Shelter Specialist

Offers crisis intervention, advocacy, case management, and housing services to individuals in our Safe Dwelling. Conducts needs assessments, refers clients to additional victim services, and connects them with community resources. Screens and assesses clients for shelter eligibility, and supports day-to-day operations of the facility.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Conducts comprehensive assessments of client needs during the initial crisis period, provides referrals to other victim services, and facilitates connections with additional community support services for additional assistance.
• Manages a caseload and ensures timely and accurate completion of case notes with the Agency database.
• Screens, assesses and determines eligibility of clients to stay at the Agency’s shelter. Transports eligible clients to the safe dwelling.
• Assists with safe dwelling day to day operations including but not limited to the following tasks
• Conducts an inventory of household supplies.
• Coordinates transportation requests.
• Identifies maintenance needs and relays to management.
• Resolves conflicts among clients staying at the shelter.
• Applies safe dwelling regulations to shelter operations.
• Educates clients about their eligibility for the Office of Victim Services and guides them through the application processes as necessary.
• Maintains and cultivates professional relationships with community agencies and attends community meetings to foster collaboration.
• Participates in outreach activities and agency awareness events to promote services and increase community engagement.
• Covers a 24-hour hotline for approximately four weeks per year offering immediate support and guidance to individuals in crisis.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• A High School diploma with two years of experience working with vulnerable populations is required, while an Associate degree in human services with the same experience is preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively present in public forums.
• Skilled in addressing and discussing sensitive issues.
• Ability to establish and maintain networks of professional relationships.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines.
• Ability to multitask, work rapidly to meet deadlines, and perform work under pressure while maintaining composure and professionalism.
• Ability to demonstrate cultural awareness and sensitivity to other perspectives.
• Demonstrated flexibility to adapt to different work and communication styles of colleagues and clients.
• Demonstrated ability to solve problems using analytical skills and abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain composure and professionalism under stress.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

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 essential functions.

• Regularly required to walk, sit, use hands; and reach with hands and arms.
• Manual dexterity is required, including the frequent ability to grasp in both hands and continuous use of fine manipulation skills in both hands.
• Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to various weather conditions.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Occasional exposure to bodily fluids.