Shelter Specialist, Outreach

Mission Statement: "To be a leader in ending homelessness by providing a unique system of dignified housing opportunities, programs, and supportive services."

Job Summary:

The Shelter Specialist, Outreach is a homeless shelter specialist tasked with common cleaning, logistics, and service-oriented job duties within the shelter, as well as a specific assignment of street-outreach duties during specific hours and days each week. While performing outreach duties, this person will address homeless issues and neighborhood concerns in an area directly surrounding one of Mercy House’s homeless shelters and serve as a point-of-contact for the program to the surrounding community.

The main role of this position is to engage with nearby homeless persons on the streets, as well as with neighboring homeowners or businesses and promote safety and cleanliness in the immediate vicinity. The Shelter Specialist, Outreach will provide referral and resource support to identified homeless individuals and be responsible for reporting daily on the state of the local homeless population and contacts met while on patrol.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Shelter Support Assist in the implementation of daily shelter activities to ensure quality, client-focused, and trauma-informed delivery of services

Encourage and discuss progress toward housing with shelter guests

Assist with shelter setup, food distribution, and maintenance

Assist with all cleaning duties and safety of facility including emptying trash cans and cleaning up spills, and general groundskeeping

Provide safety and wellness checks

Assist with receiving and verifying orders from vendors, completing tally sheets

Post and update signs and service calendars

Assist in the organization of supplies and facility’s needs

Street Outreach Canvass a predetermined area near the facility within an area approximately ½-1 mile around the shelter, to engage with homeless individuals and local businesses

Conduct neighborhood patrols to minimize potential impact on the surrounding community and use local maintenance resources to address blight and abandoned property

Work in collaboration with other social service and shelter providers, including the faith-based community, to obtain referrals and participate in collaborative solutions

Distribute basic needs items such as bus passes and resource referrals, as budget and availability allow

Provide recent arrivals with information needed to deter them from taking up residency on the streets, such as referrals to shelter, other service providers from areas they left, or connections to relocation programs

Assist local police and fire departments in “non-enforcement” response where appropriate

Report daily on outreach activities, new contacts made on the street, and the positive impacts the team makes on the community

Miscellaneous

Attend staff meetings and training workshops as needed

Assist with guest services and program activities if necessary

Perform ad hoc projects as appointed by Supervisor Provide additional training and resources for community outreach projects (e.g., point-in-time guidance, etc.)-Status:
Part-Time, Non-Exempt Pay: $21.00/hour

Schedule:

Monday: 12:00pm-4:00pm, Wednesday: 12:00pm-4:00pm, Thursday-Friday: 4:00pm-8:00pm, Saturday: 12:00pm-4:00pmRequirements:

Experience Must demonstrate working knowledge and mastery of trauma-informed care and non-physical de-escalation techniques

Experience in crisis intervention and the ability to work effectively and safely around individuals suffering from active substance abuse and/or mental illness

Fluency in Spanish or other second languages is of significant value

Geeral RequirementsA flexible work schedule including some schedule changes, some weekends, and evening shifts to meet the department’s needs

Detail-oriented and computer proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel required

Fluency in Spanish is of significant value

Physical Requirements Must be able to drive a personal vehicle for short distances for targeted outreach

Ability to walk or otherwise ambulate throughout diverse outdoor environments, including up curbs, staircases, and across various terrains (e.g., hiking down dirt paths or grassy areas)
Ability to lift, bend, push, and pull up to 50 pounds

Prolonged periods of standing and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment-Mercy House is an E-Verify employer. E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security…