Shelter Advocate

CAREER OPPORTUNITY

Agate is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to end homelessness and relieve hunger through action and advocacy. We provide emergency services, shelter, and housing programs for individuals and families. We encourage applicants with lived experience to apply (anyone who has not received services from Agate within the last two years is welcome to apply). We believe that housing is a basic human right.

• I work here because I believe in our mission, and it actually guides our work. The people who work here are incredibly passionate, smart, fierce, and advocate for the people we serve.
  • Sam, Program Manager, 5 years
• I work at Agate to give strength to people who might not believe in themselves now. To help build confidence and to help establish a community for our clients. After that, housing can begin, which I'm thankful I can help with.
  • Jackson, Welcome Center Advocate, 2 years
• I work at Agate Housing and Services because I care about helping people get back on their feet. We focus on person-centered care, which means really listening to each person's needs and supporting them in a way that makes sense for I'm proud to be part of a team that's working to end homelessness with compassion and respect for everyone.

• Integrity: Always doing what's right, even when it's not easy or popular.
• Equity: Challenging unfair systems and making changes that better support those most affected by homelessness and hunger.
• Humanity: Recognizing how these issues affect everyone, building trust, and forming strong relationships by understanding people's needs.
• Creativity: Finding new and original ways to meet the community's needs.

• 6.15 hours of PTO accrued each pay period (160 hours of PTO your first year)
• 11 Floating holidays per year (Prorated based on hire date)
• Medicaid insurance
• Employer-paid Dental and Life Insurance
• Flex Spending and Health Savings Account
• Free Employee Assistance Program
• Retirement plan

• Title: Shelter Advocate
• Reports To: Shelter Program Manager
• Schedule: 1st Shift - 8:00a-4:00p; 2nd Shift - 3:00p-11:00p; 3rd Shift - 10:30p-8:30a;
  On-Call - Primarily Overnights 10:30p-8:30a;
  As-Needed - Primarily 2nd or 3rd shifts
• Union Representation: AFSCME Local 999
• Job Classification: Full-time, Part-time, Hourly, Non-Exempt
• Compensation: Starts at $23.07/hour

The Outreach and Shelter Department serves single adults through our emergency response programs. Our programs include Shelter, Street Outreach and the Welcome Center. Through these programs, we often encounter individuals along the broad spectrum of homelessness from recently homeless to chronically homeless individuals. The goal in each of these programs is to build rapport and assist in connecting individuals to stabilize their housing and achieving self-sufficiency.

The Shelter Advocate is a member of a team responsible for daily operations at one of Agate's two housing-focused shelter program sites. One shelter is in downtown Minneapolis and primarily serves single adults experiencing homelessness, with a focus on partnered adults of all genders. The other shelter is an innovative new building in the Longfellow neighborhood of Minneapolis that will open in November 2025, serving single adults based on community needs.

The Shelter Advocate works closely with other shelter employees in a team atmosphere to ensure consistent, affirming, safe operation of the shelter for all guests and volunteers. Primary responsibilities include answering phones and performing intakes for new shelter guests, monitoring guest behavior, light housekeeping, meal preparation, meal service, administrative work, documentation, and data entry. As part of our housing-focused program, the Shelter Advocate also provides core services to shelter guests, including offering information, making referrals, and assisting with paperwork or services navigation.

Additional responsibilities include regularly attending staff meetings, keeping rosters updated using HMIS, and representing Agate's shelters at community meetings and trainings.

• Ensure the shelter operates safely for all guests, staff, and volunteers.
• Build and maintain professional rapport with guests.
• Enforce shelter policy in a consistent, fair manner with a positive and respectful demeanor.
• Answer and direct calls to the shelter and monitor entrances to allow guests to access the shelter.
• Make regular rounds inside the shelter to ensure guest safety and maintain a calm and peaceful atmosphere for sleeping guests; call emergency services when appropriate and manage guest behavior throughout the shift.
• Use de-escalation and crisis response skills to address behavior issues or conflicts, always maintaining professional boundaries.
• Monitor and review security camera footage throughout the shift; document and report incidents accurately.
• Work collaboratively with program…