Shelter Advocate

Summary: The Shelter Advocate is a direct care team member who helps set a compassionate and respectful tone for our housing-focused shelter serving men, women, and children. This position plays a key role in client engagement, supporting day-to-day shelter operations, and ensuring a safe, welcoming environment for those in crisis. Responsibilities include assisting clients, answering questions, completing intake paperwork, and accurately entering data into the agency’s database. The Shelter Advocate monitors dorms and shelter activities, supports problem-solving, and interacts with individuals from diverse backgrounds with empathy and without judgment. This role also collaborates with staff across departments as part of an interdisciplinary approach to meet client needs.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Welcome new clients and meet their immediate needs upon entry to the shelter.
• Assess eligibility for services based on established guidelines and policies.
• Demonstrate compassion and care for individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Apply trauma-informed care principles in daily interactions to create a safe, respectful, and empowering environment for clients who have experienced trauma.
• Conduct searches of client belongings per procedure; follow protocol if weapons, drugs, or paraphernalia are found.
• Explain available services, shelter guidelines, bed availability, and expectations clearly.
• Complete the full intake process for new clients.
• Monitor assigned areas, including dorms, to ensure a clean and safe environment.
• Supervise client laundry, meals, and general daily activities.
• Maintain a clean and orderly reception area.
• Manage basic shelter supplies and communicate client needs as necessary.
• Coordinate with Case Management, Recovery, Vocational, and other teams to support service delivery.
• Collaborate with internal staff and community partners in a positive, professional manner.
• Accurately document client information and services in the agency database.
• Report concerns or safety issues promptly to a supervisor.
• Observe vulnerable populations for signs of abuse, neglect, or special needs and report as required.
• Support shelter safety and security protocols.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Experience with people who are experiencing homelessness or personal lived experience with homelessness or related challenges.
• Experience with social service agencies and functions
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Effective time management and communication skills
• Knowledge and understanding in dealing with diverse populations including, homeless, mental health, drug addictions and people with disabilities.
• Proficient use of computers, Microsoft office software and any other data management system used to track service delivery
• Strong ability to effectively resolve and cope with immediate conflict and/or crisis situations
• Trustworthy, reliable, and level-headed.
• Emotionally healthy and able to respond to client behavioral issues in a healthy way.
• Knowledge of community resources available in various neighborhoods

Physical Demands:

The physical demands 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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear. The employee is required to stand; walk; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to airborne pathogens. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate