Guest Advocate

Description

The Guest Advocate provides compassionate, person-centered support to guests residing in Friendship Shelter's Alternative Sleeping Location (ASL) program, recognizing the inherent value of every individual and fostering an environment of empowerment, acceptance, and dignity. This position is responsible for maintaining a safe, secure, and welcoming shelter environment, utilizing effective conflict resolution and crisis de-escalation techniques while building respectful, trusting relationships with guests.

Working collaboratively with team members and community partners, the Guest Advocate supports guests in making progress toward their housing and self-sufficiency goals through day-to-day guidance, resource navigation, and consistent encouragement. This role demonstrates Friendship Shelter's values of responsibility, integrity, creativity, flexibility, and community by providing individualized support, communicating with honesty and kindness, and contributing to a collaborative, recovery-oriented environment.

• Ensure safety and security within the shelter at all times.
• Provide administrative and facility support, such as data entry, filing, shredding, re-stocking, light cleaning and laundry, organizing, etc.
• Conduct housing and employment searches for shelter guests, with personalized searches being done as needed. Provide supportive service assistance to all guests, such as assisting with needs (clothing, hygiene products, medication, etc.), making referrals, and providing onsite assistance in accomplishing income and housing goals (using the computer, making phone calls, etc.).
• Provide conflict resolution and crisis intervention as needed, always aiming to maintain a fair, positive, and supportive culture. Guest Advocates are expected to model positive methods of problem-solving, respectful communication, and self-restraint.
• Monitor and document guest compliance with shelter rules and guidelines and provide day-to-day accountability for all expectations by conducting room inspections, supervising the shelter and use of supplies, and meeting with guests individually to provide clarification, instruction, and assistance as needed to increase their independent living skills.
• Provide administrative support to the main office by answering the main phone and greeting visitors and volunteers, ensuring that they have a positive experience while visiting the shelter.
• Model personal behaviors that reflect the life skills we expect of our guests.
• Communicate pertinent program information through daily written logs.
• Participate in monthly staff meetings, and case conferencing as requested.
• Complete other tasks as requested by the program team.
• Provide daily trips to clients locally using the FSI vehicle.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently.
• Effective problem-solving skills and ability to multi-task.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to follow-through on tasks from beginning to end.
• A collaborative, positive, and mature approach, and an ethic of teamwork.
• Must be comfortable working in a Housing First and Harm Reduction setting.
• Knowledge of mental health and substance abuse preferred.
• Knowledge of local social service resources/providers preferred.
• Must have a valid driver’s license

- This position does not have supervisory responsibilities for direct reports

• Driving is an essential duty or function of this job.
• Drive up to 25 %

The following are the minimum job-related qualifications which an individual needs in order to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the job.

• Excellent communication skills.
• Empathy, discipline, focus, and organizational ability.
• A collaborative, positive, and mature approach, an ethic of teamwork, and a commitment to the mission of helping people experiencing homelessness.
• Ability to work in a very fast-paced, high demand and often crisis centered area with the ability to multi-task and stay organized.
• Be committed to upholding the Friendship Shelter values of compassion and acceptance, creativity and flexibility, integrity, responsibility, and community.

The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the job. Work will be performed in shared spaces within the shelter…