Family & Shelter Advocate

Description

We are seeking a responsible and energetic individual with a passion for serving families at our 24‑hour shelter locations. Family & 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.

Job Type: Full‑time

Location:

Downtown Seattle (Regrade)

Shift: Sunday/Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday (Thursday, Friday, Saturday off) 7:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Hourly wage: $25/hour DOE

• 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 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 the 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 our 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

• Prior experience as a Shelter Advocate is preferred
• Two or more years of work or volunteer experience in a social services setting, or one or more years of social services experience combined with one or more years of customer service experience
• Experience working in a shelter setting or with people experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity is highly preferred
• Passion for and demonstrated experience working with children and families is preferred
• Demonstrated creative problem solving, conflict de‑escalation, conflict mediation, and crisis management skills
• Demonstrated understanding of trauma‑informed care
• Ability to set appropriate boundaries and maintain professional demeanor in a high‑stress environment
• Highly motivated, self‑starter, resourceful, flexible, and possesses a positive attitude
• Exhibits compassion and empathy; works well with parents and children from all racial, ethnic, social, economic, gender, and sexual orientation backgrounds
• Ability to access and produce information on a computer and within Microsoft Suite, and to create documentation in the database system in an accurate and timely way
• Strong reading, writing, speaking, and listening (communication) skills
• Strong organizational and time…