staff, depending on the severity.
Reporting low or out-of-stock items using the shelter's order request form.
For non-urgent maintenance issues, following the shelter's maintenance request process.