Floater Shelter Advocate; Seattle, Covering Evening and Overnight Shifts

We are seeking a responsible and energetic individual with a passion for serving families at our 24‑hour shelter locations. Floater Shelter Advocates work with parents and children experiencing homelessness and in need of a safe refuge. General responsibilities include coordinating and facilitating shelter activities, providing care and crisis management, facilitating a set program schedule, maintaining a clean environment, and offering acceptance and hope.

Floater Shelter Advocates actively engage in Mary’s Place equity work—striving for racially equitable outcomes and taking responsibility for creating, maintaining, and affirming communities for people of color, immigrants and refugees, trans and gender‑non‑conforming people, and other populations who routinely encounter systemic oppress ions. As an equal opportunity employer, people of color are encouraged to apply.

The Floater Shelter Advocate is a part‑time, non‑exempt position supporting various shifts (available for both evening and overnight) located at two of the Mary’s Place 24/7 shelters (The Glen/Downtown Seattle and Regrade/Downtown Seattle).

• Evening: 3:00 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.
• Overnight: 11:00 p.m. – 8:30 a.m. (Sunday overnight shift begins Saturday night at 11:00 p.m., Monday overnight shift begins Sunday at 11:00 p.m., etc.). Additional $1 per hour differential for overnight shifts.
• Compensation starts at $25.00 per hour DOE.
• Candidates must be available to work at least two shifts per two‑week pay period, or at least 50% of shift offerings.

The position does not supervise other employees.

Guest Relations (35%)

• Proactively create a welcoming and affirming environment, engage families in high‑quality shelter services.
• Engage guests in conversations around their housing goals and assist them with resource navigation.
• Maintain a calm, affirming demeanor and model positive behavior, such as upholding professional boundaries.
• Address behavioral challenges, provide trauma‑informed crisis management, conflict de‑escalation, and set appropriate limits through an equity lens.
• Effectively collaborate and regularly communicate with other staff members and supervisors to ensure consistency; a team‑based, solution‑oriented approach to the work; and high‑quality service delivery.
• Welcome and orient new families to the shelter—provide shelter tours, explain program, and complete and upload shelter intake documents.

Implementation of Shelter Operations & Procedures (35%)

• Collaboratively execute shelter processes according to time of day and in accordance with the Shelter Policy Manual.
• Maintain a clean and sanitary shelter environment—disinfect high‑touch areas; do laundry; restock supplies; clean bathrooms and showers; vacuum, sweep, and mop floors; clean up after meals; take out garbage, compost, and recycling; etc.
• Serve food and adhere to all food safety and serving protocols, including clear and consistent documentation.
• Move around the facility and maintain an active and engaging presence around shelter.
• Record and report any building/facility concerns.
• Attend required trainings and monthly staff meetings.

Implementation of Guest Enrichment Programming (15%)

• Facilitate calendar of activities and events for the benefit of guests. Provide feedback to Shelter & Services Manager, Program Services Director, and Site Director on effectiveness of programming and ideas for improvement.
• Welcome and help orient volunteers to the space and their roles; actively engage volunteer in shelter activities.

Data Entry and Information Management (15%)

• Author, upload, and maintain clear, objective, and accurate electronic guest records, reports, and shelter documentation.
• Handle and protect sensitive information; maintain confidentiality.
• Maintain up to date community resources as provided by other program teams, and make them easily accessible to guests.

Note:

Percentages are for evening shifts. For overnight shifts the distribution changes with Operations & Procedures increased by 30%, Guest Relations decreased by 15%, and Guest Enrichment decreased by 10% relative to the evening role.

Skills/Qualifications

• Two or more years of…