Veteran Advocate

Job Purpose:

The Veteran Advocate supports Veterans experiencing homelessness who are living in Wellspring’s VA Grant and Per Diem (GPD) transitional housing program. The Veteran Advocate offers low-barrier, same-day access to a safe place to stay and walks alongside each Veteran, using a trauma-informed, strengths-based approach that respects Veterans as the authors of their own lives, as they work toward permanent housing, increased income, and long-term stability.

• Minimum of High School education or equivalent
• Preferred: currently enrolled in or pursuing a degree in social work, psychology, counseling, sociology, human services, or a related field
• Two years experience working with people, preferably in human services, housing, or outreach
• Experience with Veterans, homelessness, mental health, or substance use preferred; military service or lived experience welcome
• Knowledge of community resources and benefits programs in Northeast Louisiana
• Valid Louisiana driver’s license, reliable transportation, and proof of auto insurance

• Must be sensitive to the needs of others
• Maintains confidentiality
• Has the ability to work with Veterans in a manner that is trauma-informed, respectful, and non-judgmental
• Supports Veterans in making their own choices and setting their own goals
• Communicates and interacts with other staff, Veterans, VA staff, community partners, and volunteers from various backgrounds
• Acts as an advocate for Veterans at all times
• Maintains poise in crisis situations
• Promotes a spirit of cooperation and respect in a shared living environment
• Has the ability to act quickly when a Veteran is ready for housing or services
• Exhibits flexibility within the work environment, including a non-traditional schedule
• Possesses the ability to work as part of a team that supports Veterans
• Accepts change
• Maintains personal appearance consistent with agency standards
• Exhibits effective verbal and written communication skills, including accurate, timely documentation
• Assumes responsibility for personal learning

Compassion. We act with compassion toward others and work for the good of others by respecting people as the authors of their own

lives.

Customer Service. We work to delight our customers, both internal and external

Integrity. We act with the integrity that promotes the highest confidence, trust and accountability

Leadership. We demonstrate leadership in our organization and the community.

Teamwork. We work as a team, achieving more collectively than individually.

• Orientation, including confidentiality, conflict of interest standards, and incident reporting procedures
• Annual suicide prevention training (such as VA S.A.V.E.) and the agency’s suicide prevention procedures developed with the local VA medical facility
• Crisis Intervention and de-escalation
• Trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, and housing-focused case management
• VA Grant and Per Diem program requirements (38 CFR Part 61)
• HMIS data entry and data quality
• Mandated reporting of child abuse and neglect under Louisiana law
• On-going in-service training on Veteran culture, military trauma, homelessness, substance use, and cultural responsiveness
• Residential staff meetings and trainings

• Conducts outreach and engagement with Veterans experiencing homelessness by
  Going out on a regular schedule to streets, camps, parks, vehicles, abandoned buildings, and emergency shelters, including during evening and weekend hours,
  Reaching Veterans who may not see themselves as eligible, including those with other-than-honorable discharges, and connecting them to the VA for an eligibility determination,
  Increasi…