Job details

Resident Advocate (Sat/Sun, Day 8am-4pm)

Schedule: Saturday & Sunday, Day Shift, 8am-4pm (16 hours/week)

Compensation: $25/hour

Company Overview

For more than 50 years, Insight Housing has provided a comprehensive range of housing, food, and support services to help those in need move from homelessness into a safe and affordable home of their own. We serve in seven counties in the bay area - Alameda, San Francisco, Contra Costa, Solano, Sacramento, San Joaquin, and Amador County. We are proud of our team members who are very dedicated to our mission of ensuring everyone in our community has a home through supportive, equitable, and sustainable housing solutions.

Program Overview

The Campus Interim Housing Program provides interim housing and support services for people who are experiencing homelessness in encampments in the City of Berkeley. The Campus Interim Housing Program includes provision of Housing Navigation to 23 units located in the former Super 8 motel. Participants at this site will be provided with on-going housing navigation services to ensure support towards obtaining housing, as well as assistance with activities of daily living skills (ADLs), budgeting, and linkages to community resources.

Position Summary

Under supervision of the Program Manager, the Resident Advocate provides direct supportive services and supervision to homeless individuals in the program. Responsibilities include assisting with participant intakes, ensuring the cleanliness of the program, assisting with activities of daily living, delivery of meals, assessing participants to determine barriers to housing, assisting with completing documents and providing referrals to various community services including substance abuse treatment, physical health services, mental health services, benefits advocacy, and veteran’s services.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Follow best practices for assisting program participants that align with Insight Housing’s professional standards and ensure excellent customer service. Best practices include but are not limited to low barrier access, harm reduction, trauma informed care, non-violent crisis intervention, motivational interviewing, and conflict management/de-escalation techniques.
Establish and maintain clear and effective communications with participants, ensure that their needs are met. Practice patience and active empathetic listening. Provide emotional support and listening ear to participants.
Aid program participants with daily needs and provide health and safety oversight to the program property at all times, including walking the property throughout shift.
Assist with new participant intake process- including paperwork, provide new participant orientations including review of the Program Handbook with each new participant.
Assist in conducting room inspections including submitting maintenance requests and working in partnership with participants to keep their rooms within health and safety standards.
Provide conflict/cohabitation mediation between participants as needed.
Provide supportive services including picking-up, preparing, and serving meals, stripping beds, cleaning and organizing, laundry, restocking cleaning supplies and properly storing food following health and safety guidelines after serving meals.
Assist participants with and enable them to manage activities of daily living including proper bathing and hygiene practices and maintaining room cleanliness.
Provide crisis intervention and advocate on behalf of participants as needed.
Complete and file all paperwork (statistics or any other information requested by supervisor) in a timely and accurate manner.
Review and update staff log each shift and in accordance with established procedures.
Provide accurate, timely, and complete transfer of program and participant information to other staff as they begin their shift.
Participate in promoting a safe, healthy, and clean working environment consistent with agency’s health and safety practices.
Attend and participate in all meetings and trainings as assigned.
Complete and submit timesheets in a timely and accurate manner.
Work within the framework of Insight Housing’s Code of Conduct.
Perform other tasks as assigned.

Qualifications, Skills, and Abilities

High school preferred
Ability to complete CPR/First Aid Training.
Prior direct support experience with individuals experiencing homelessness, mental health, substance abuse or other social issues highly preferred. Prior Customer service experience in any industry will be considered.
Lived experience strongly preferred and will be valuable.
Commitment to serving individuals experiencing homelessness, alcohol and drug dependency, and other mental health issues, and to trauma-informed approach to care for individuals.
Knowledge of computer and Microsoft office suite (Word, Excel, Outlook and TEAMS). Experience with Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) a plus.
Ability to interact in a supportive and professional manner with staff and clients of diverse cultural and economic backgrounds.
Ability to provide good customer service. Communicate effectively and maintain a calm demeanor in stressful situations.
Capable of working independently and as part of a team.
Good verbal and written communication skills a plus.
Good interpersonal and crisis intervention skills with a can do and flexible attitude. Ability to work well under high pressure.
Ability to work with minimal supervision, multitask, maintain confidentiality and appropriate professional boundaries, and meet deadlines.
Ability to maintain professional conduct, attitude, and appearance at all times.

Special Requirements

Must be able to receive and maintain criminal records clearance.
Must be able to obtain TB clearance.

Physical Requirements

Regularly required to use hands and fingers to handle, feel, or operate objects, tools or controls, and reach with hands and arms.
Frequently required to stand, walk, sit, climb stairs, talk, hear, and see clearly.
May be occasionally required to stoop, kneel, or crouch.
May be required to lift or move up to 50 lbs.

We are extremely proud of our diverse team and welcome all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Insight Housing Glassdoor Company Review

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