Part-Time Shelter Attendant

ABOUT MID-MAINE HOMELESS SHELTER & SERVICES

MMHSS is one of Maine's most innovative and inclusive emergency homeless shelters. Our 48-bed low-barrier shelter welcomes everyone, including people struggling with addiction, mental illness, or a history of incarceration. We believe in harm reduction and supporting our guests as they seek to find permanent housing solutions. Hope starts here.

JOB SUMMARY/GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF PURPOSE:

The person in this position is responsible for maintaining a safe, friendly, positive, and comfortable atmosphere for all guests. Provides leadership by supervising guests and volunteers, while ensuring that the Homeless Shelter policies and procedures are followed. Provides intake to emergency guests; completes routine and/or assigns Shelter maintenance tasks; prepares nutritious evening meals or assigns the task to volunteers and/or guests and supervises the process. Receives and documents donations made to the shelter. The Shelter Attendant works as a member of the Homeless Shelter team to best meet the needs of Shelter guests and works to contribute to the community’s prevention of homelessness.

PRIMARY JOB DUTIES

• Provides supervision and direction to guests and volunteers fostering a safe, friendly, positive, and comfortable atmosphere for all guests.
• Establishes and maintains professional boundaries in working with guests, staff, volunteers, and the public.
• Assess emergency situations and respond effectively.
• Prepares nutritious evening meals or assigns tasks to volunteers and/or guests, supervising the process. Assures food safety handling practices are followed and the kitchen is cleaned up after evening meals. Make certain any unused foods are marked, labeled, and stored appropriately.
• Documents all information provided by guests and ensures the Targeted Case Manager obtains all appropriate information relevant to case management services to guests.
• Documents shift notes and specific incidents accurately and appropriately to ensure the next shift has the all necessary information. Documents when guests leave and return for a valid appointment.
• Completes shift swap-over including walk-through. Overnight attendants will complete overnight duties and sign off on the duty checklist.
• Supervises guests' smoke breaks and assures guests are utilizing appropriate smoking area(s) and following Shelter policies and procedures as they pertain to smoking. Supervises the playground area when in use by guest children. Document and report any concerns to the Shelter.
• Assures all guests are signed in and out of the shelter on time and all valuables, including medications, are secured according to policy and practices.

The above statements reflect the general duties considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job as identified. They shall not be considered as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be inherent in the position.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ensures all guests and volunteers are adhering to the Shelter policies and procedures. Follows staff policies and procedures.
• Answers and logs phone calls taking messages or connecting callers to the appropriate staff person when needed. Distribute mail to the appropriate guests when received.
• Assists guests with laundry needs including distribution of soap. Strips beds of guests who do not show up and launder bedding.
• When the breakfast cook is not available, prepares a good quality breakfast meal for Shelter guests or assigns tasks to volunteers and/or guests, supervising the process. Assures food safety handling practices are followed and the kitchen is cleaned up after the breakfast meal. Make certain any unused foods are marked, labeled, and stored appropriately.
• Follows all food safety and sanitation practices during meal preparations. Assures proper hand washing techniques are used by all staff/volunteers who work in the kitchen. Participates in Food Handling Safety training.
• Provides intake to emergency guests, documenting all required information.
• Completes routine and/or any assigned shelter maintenance tasks on any given evening.
• When assigned, will conduct house meetings, schedule kitchen help, guest duties, and shower and laundry schedules. Assuring guests are completing their weekly duties.
• Assists with childcare as needed when parents are attending classes at the shelter. (during Day Shelter)
• Acts as liaison with community providers as needed.
• Receives and documents any donations made to the Shelter.
• Attends staff meetings and comes prepared to actively participate.
• Exhibit a positive professional attitude with guests, co-workers, clients, partners, and within the community. Exhibit self-motivation, organization, and resourcefulness while maintaining a reputation through proven action of being team and guest-oriented and willing to assist where/when needed.
• Performs other reasonably related duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Must be able to work a minimum of 16 hours a month (Two Shifts). 

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE: Experience working with people with mental illness and substance abuse challenges, basic knowledge of homelessness and its causes, ability to make a commitment to the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter’s mission and organizational values.

SKILLS/ABILITIES: Demonstrated effective administrative, organizational management, and planning skills; ability to comprehend and interpret rules, regulations, and procedures; excellent

computer, written, and oral communication and presentation skills; strong interpersonal and critical thinking skills. Ability to maintain confidentiality, ability to multi-task and work

independently a must; ability to work a flexible schedule including working overnights, evenings, and weekends.

Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter & Services is an EEO Employer. MMHHS will not tolerate discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sex stereotyping, gender identity, gender expression or transgender status), national origin, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, age, protected genetic information, status as a parent, marital status, political affiliation, or retaliation based on prior protected EEO activity. In addition, MMHSS will not permit harassment – sexual or nonsexual – of any employee or applicant for employment.