Do you have a passion for helping people? Are you looking for a meaningful way to give back to your community and make positive changes in the lives of others? Then, we are the organization you are looking for! Join our team and make a positive impact through your profession.

5Cities Homeless Coalition is transforming lives in San Luis Obispo County, California. The Coalition strengthens the community by mobilizing resources, fostering hope, and advocating for the homeless and those facing homelessness.

Summary

The primary focus for this employee is to assist walk-in clients, answer in-coming calls, conduct coordinated entry screening, provide information about, and to make referrals to, community services as well as 5CHC support services. The Specialist has the primary responsibility for fielding in-coming calls, and provides callers and walk-in clients with information and assistance. In conjunction with the 5CHC Team, the Specialist develops and maintains in-kind client supplies (hygiene kits, food bags, etc.) and a comprehensive list of housing resources and other services for referral purposes. The Specialist works in coordination with 5CHC staff and partner agency staff to address the broad array of client needs through referral to providers of necessary services.

Compensation and Benefits

• Pay Range: $18.00 - $24.00 per hour
• 40 hours/week – Full-time, non-exempt position
• Eligible to enroll into benefits on the 1^st day of the month following two months from the date of hire.
• 5CHC covers 100% of the employee only cost of the Silver level PPO plan, Dental PPO and Vision coverage offered by Anthem Blue Cross.
• Anthem Life Insurance - $25,000 death benefit at no charge to the employee.
• Employee Assistance Program – Anthem
• SIMPLE IRA plan which allows eligible employees to contribute a portion of their salary toward retirement on a pre-tax basis with an employer match.
• 11 paid holidays plus one personal day per year
• 17 days of PTO accrued annually, increasing after 3 years of service

Basic Duties

• Receives and assesses calls for service. Documents all calls received and disposition of each in format provided.
• Helps to maintain resource directory and contacts at community agencies and government organizations to assist low income and/or homeless individuals for the purpose of making referrals and advising callers and walk-ins.
• Coordinates appointments and walk-ins for Coordinated Entry screening; and conducts screening as needed.
• Provides administrative and programmatic support services for the 5CHC Team.
• Collects pertinent statistics and helps prepare reports.
• Performs varied clerical, technical, or specialized administrative support work using database, word processing or spreadsheet software programs and other applications.
• Maintains inventory and ordering of necessary office supplies.
• Is responsible for receiving and distributing all in-kind donations, including monitoring usage with partner agencies.
• Reliable, regular attendance.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Able to use computers, with proficiency in Microsoft Office software, particularly Excel.
• Able to perform varied clerical, technical, or specialized administrative support work using database, word processing or spreadsheet software programs and other applications.
• Experience working with computers and data entry.
• Able to commit to a regular, reliable schedule of a fixed number of hours per week.
• Able to multi-task and remain calm in demanding and unpredictable situations.
• Able to maintain a professional, customer service-oriented attitude at all times.
• Able to meet face-to-face with homeless individuals of diverse backgrounds and disabilities including physical, mental, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, etc.; able to develop rapport, provide information, and refer with sensitivity to cultural issues.
• Display a high level of initiative, effort and commitment towards completing assignments efficiently.
• Bilingual Spanish a plus.

Other Requirements (may be met at time of hiring with 5CHC)

• Reliable transportation, a valid driver’s license and proof of auto insurance, and be able to qualify for organization’s insurance coverage.
• Current tuberculosis test.
• Successful completion of background screening.
• CPR/First Aid Certification.

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.

Work is performed mostly indoors in an office setting. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate in an office setting. Sometimes work may become stressful when working under pressure. The employee may be in contact with individuals and families in crisis who may be ill, using alcohol and drugs, and who may not be attentive to basic personal hygiene, health and safety practices. The employee must be ready to respond quickly and effectively to many types of situations, including crisis situations and potentially hostile situations.

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 frequently is required to stand, sit, walk, climb stairs, stoop, talk, hear, reach above and below shoulders, and use hand and finger dexterity for keyboarding and making and receiving telephone calls. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. The employee may be subjected to outside environmental conditions. The employee may be required on occasion to lift and/or carry up to 20 lbs.

5Cities Homeless Coalition is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race (including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), national origin, ancestry, citizenship, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, marital status, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), age, sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status, the presence of any physical or mental disability (except where such is a bona fide occupational qualification), domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws.

This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee, and is subject to change as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.