Residential Support Specialist - Part time- Temporary Dunbar Tower

Dunbar Tower Residential Support Specialist (RSS) – Temporary Part-time

At Avalon, housing is a human right. Our mission is to build healthy, safe and inclusive supportive housing communities as a long-term solution to homelessness.

Avalon Housing is a non‑profit supportive housing provider. Supportive housing is a combination of affordable housing paired with services, such as case management. We don't just help people find housing, we help people stay and thrive in their homes.

If you are passionate about creating more diverse, inclusive, and equitable communities where all people are welcome, Avalon may be a good fit for you.

Residential Support Specialists (RSS) are Avalon’s 24–hour front‑line support staff who monitor our front desk(s), answer tenant/visitor questions and provide hands‑on help where needed.

• Paid Time Off: Includes vacation time plus additional sick and personal time allowances. The amount earned depends on the number of hours worked. There is also a paid holiday every month.
• Life and Disability Plans: Employees working 16 or more hours per week receive life insurance and short‑term disability coverage;
  Avalon covers the full cost of the premiums.
• 403(b) Retirement Plan: Avalon sponsors a 403(b) retirement plan through Vanguard, available to all employees.

• 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 and visiting service providers; refer tenants to clinical and other staff as necessary.
• Initiate maintenance requests.
• Attend staff meetings, retreats and professional training sessions.

• Depending on location, assist tenants with activities of daily living, including transportation, meal preparation, medication, shopping, and/or other hands‑on assistance.
• Required weekly on‑call shift; on‑call shifts are compensated at hourly rates plus a bonus.
• Training will begin within the first 30 days of hire, some of which will occur outside regular shift hours; all training time is compensated.

• High School Diploma.
• Ability to work well with multicultural communities.

• One year of experience in human services, preferably with similar populations including people who are homeless, people with mental illness, chronic health, and/or addiction disorders.
• Basic understanding of homelessness and characteristics of the homeless adult population.
• Experience with mental illness and chemical dependency issues preferred.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse populations in a non‑judgmental way.
• Capacity to respond to crisis situations.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to recognize appropriate boundaries with clients.
• Team‑player mindset.
• Highly positive and enthusiastic attitude with strong commitment toward helping those in need.
• Experience working with individuals who are difficult to engage, a philosophy of tolerance and an acceptance of the principles of harm reduction.
• Effective communication with staff from various backgrounds.
• Flexibility to work flexible hours as required by programs and staffing needs.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties, the employee will be required to sit for long periods of time, drive a vehicle with passengers, communicate by talking and hearing, lift and carry items weighing up to 25 pounds, and operate computer hardware systems.

A valid Michigan driver's license and reliable transportation are required.

Job Title: Residential Support Specialist

Reports to: Residential Support Specialist Program Manager

Location: Dunbar Tower;
Ann Arbor, MI 48105

Status: 2 Part‑time Temporary Shifts…