Swing Shift On-Call Engagement Specialist - Shelter

Day/Swing Shift On-Call Engagement Specialist - Shelter Staff

Day/Swing Shift On-Call Engagement Specialist - Shelter Staff –
Our Just Future

$20.62/hr - $23.98/hr

Provide direct service shelter staffing at the Chestnut Inn Women’s Shelter, Gresham Women’s Shelter, or Lilac Meadows Family Center. The shelters serve families, women, and gender‑diverse individuals experiencing homelessness. Staff monitor the milieu and support participants in achieving independent living and permanent housing. The role requires rapid problem‑solving, crisis response, and a thoughtful, trauma‑informed approach.

• Collaborate with Shelter Managers, Volunteer & Donations, Kitchen team, Engagement Specialists, and other agency departments to ensure shelters are safe and welcoming to a diverse population.
• Conduct full intakes and orientations for new participants in a trauma‑informed manner each day.
• Provide ongoing services, connect participants to resources, and help them navigate social service systems per individualized service plans.
• Distribute and prepare meals as needed.
• Offer blankets, bedding, and other necessary items in a fair and equitable manner.
• Assist staff, volunteers, and community groups to have a positive volunteer experience.
• Enforce shelter guidelines through verbal and written warnings, behavior agreements, and contracts.
• Hold participants accountable and conduct exclusions or exits from the program when appropriate.
• Notify police, fire, and emergency medical personnel when warranted.
• Interact with participants, staff, and volunteers using a strengths‑based, trauma‑informed, equity‑lens approach.
• Complete detailed incident reports for the shelter team, agency upper management, JOHS contractors, and County/City officials.
• Maintain accurate daily documentation of participants served; enter data into ETO and Service Point; submit reports to the Quality Assurance Team.
• Conduct regular fire and safety walk‑throughs and record findings on the fire marshal’s form.
• Log each shift’s significant activity in the shelter’s communication log and review previous shift entries for continuity.
• Debrief extensively with coworkers between shifts during overlap time.
• Provide constructive feedback, open communication, and clear intent to improve the shelter experience.
• Seek and offer solutions. Handle conflict positively, offering solutions rather than complaints.
• Clean and sanitize shelter common areas; do laundry for communal bedding and towels; clear beds for next referral; fully turn over rooms after participant exits.
• Process participant belongings when they leave due to exit or exclusion.
• Dispose of garbage and recycling to external receptacles as needed.
• Submit maintenance requests to Shelter Manager or Maintenance Specialist; follow up to ensure hazards and safety concerns are addressed.
• Restock bathrooms and hygiene supplies.
• Learn and grow, taking opportunities outside of comfort zone to maintain a safe and healthy environment.
• Meet with supervisor and participate in department staff meetings and monthly training as scheduled.
• Assist each participant in obtaining housing program information and referrals to other agencies, including housing specialists, Rent‑Well classes, mental and physical health services, benefits, and employment support.
• Other duties as assigned.

The successful candidate must be able to perform each essential duty with satisfactory proficiency.

• Social and economic issues creating poverty and effective practices for people experiencing homelessness.
• Community resources and agencies providing needed social services.
• HIPAA, DV/SA confidentiality, crisis de‑escalation, Assertive Engagement, Child Development, Mental Health First Aid/Suicide Prevention, drug and alcohol impact, harm‑reduction, restorative justice, LGBTQIA+ inclusive best practices, and trauma‑informed care.

• Stay self‑motivated and proactively complete daily tasks.
• Deliver shelter services compassionately and humanely.
• Show consistent work attendance as shifts depend on full staffing patterns.
• Communicate clearly and respectfully with shelter participants.
• Empower and…