Resident Advocate - Emergency Services

AGENCY SUMMARY: Based in San Leandro, Building Futures is an Alameda County leader providing a safety net of services to help individuals and families rebuild safe and stable lives after homelessness and family violence. To accomplish this aim, the agency provides a continuum of care including two homeless shelters; a domestic violence safe house; a full spectrum of domestic violence outreach services; a transitional and permanent housing site; and rapid rehousing programs which serves target populations including military veterans, families reuniting after CPS involvement, survivors of domestic violence, and others.

POSITION SUMMARY: The Resident Advocate plays a very important role that in our agency and anyone that fills this role needs to understand and believe in our mission. The Resident Advocate works very closely with our clients in the shelter or safe house and their goal is to see them through a successful stay with us. The Resident Advocate strives to always provide a high level of customer service to our residents and executes operational tasks while on site. The goal of the Resident Advocate is to ensure the security and safety of the shelter and its residents, carry out shelter guidelines and schedules, handle crisis situations, and assist clients as needed.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Provide for the needs of residents, maintaining the confidentiality, professionalism, and policies of the agency when working with shelter residents. Sign and uphold ethics and confidentiality agreement.
• Log and document appropriate shift and resident information by the end of each shift.
• Perform necessary shelter operations, including but not limited to serving meals, doing chores, taking inventory, performing client intakes, putting away groceries, sorting donations, issuing medicine, etc.
• Assist in maintaining accurate client records by provide information to the case manager regarding clients and staying in communication with Case Managers, Site Coordinators, and/or program managers regarding all clients.
• Coordinate with other sites and programs within agency, as needed.
• Carrying out shelter guidelines and schedules, handling crises, and performing other duties as determined by the shelter manager.
• Participate in staff meetings monthly.
• Provide shift coverage as scheduled.

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Competencies:

• Ability to interact in a supportive and mature and professional manner with a diverse population.
• Capability to handle multiple tasks, including service provision, documentation, rule enforcement, and crisis intervention.
• Ability to work independently, and ensure the safety of residents and shelter environment during each shift.
• Ability to work as a team, with characteristics including initiative, resourcefulness, flexibility, and reliability.

Knowledge:

• High School Diploma or Equivalent.
• Experience working with underserved populations.
• Experience in and knowledge of the effects of trauma, domestic violence, homelessness, mental health, substance abuse, and child abuse prevention, and empowerment of women and children.
• Conflict resolution skills a plus.
• Bilingual in Spanish or Mandarin a plus.
• Domestic Violence Counselor Training a plus.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORKING:

The work environment and physical demands described are representative of those required by employee to perform to the essential functions of this job with or without reasonable accommodation

• Must be able to lift 50 pounds.
• In an 8-hour workday. Provide shift coverage. Shifts are divided into three increments:8am-4pm, 4pm – 12am and 12am – 8am.
• Hand use: single grasping, fine manipulation, pushing and pulling.
• Work requires the following motions: bending, twisting, squatting, and reaching.

COMPENSATION:

Building Futures offers competitive salary based on experience and skills of employees. This position pays at $20.00/hr. Additionally, the agency provides a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, employee self-managed 403b retirement benefits, ancillary benefits, access to Flexible Spending Accounts, and generous leave benefits for all benefit eligible positions.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY:

Building Futures is an equal opportunity employer. Our commitment to equal opportunity extends to the employment relationship and all areas of personnel activity such as recruitment, selection, hiring, placement, job assignment, supervision, training, promotions, transfers, compensation, benefits, employee activities, educational opportunities, and access to facilities and programs. Building Futures’ policy prohibits discrimination based on actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, domestic partnership status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition as defined by applicable state or local law (such as cancer), genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances. Building Futures also prohibits discrimination based on the perception that anyone is of a protected class or is associated with a person who is perceived as being part of a protected class. All such discrimination is unlawful.