Shelter Assistant

SUPERVISED BY: Residential Program Manager

HOURS: Variable schedule, non-exempt; hourly position; hours vary based on coverage needs.
Must have overnight (12am-8am), weekend and holiday availability.
Occasional weekday daytime hours. Must pick up at least three shifts per month if coverage is needed

SALARY & BENEFITS: $17 per hour

LOCATION: Grand Rapids, MI

Under general supervision of the Residential Program Manager, the On-Call Shelter Assistant is responsible for working shifts as needed to ensure ongoing crisis support and the general health and safety of individuals is maintained across all direct service programs. This on-call role will fill gaps in schedules. The hours for the on-call role will vary based on coverage needs. The on-call shelter assistant is often utilized to fill gaps when full-time and part-time shelter assistants have planned time off.

This includes shifts that take place between 4pm – 8am on weekdays and from 4pm on Friday – 8am on Monday. Shifts generally range from 8-10 hours per shift.
While the scope of work often will vary from shift-to-shift, general responsibilities include: providing crisis intervention to victims and survivors of abuse via the agency’s hotline, chat and walk-in services; providing trauma-informed, client-centered supportive services for residential clients and their children; and assisting with tasks related to the overall health and safety of clients, including flipping residential rooms, light cleaning and donation sorting.

Safe Haven Ministries—a nonprofit organization located in Grand Rapids, Michigan—believes in a multi-faceted approach to serving victims/survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking, as well as preventing violence in our community. Safe Haven offers comprehensive residential and non-residential services; confidential emergency shelter for individuals and families fleeing domestic violence and/or human trafficking; transitional housing; psycho-educational support groups; individual case management and advocacy;

community-based advocacy; and primary prevention training and outreach for the entire community.

• Strive to create a caring and safe environment for clients marked by empathy, understanding and acceptance
• Provide Intensive crisis intervention, support and referral to individuals reaching out for crisis support via the agency hotline and chat.
• Complete emergency intake and exit procedures.
• Provide training and onboarding information to incoming shelter assistants through shadow shifts and other learning opportunities requested by supervisor
• Provide shelter shift coverage when there are gaps in scheduling; fill in for evening and weekend shifts when staff are out of the office
• Perform tasks such as sorting donations, taking inventory, cleaning, and laundering in order to maintain an organized and safe shelter environment
• Be available to clients to discuss problems and concerns by using active listening, problem solving skills, and empathy in a professional manner
• Complete emergency intake and exit procedures as needed
• Maintain appropriate and accurate data collection and documentation
• Perform monitoring and safety checks, ensuring shelter safety
• Ensure shelter policies/procedures are followed by all residents
• Assist with seasonal tasks such as shoveling snow, and salting designated areas
• Observe professional confidentiality; protect the rights of clients and their families, and observe the Safe Haven Ministries Code of Ethics at all times
• Attend and participate in monthly individual supervision meetings, shelter assistant meetings, and other meetings as assigned

• A minimum of a high school diploma/or GED is required
• Knowledge of the dynamics of domestic violence and/or human trafficking is strongly preferred
• Experience in crisis intervention strongly preferred
• Additional education in social work, psychology, or related field is preferred
• Ability to practice flexibility in scheduling and scope of work performed required
• Active listening, crisis intervention, and problem resolutions skills required
• Strong…