Shelter Coordinator

Job Title: Shelter Coordinator

Location: San Jose, CA

Schedule: FT, 40hr/week onsite

Reports to: Associate Directors - Employee Engagement, Impact & Program Design, Professional Development & Training, Community Partnerships

Who We Are

Our mission is to end domestic violence in the moment and for all time.

In 1971, our founder Bea Robinson Mendez, concerned about the lack of services and options for domestic violence survivors, gathered a small group of her friends to figure out a solution. They set up a shelter in a garage and established a hotline number to provide information and support to survivors. Unbeknownst to them, it would become the second domestic violence agency in California and the first bilingual domestic violence shelter in the nation. So began the story of Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence (NDS). Domestic violence is the most prevalent form of gender-based violence, often the most frequently reported crime, and arguably the one with the greatest damaging effect on our families, youth, and communities. We are the only stand-alone, domestic violence agency in Santa Clara County, answering approximately 15,000 crisis calls and serving an average of 3,000 survivors of domestic violence annually. Our comprehensive, compassionate, bilingual, and multicultural services are available free of charge to all individuals across the gender spectrum and of varying abilities.

By joining NDS, you become part of a team that serves thousands, uplifts community models of support, and looks first for a way to say “yes.” NDS is a place where inclusion, diversity, equity, access, and liberation (IDEAL) are not just celebrated, but they are central to our existence. We are emerging from the pandemic in a stage of rapid reflection, and change, which means exciting new opportunities are opening up for forming transformative community partnerships, nurturing our staff, and growing our team.

Culture and Climate

NDS has developed a supportive workplace culture where personal and professional connections are valued and facilitated. Our guiding values are:

• Oneness & Connectedness
• Survivor & Community Centered
• Compassionate Accountability
• Equity & Justice
• Inclusion for Liberation

Position Summary: The Shelter Coordinator plays a pivotal role in leading and organizing shelter operations to ensure that survivors receive compassionate and comprehensive support. This role emphasizes leadership, collaboration, and the ability to foster a positive and inclusive environment.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Team Coordination:

• Lead and inspire the shelter team by coordinating schedules, delegating responsibilities, and ensuring adequate coverage to address hotline calls and immediate shelter needs.
• Provide guidance on crisis intervention, risk assessment, advocacy, and housing support.

Team Development & Support:

• Act as a resource and mentor for shelter advocates, facilitating regular team meetings to provide case consultations, share critical updates, and offer support in handling complex situations.
• Support the onboarding and training of new advocates to ensure alignment with organizational policies and procedures.

Operational Excellence:

• Maintain a safe and well-functioning shelter environment by overseeing facility needs, coordinating repairs, and ensuring compliance with safety regulations, including fire and health codes.
• Collaborate with leadership to ensure shelter operations meet city, grant, and organizational requirements.

Community Collaboration:

• Represent NDS with professionalism and empathy in community meetings and committees.
• Build and maintain partnerships with law enforcement, courts, county departments, and other community organizations to advocate for participants and improve access to resources.

Strategic Planning:

• Work with organizational leadership to identify opportunities for enhancing services and creating a seamless system of coordinated support.
• Develop and implement strategies that align with the organization’s mission and values.

Volunteer Engagement:

• Collaborate with the Community and Volunteer Engagement Coordinator to recruit, train, and integrate volunteers into shelter operations, ensuring they provide meaningful contributions to the team.

Participant Advocacy:

• Ensure participants receive individualized, compassionate care through ongoing support, providing referrals to appropriate resources, and maintaining regular communication with participants.
• Promote connection and empowerment through warm handoffs to community services.

Documentation & Reporting:

• Maintain accurate and timely participant records, including case notes, documentation, and database entries, in accordance with organizational and legal standards.

Training & Development:

• Stay informed on domestic violence laws, emerging trends, and best practices.
• Share knowledge with the team and facilitate ongoing training sessions focused on enhancing skills and addressing complex cases (e.g., facilitating the NDS 40-hour Domestic Violence Training.)

Crisis Response & Support:

• Serve as emergency backup for urgent issues related to survivors, staffing, and shelter operations.
• Lead by example in maintaining a calm and patient demeanor in high-pressure situations.

Values-Driven Environment:

• Foster a workplace culture that aligns with NDS’s values of equity, justice, and inclusion.
• Promote a supportive and compassionate environment that uplifts both staff and participants.

Facility Tours & Education:

• Conduct shelter tours according to confidentiality procedures and educate the community about services and participant needs.

Case Consultations:

• Ensure hotel and shelter individuals/families are assigned a Community Support Advocate.
• Provide and coordinate case consultations regarding emergency housing within 72 hours of admission.
• Assist with ongoing support while individuals/families are housed in the shelter or hotels.

Liaison Duties:

• Serve as a liaison with local law enforcement agencies to ensure appropriate access to domestic violence survivors.
• Work with other leadership to provide strategic thinking to support NDS in better meeting the needs of survivors.

Facilitation of Team Meetings:

• Facilitate and lead team meetings, focusing on shelter/hotline training and complex cases to ensure continuous improvement in service delivery.

Other Duties:

• Perform additional responsibilities as assigned to support the organization’s mission and goals.

REQUIREMENTS:

• MSW or related degree. Minimum of 5 years of management and supervisory experience in a non-profit human service environment
• Highly organized, with the ability to handle multiple priorities at once.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills
• Knowledge of client-centric programming and innovative approaches to crisis intervention.
• Strong team orientation and ability to motivate others and build a sense of teamwork.
• Collaborative approach with demonstrated ability to maintain partnerships and relationships with a variety of agencies and people.
• Strategic thinker and problem solver who is able to execute plans with passion.
• Experience working with a wide range of people from a diverse ethnic, social and cultural background.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office software.
• Bi-lingual in Spanish required

Next Door Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status, protected medical leaves (requested or approved for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act or the California Family Rights Act), domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, and any other status protected by state or federal law.