Participant Advocate (HAS

• Location 18820 Highway 12,Sonoma, CA, 95476,United States
• Base Pay $22.30 - $24.05 / Hour
• Job Category Homelessness Solutions
• Employee Type Non-Exempt
• Required Degree High school
• Travel 5%
• Manage Others No

The Participant Advocate (PA) is responsible for providing operational support and oversight at homeless shelter locations. This includes the Homeless Services Center (HSC), Safe Parking, Sonoma Home and Safe, or the Palms Inn site; during an assigned shift that may be day, swing, or graveyard. The Participant Advocate works with vulnerable populations in an environment that includes individuals experiencing homelessness, substance use, behavioral health challenges, and trauma histories.

The Participant Advocate provides daily living support and services in accordance with day-to-day, housing related, and individual service needs of participants. The Participant Advocate ensures that all interactions with participantsare housing focused, trauma informed, and oriented toward individual/family resilience. The Participant Advocate is dedicated to harm reduction principles and strengths-based trauma-informed programming.

• Provide support in service center operations to achieve an environment of health, safety, respect, and dignity.
• Maintain an environment that ensures successful service provision and communal interaction.
• Perform cleaning and sanitation duties as required, occasional work with biohazards.
• Regular site/safety walks.
• Monitoring overall site and participant health and safety.
• Assisting clients with needs and providing guidance and direction when necessary.
• Assist with food and clothing distribution.
• Assist with opening and closing procedures when necessary.

• Focus on a housing first approach with all clients/participants.
• Have compassion and empathy in client interactions.
• Serve clients with a trauma informed approach.
• Give dignity and respect without judgement.
• Maintain professional boundaries in a professional setting with clients/staff.
• Teach by demonstrating and modeling behaviors that support healthy living.
• Respond to participant requests, explain and facilitate program expectations, and share information and referrals as appropriate for obtaining housing.
• Learn and utilize harm reduction and motivational interviewing concepts and strategies.
• Assist with conflict resolution, encouraging positive methods of problem-solving, respectful communication and self-restraint; discern when to disengage and when to request for assistance from others.

• Assist with screening and enrolling incoming participants, completing required forms.
• Routinely review participants’ case history, service plans, and file documentation to ensure an up-to-date understanding of participant needs.
• Maintain documentation and enter and track all necessary information for communicating with co-workers. Support facility through data quality and contract compliance.
• Participate in agency and countywide data tracking efforts including data entry into Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and Data Link.
• Complete program intake and exit paperwork, accurately, timely, and with minimal errors, input information accurately and timely into the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).

1. Learn and maintain knowledge of agency and community partner resources.

2. Build relationships with staff of partner agencies to facilitate communication and referrals.

3. Attending staff meetings and in-service trainings.

1. Complete certifications required for compliance.

2. Comply with required trainings determined by agency for completion.

1. May assist in food preparation for client meals.

2. Work with Diocese of Santa Rosa and local parishes as appropriate and requested.

3. Perform other related duties as assigned.

• A commitment to the agency’s mission, vision, and values.
• A commitment to excellence in everything we do.
• A commitment to performance and quality improvement.
• A commitment to outcomes and measured results.
• A commitment to innovation and to what is possible.

1. High School diploma or High School Equivalency (HSE) required. One to two years’ successful work as personal caregiver or verified successful equal work experience preferred.

2. Must become certified in CPR and First Aid within six months of transfer to this position or hiring date.

3. Understanding of causes of homelessness, experience working within social services and familiarity with community resources. Knowledge of Housing First principles and methods preferred.

4. Have working knowledge of relevant community resources.

5. Computer literacy required including experience with Microsoft 365 Suite.

6. Strong written and verbal communication;…