Shelter Specialist

ROOF ABOVE

Roof Above is NC’s most comprehensive homeless service provider.  Our mission is to unite our community to end homelessness, one life at a time.  Focusing on individuals experiencing homelessness, Roof Above offers everything from street outreach to shelter to Rapid Rehousing to Permanent Supportive Housing. Roof Above’s services and programs reach over 1,300 individuals every day across nine campuses in Charlotte. Roof Above was born through the merger of Urban Ministry Center and Men’s Shelter of Charlotte in 2019. 

POSITION SUMMARY

The Shelter Specialist is responsible for supporting the daily management of the shelter; facilitating a trauma informed, person-centered environment for services; and using a minimum impact approach to de-escalating stress. The Shelter Specialist work under the guidance of the Shelter Supervisor in charge of the assigned shift.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provides basic needs assistance to guests accessing the shelter.
• Must show up for work consistently, on time and be trustworthy.
• Friendly, courteous, and welcoming while always greeting our guests.
• Remain professional under pressure and demonstrate responsible decision making in stressful and unexpected situations
• Patience, creativity, flexibility, and compassion
• Sensitivity to persons with disabilities and other minority populations
• Sensitive to cultural, economic, gender, and sexual orientation differences
• Explain program requirements to new guests
• Coordinate, bed assignments, smoke breaks, and other daily routines
• Monitors facility activities to ensure a smooth delivery of services, effective and safe facility operations, and coordination of care with case managers and other agency personnel.
• Communicate effectively with guests in a professional and trauma informed manner.
• Completes data entry, incident reports, daily log, and other paperwork.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Adhere to the schedule and work shifts as assigned. 
• Role model positive, professional behavior including appearance and communication with others, including and especially in difficult conversations
• Document in shelter email shift communications thoroughly and diligently situations of note that occur during each shift, information if shared will be helpful in meeting the individual needs of individual guests, concerns that arose, etc.
• Complete ongoing training and education related to Low Barriere, Housing first and other best practices approach
• Completes HMIS training within the first 30 days
• Performs housing keeping duties tasks as needed
• Perform other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS REQUIRED

• A Bachelor’s degree preferred
• High school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Experience working with homeless populations and experience working in a homeless shelter are preferred.
• Must be certified in CPR and First Aid or willingness and ability to complete certification within 60 days of hire.
• Knowledge of issues related to homelessness; effective intervention techniques; and teamwork.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• interact appropriately with service partners, governmental agencies, volunteers, visitors, and clients.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Requires work in a fast-paced environment with diverse people including persons with mental illness and substance abuse. Requires much physical movement and multitasking. May require extended shifts during weather or other emergencies.  May require working other shifts and/or on other shelter campus to meet operational demands.  Shift assignments and schedule will vary and be dependent upon shelter staffing needs.

OUR VALUES:

Heart for the Work 

• We choose this work and embrace this place.
• We practice radical compassion.
• We each do our unique part to end homelessness.

Solution-Oriented

• Grounding ourselves in what we know, we imagine what is possible.
• We are intentional about getting the right people involved and we move towards effective action.
• We are exhaustive in our search for solutions.

Bring Our Best

• We practice self-care, self-awareness, and safety.
• We recognize what we need to let go of to move forward.
• We exercise diligence and grit.

Value Others

• We honor the profound worth of each life, and our work reflects it.
• We meet people where they are and approach others with genuine curiosity.
• We know we can’t do it alone.  We are stronger and smarter together.

Roof Above is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees