YWCA Missoula Family Housing Center Advocate

The *YWCA* *Missoula Family Housing Center Advocate *position is responsible for providing advocacy services to homeless families residing in the Missoula Family Housing Center.
Performance of duties reflects the YWCA value that all human beings will be treated with respect and dignity and approached with recognition of their individual importance.
Required Qualifications: · *High school diploma or High School Equivalency Diploma required.
* *Bachelor’s degree in human services or related field, or equivalent education/experience preferred.
* · *One year’s experience working with domestic violence, sexual assault, or homelessness preferred.
* · *Must pass a background check designed to protect the interest of families served by the YWCA programs.
* *Position Specific Requirement:* ADMINISTRATIVE: · Provides trauma-informed and survivor-focused advocacy to residents in the Family Housing Center.
· Ensures that program guidelines and policies are being met by participants.
· Helps foster a sense of personal strength and self-sufficiency in participants.
· Facilitates resolution with crisis that may arise during the shift.
· Alerts the Housing Program Director, Family Housing Center Program Manager, Shelter Coordinator, and others as appropriate, to areas of concern.
· Generates new ideas to improve the Family Housing Center services.
· Exposure to difficult situations and emotionally taxing client circumstances, including physical aggression, may be encountered.
· Maintain confidentiality and always treat participants with dignity and respect.
· Maintain excellent boundaries, a high degree of confidentiality and ethical behavior · Orient new shelter residents into the program, ensuring they feel safe and settled · Ensure that each participant’s emergency and basic needs are met upon entry and during the entirety of their stay.
· Collaborate with Case Managers on residents’ progress and updates, with ethical documentation and a trauma-informed approach to ensure continuity of care · Provide culturally responsive, anti-oppressive services · Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion; practice anti-racist service delivery and advocacy for all individuals · Engage in person-centered care, and provide options, information, and choices that allow for stimulating change.
· Develop positive, productive, and collaborative relationships with families, while upholding guidelines, rules, and behavioral expectations.
· Engage participants in offerings within the Family Housing Center including reminders about in-house groups, services, community resources and events.
· Complete daily cleaning tasks to ensure the health and safety of the shelter · Actively participates in all Family Housing Center meetings Assist in overall administration of the program GENERAL DUTIES · Act as point of contact for residents should they need assistance during your shift.
· Evening hours will involve assisting with the wrap-up of the nightly evening meal and assisting residents with daily chores · *Participates in weekend on-call rotation with other team members* · Attends weekly staff meetings.
· Promotes a sense of safety and security and community among participants.
· Ensures participant confidentiality.
· Acts as a positive role model to family housing participants and other YWCA participants.
· Participates in performance appraisals as appropriate.
· Adheres to YWCA policy and procedures.
· Alerts the Housing Program Director, FHC Program Manager, Shelter Coordinator, and Executive Director, and others as appropriate to areas of concern such as calls to Child & Family Services, calls to 911, and/or emergency services.
· Acts as a responsible team member.
· Helps train new staff.
· Demonstrates energy and enthusiasm for work.
· Exhibits a warm, friendly attitude toward participants, children, employees, volunteers, and the general public.
· Displays awareness of and ability to deal with diversity among people, including disabilities among participants.
· Shows competence as an information source about the YWCA and related Missoula agencies.
· Displays a neat appearance and competent manner.
· Performs other related duties as assigned.
*REPORTS to:* Directly accountable to the Family Housing Center Shelter Coordinator, *email your resume to jmarceau@ywcaofmissoula.
org*.
This position, within the parameters of the YWCA policies and procedures, exercises a low level of independence in decision-making.
Significant errors in judgment may endanger the health and safety of the participants and/or staff and may cause serious financial and/or legal repercussions for the YWCA.
This position is open until filled.
*SPECIAL CONDITIONS:* Physical effort may be required to do the following: sitting, standing, walking, bending, reaching; playing with and lifting children up to 50 pounds; transporting groceries and supplies.
Exposure to difficult situations, emotionally taxing client circumstances and physical aggression may be encountered.
Must be able to operate basic office machines, to communicate by telephone, orally, and in writing.
On-call component as crisis situations and emergencies arise in the program.
*WAGE:* Starting at $18/hr.
DOE *Shifts:* Schedule is Monday - Sunday, and workday hours fall between 8am and 8pm.
Job Type: Full-time Pay: $18.
00 per hour Expected hours: 40 per week Benefits: * 401(k) * 401(k) matching * Dental insurance * Employee assistance program * Flexible spending account * Health insurance * Life insurance * Paid time off * Retirement plan * Vision insurance Schedule: * 8 hour shift Work Location: In person