Advocate (Part-Time) - The Inn Shelter

The Inn Enhanced Shelter Program provides 24/7 enhanced shelter and related services for adults experiencing homelessness. Referrals to the program come from King County Coordinated Entry program. Participants are typically people who been identified as high needs adults who are eligible for supportive permanent housing. Many clients have chronic and acute mental illness, active addiction issues, and/or trauma. This is a low-barrier, harm reduction program.

Advocates are responsible for providing direct service to the participants, assisting with the goal of moving participants quickly into permanent housing, and fostering a team environment among shelter staff and volunteers.

Direct service to people who are homeless

• Model interpersonal and living skills for clients.
• Maintain a safe and comfortable enhanced shelter environment, including removal of garbage from individual units, when necessary, routine garbage removal from the common areas (including upper-level hallways), and other janitorial assistance as assigned.
• Enforce building and program rules including bar policy.
• Provide crisis intervention and advocacy to participants.
• Assist janitorial and maintenance staff on turning units.
• Work as a team with other colleagues on shift and be able to work independently without direct supervision.
• Coordinate with other social service agency workers (case managers, social workers, medical professionals) to provide for clients’ immediate needs.

Client advocacy

• Review and record notes and information in ShiftNote and other databases that are relevant to other staff members and/or help insure program consistency.
• Maintain accurate client count throughout shifts.
• Engage outside professionals (Mental Health Professionals, Medics, Police) when appropriate.
• Complete frequent scheduled floor checks throughout shifts.
• Explain and enforce policies and procedures.

Advocate daily duties

• Assist outside vendor with serving meals that are prepared off-site and delivered to the building.
• Manage front desk and building security, including welcoming clients, visitors and donors, monitoring security cameras and lobby, enforcing building and program rules, and sanitizing client belongings.
• Perform routine walk through of the entire building to engage with clients and ensure safety.
• Assist participants as they move into or out of the building as needed.
• Process messages and maintain accurate client tracking records, including the bar list.

Supervision of volunteers

• Work with off-site volunteers providing advice and support as needed.
• Supervise volunteers on shift.

Administrative and General Responsibilities

• Inform supervisors of facilities and client-related issues.
• Attend staff meetings, workshops, retreats, and in-service classes as provided.
• Maintain accurate record of hours worked and turn in timesheets on schedule.
• Assist with client and program laundry as needed
• Contribute to and support a positive, team-oriented work environment; participate with other staff members in group decision-making process.
• Maintain cleanliness and order at front desk and lobby area.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Job Conditions

This position requires the employee to work in an environment where there may be exposure to blood, bodily fluids, and other potentially infectious material. Other exposures could include cleaning supplies, chemicals involved in pest control, paint, and other materials used in building maintenance. Working conditions may include frequent interruptions and interactions with upset people.

Physical and Mental Acuity Demands

The requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Able to sit for sustained periods of time.
• Mobility/dexterity of hands/arms to enable keying into locked areas as well as using a computer and other office equipment.
• Able to speak clearly in person and on the telephone.
• Vision that enables person to read normal size print and handwritten notes; and distance and peripheral vision than enables person to monitor large space and identify concerns that require staff response.
• Able to hear telephone rings, phone conversation, doorbells, emergency alarms and face-to-face conversation.
• Able to walk the entire building and ascend and descend stairs quickly to move from one floor to another in order to respond to emergency situations.
• Ability to lift, move and/or carry up to 40 pounds.
• Able to hand write legibly.
• Able to make independent decisions and apply sound judgment in performing job duties.

• One year experience working with people experiencing homelessness.
• Demonstrate the necessary attitudes, knowledge and skills to deliver culturally competent services and work effectively in multi-cultural situations.
• Must have a reliable phone or voice mail service at all times in which to be reached.
• Experience or knowledge of mental illness and addictions.
• Ability to commit to developing and safekeeping a workplace that values and supports a culturally diverse work environment.
• Knowledge and experience with crisis intervention.
• Applicant must successfully pass required background clearances prior to an offer of employment.
• Ability to contribute to a work environment that fosters respect, teamwork, and excellence.
• Support and uphold the mission, beliefs and values of Catholic Community Services and Catholic Housing Services.
• Commitment to housing first, low-barrier, and harm reduction program models.
• Ability to work both independently and as a member of a team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous work experience in programs that work with high needs participants.
• College level classes toward degree in Social Service.
• CPR/First Aid training.