Housing Advocate - Day Shift - Part Time

Schedule: Part Time, Day Shift

Benefits - Approximate full-time benefits package value = $20,000 :

• 403b retirement plan with employer match (50% match up to 3%).
• Employee Assistance Program for all employees
• Employee Referral Program including cash bonuses and paid time off

Volunteers of America, Utah provides community-supported paths for those who are vulnerable to improve their lives and increase their self-reliance. In alignment with our mission, VOA Utah encourages individuals with lived experience to apply. We recognize that a person’s life experiences can provide firsthand knowledge relevant to being successful in the work that we do.

The Geraldine E. King Women's Resource Center exists to meet the distinctive needs of women who are experiencing homelessness by providing shelter, case management, life skills training, and connection to community services and resources with the ultimate goal of assisting all clients in obtaining safe and stable housing. Housing Advocates provide front line support to clients and assist clients with daily activities such as mail access, transport, property storage, program orientation, client check-ins, security screening, and more. Housing Advocates get to work with clients who are homeless including: single women, domestic violence victims; individuals with behavioral health and/or substance use disorders, those who are medically frail, and/or those exiting prison or jail. Housing Advocates work as a team toward the shared goal of helping every resident obtain housing.

Duties include:

• Provide quality customer service to clients accessing shelter and deliver services with safety, respect and effectiveness.
• Provide clear and specific information to clients regarding expectations, program activities and schedule during their orientation and ongoing as needed.
• Assist in resolving conflicts utilizing de-escalation skills and trauma informed practices. Provide immediate and professional response to any security /safety emergency or disturbance within or immediately outside facility following appropriate policies and procedures.
• Assist in maintaining a clean and safe facility, identifying and addressing special needs and/or referring needs to supervisor.
• Utilize a trauma informed approach when managing difficult client behaviors.
• Answer phones, greet clients, volunteers, donors, and other visitors in a friendly and professional manner, and aid as needed.
• Utilize the onsite supervisor and the on-call system for guidance and support and follow appropriate protocol for covering shifts in the event of illness, vacation, or other time off.
• Ensure that all paperwork related to client and program activities is in accordance with licensing and contract requirements, properly completed, managed confidentially, and stored appropriately.
• Use agency vehicles to complete errands and to provide safe transportation for clients when necessary.
• Attend work as scheduled and arrive at the designated time.
• Work must be performed on-site due to the need to provide direct client care.

Qualifications

• Familiarity with Trauma Informed Care and Housing First philosophies and willingness to incorporate them in daily work.
• Excellent customer service skills with the ability to communicate effectively and handle difficult situations with professionalism and empathy.
• Possess basic computer skills.
• Ability to uphold professional boundaries, confidentiality regulations, agency policies and procedures, and interact in a professional manner with a diverse workforce, clients, and the public.
• Willingness to accept supervision and direction.
• Must be at least 21 years of age, possess a current driver’s license, have a good driving record and be insurable on the agency liability policy.
• Must be able to pass Utah-DHS – Office of Licensing background screening and pre-employment drug screen.

Physical Demands

• Ability to lift and carry 25 lbs.
• Ability to move around the facility, interacting with clients for extended periods.