Casual Shelter Resource Worker; Overnights

FIRST UNITED is a registered charity that has been serving Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside community for 140years. We offer responsive, low-barrier services to individuals who arelow-income, underhoused or homeless. We pursue dignity, belonging, and justice to meet thedaily needs of community members while engaging in systems change work to reducehomelessness and break cycles of poverty. If you’re looking for purpose-filledwork and want to make a difference in the community, this might be the opportunity for you.

First United is seeking candidates to overnight shifts in our new 50 bed, low barrier shelter on Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. If it is your desire to make a difference for those most vulnerable and to gain knowledge, experience and valuable skills in working with those with complex mental health and addiction issues, this is the job for you. We offer opportunities for training and professional development.

We look forward to meeting and working with you.

JOB DESCRIPTION

POSITION TITLE:Casual Shelter Resource Worker (overnights)
DEPARTMENT: Shelter
REPORTS TO: Shelter Manager
DATE: February 2025
Starting Wage: $27.05 per hour

OUR VISION

A neighborhood where every person's worth is celebrated and all people thrive.

Our Mission
We seek a just society, nurturing spirits through ministry, housing, advocacy and community services.

Our Core Values

Acceptance:we practice a presence of acceptance, caring for people no matter who they are, no matter where they are on life's journey, no matter their race, gender identity/expression, or who they love. We meet people where they are and offer help when asked.

Discernment:we develop and grow our skill at using critical thinking and judgement in our interactions with the community we serve. We know that behaviour is in itself communication, and sometimes rules cannot be one-size-fits-all. And that the world does need rules. We use the same skills to plan how the organization should respond to the neighbourhood we serve.

Empathy:we practice empathy, truly seeing and hearing the experience of those around us. Empathy communicates to those we serve:
You are not alone.

Accountability:we show up and we go the extra mile. We deal with our own issues and we take ownership and responsibility for our work and its impact.

Social Justice:we aspire to a sustainable and equitable society.

Each job within the First United Church Community Ministry Society should in some way promote our accomplishment of this vision and mission.

POSITION OBJECTIVE

This position is accountable to the Manager of Shelter Services in providing a welcoming, safe, and secure environment to the men and women living in the First United Church's 24/7 emergency shelter. Under the immediate direction of the Shift Supervisor, the Shelter Resource Worker will be a daily presence at the First United Church to provide support to the men and women in the areas of relationship development and community engagement while performing a variety of duties to ensure the smooth operation of the emergency shelter.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Create a safe, welcoming and calming environment for the men and women staying with the First United emergency shelter and from the community using our services. Engage and develop relationships with each individual through active listening, program offerings, access to our services and being a steady presence throughout all areas of the First United Church. Will work mainly with the shelter residents.
• Act as the first point of contact for men and women staying in the First United Church emergency shelter. Welcomes new and returning users of the emergency shelter at First United Church by completing intakes, discussing shelter guidelines and ensuring basic shelter, food and hygiene needs are met.
• Maintains the smooth operation of the emergency shelter by knowing who is in the building, doing regular counts and check-ins, managing the entrance door and graciously declining entry to non-shelter users when our day program closes, doing room/bathroom checks regularly. Monitor the showers and ensure clear of refuse for the next community member. Provide assistance to the Shift Supervisor as needed.
• Ensure shelter residents are aware of meal times and when the sleeping areas are open making them accessible and ready for use at the appropriate times. Provide access to work lockers as needed.
• Maintain daily documentation and information sharing through HIFIS, incident report forms, statistic reporting, attending bi-weekly Shelter Resource meetings and monthly all-staff meetings. Share community information to all staff and the community as it pertains to our daily work at the First United Church. Liaise with the Shift Supervisor/Assistant Shelter Manager and Shelter Case Planners with concerns and complete Community Care Referrals.
• Participate as a team member of the whole First United church organization. Stay knowledgeable of and be active in programs, services and special projects. Use this knowledge to engage…