SafeChoice Shelter Advocate

Description

Status: Full-time

Hours: 40 hours per week (32 work, 8 company-sponsored time)

Company Sponsored Time: We offer a 4-day, 32-hour work week, and YWCA will provide this role 8 hours of Company Sponsored Time for you to use on Fridays to maintain work-life balance while maintaining pay at 40 hours a week

Pay Range: $23.92/hr + $1 bilingual differential + $1 shelter differential

Benefits: Visit our Benefits and Perks Tab by Clicking Here

Schedule:

Mondays 4pm-12:30am (8 hours with a 30 minute unpaid break)

Tuesdays 4pm-12:30am (8 hours with a 30 minute unpaid break)

Wednesdays 11am-12:30pm (team meeting), then 5:30pm-12:30am (8 hours with a 30 minute unpaid break)

Saturday 4pm-12:30am (8 hours with a 30 minute unpaid break)

Training schedule the first two weeks may not match the set schedule for the position. There will also be additional, virtual trainings required at a later date. The All-Staff Meetings are once every other month on a Wednesday, usually at 9am.

The Safe Choice Shelter Advocate helps to provide supportive and low barrier emergency shelter services to survivors of domestic violence. The Safe Choice shelter provides comprehensive support to survivors of domestic violence, all services provided are trauma-informed, survivor-centered and in compliance with contract requirements. This position is responsible for providing direct service advocacy in the Safe Choice Domestic Violence Shelter, services are provided 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

The Safe Choice Shelter staff provides services that align with agency values, supports direct service staff while modeling positive self-care.

• Gain approval for, track, and participate in activities that meet the organization's 1% for Social Change initiative.
• Incorporate the YWCA’s commitment to social justice by understanding how racism, sexism, classism, and other oppress ions intersect and are embedded in institutions. Seek opportunities for continued learning about racial, gender and class equity.
• Assure that participants, staff, volunteers, and community partners are treated with respect and dignity regardless of race, ethnic background, gender or socioeconomic background.
• Think through the lens of racial equity and its intersections with poverty. Use the core principles of anti-racism and grounding those principles in all daily tasks.

• Utilize strong de-escalation and empowerment skills to best support individuals who have or are being impacted by domestic violence. Provide a survivor-centered, empowerment-based approach to advocacy, effectively supporting survivors and families in identifying their own needs and goals and increasing survivor safety.
• Provide culturally responsive advocacy that honors the lived experiences of every survivor accessing support services. Effectively communicate available resources that support cultural values, beliefs and customs.
• Effectively and respectfully work with people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse needs.
• Respond to survivors on domestic violence hotline calls, complete phone screens and intakes and provide case management advocacy.
• Connect participants with relevant community resources to address needs related to domestic violence, including domestic violence education, domestic violence protection orders, safety planning, housing, and financial assistance.
• Input data relating to participants as required by contracts and state law. This includes, but is not limited to, entering data into Empower DB, or other data base systems, creating new participant files, exiting files, updating the former resident database, sending monthly 911 and sexual assault program logs to appropriate staff.
• Respond to questions and concerns from participants, co-workers, supervisor, and community partners as appropriate, in a timely fashion, and in a manner that supports the mission and core values of the program and organization.
• Document and communicate pertinent, relevant, and appropriate participant related information to co-workers and supervisor.
• Utilizing proper techniques, conduct room turnovers and additional maintenance responsibilities during shifts including, but not limited to: sanitizing mattresses and room surfaces and responsibilities on the walk- through check list.
• Perform housekeeping duties as assigned including, but not limited to: emptying garbage cans, cleaning spills, wiping and sanitizing surfaces, washing laundry, pushing carts, sweeping and mopping, rearranging furniture.
• Assist with receiving donations and supplies, loading, unloading, and restocking.
• Act as first responder in the event of an emergency or building evacuation.
• Work closely with other Safe Choice staff and other community partners to support families in obtaining safe housing options after shelter and complete housing and vulnerability assessments.
• Using the current shelter guidelines, work with other Safe Choice shelter staff to maintain an organized, safe shelter environment and support with room turnovers,…