Shelter Support Professional

Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter • Waterville, ME

9h • Onsite

About The Position

Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter & Services is one of Maine’s most innovative and inclusive emergency homeless shelters. Our 48-bed, low-barrier facility welcomes everyone, including individuals struggling with addiction, mental illness, or a history of incarceration. We believe in harm reduction and supporting each guest on their journey toward stability and permanent housing. Hope starts here. The Shelter Support Professional provides compassionate, non-judgmental support to individuals with complex needs, including those experiencing mental health challenges, substance use, housing instability, or a history of trauma—within a low-barrier care environment. This role ensures safety, promotes stability, and supports both psychosocial and basic health needs of guests.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent (additional behavioral health or peer support certification preferred).
• Experience working with individuals facing mental health, substance use, or homelessness challenges.
• Strong observational and situational awareness skills.
• Familiarity with or willingness to learn trauma-informed and harm-reduction care practices.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.
• Emotional resilience and ability to maintain professional boundaries in high-stress environments.
• Physical ability to perform job duties (standing, lifting, cleaning, etc.).

Nice To Haves

• additional behavioral health or peer support certification

Responsibilities

• Assist with initial screening, registration, and risk assessment to identify acute needs (e.g., mental health, substance use, medical concerns).
• Observe and report physical, behavioral, or emotional changes in daily shift notes.
• Support the implementation of individualized care plans as directed by care management staff.
• Conduct continuous or intermittent observation of clients, particularly those at risk of self-harm, substance relapse, or medical decompensation.
• Maintain awareness of signs of acute distress (e.g., withdrawal, overdose, psychiatric crisis) and respond appropriately.
• Monitor adherence to safety and hygiene standards to ensure a clean and secure environment.
• Apply trauma-informed, harm-reduction, and de-escalation techniques to manage conflict or distressed behavior.
• Follow standardized procedures for responding to medical, psychiatric, or substance-related emergencies.
• Maintain hygienic client areas through regular cleaning, sanitation, laundry, and proper disposal of biohazardous materials.
• Ensure all safety equipment (first aid kits, fire extinguishers, PPE) is functional and accessible.
• Accurately record client interactions, observations, incidents, and health status in shift documentation.
• Communicate relevant updates to the multidisciplinary team, including Shelter and Care Management staff.
• Assist clients in accessing social, behavioral health, medical, and housing resources.
• Encourage client engagement with support services and case management.
• Participate in clinical supervision and staff meetings.
• Maintain competency in all required trainings (e.g., MANDT, First Aid/CPR, Mental Health First Aid, Bloodborne Pathogens).

Benefits

• 13 Paid Holidays
• Flexible Scheduling
• Retirement Plan (403b)
• Advancement Opportunities within the Organization
• Health Insurance for Full-Time Positions
• Includes medical insurance, plus free dental, vision, and short-term disability coverage
• Earned Benefit Time-frontloaded after 90 days (up to 4 weeks)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Position may qualify for Public Sector and Nonprofit Student Loan Forgiveness program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED