Shelter Counselor, Greenfield

About the Role

CSO is looking for Counselors for our Friends of the Homeless shelter in Greenfield. Shelter Counselors provide initial triage and intake interviews for people seeking and accessing shelter; document and advise about services available and needed; support bed assignments, meal supports, onsite activities, and general guest engagement; document client interactions and shift work; work with staff and guests to maintain a safe and supervised shelter environment, and facilitate the efficient and effective operation of the shelter during assigned shift.

Starting Salary: $38,000–$44,000 per year. Premium shift pay available for overnight shifts.

• Greet, communicate and respond to shelter visitors and guests by demonstrating respect and sensitivity to all individuals.
• Empower our shelter guests by providing them with a safe, sanitary, and dignified environment.
• Coordinate evening and overnight activities, including bed assignments, meals, and safety assessments.
• Coordinate shelter access through the intake process ensuring all needed documentation has been obtained, including basic demographics for record‑keeping and referral purposes.
• Comply with and communicate all shelter rules, policies, and procedures to shelter guests.
• Maintain and update guest files, and clearly communicate with other shelter staff through written and verbal reports.
• Build relationships with guests, meeting basic needs, identifying additional needs, answering questions, and providing empathy and acceptance.
• Support guests in times of urgency or crisis by engaging them with systems of care, including CSO nursing and behavioral health services, and making efforts to divert from use of 911 whenever possible.
• Conduct room and bag checks, assess for safety, and remove all dangerous or illegal items.
• Be awake and alert at all times.
• Complete necessary guest intakes and annuals via the Electronic Client Records system and update as required.
• Perform a variety of duties depending on shift, ensuring guests’ belongings are stored properly, guests are on time for bed, lights‑out is observed, and daily chores are performed. Perform rounds every half‑hour in dorms and bathrooms, and hourly outside to ensure facility integrity; report findings and contact notes in the Electronic Records system.
• Document incident reports, when needed.
• Utilize the shift report in the Electronic Records system to summarize relevant events of each shift.
• Coordinate and participate in social support groups, such as orientation, house meetings, and activities/events designed to meet guests’ needs.

• Bachelor’s degree (preferred).
• High school diploma or associate’s degree with experience in the Human Services field.
• Human Services related work or internship experience (preferred).
• Computer proficiency.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.

Bilingual candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

• Positive – maintaining resilience and focusing on solutions.
• Respectful – collaborating and effectively communicating.
• Insightful – demonstrating self‑awareness and effective priority setting.
• Conscientious – taking accountability and applying feedback.

Competitive salaries, full health and dental coverage, free CEUs for in‑house training, ample paid time off, a 403(b) retirement savings plan, employee referral bonuses, group‑rate supplemental insurances, a premier employee assistance program, personal cell phone plan discounts, and a flexible, supportive work environment fostering collaboration.