Shelter Life Coach

Seattle, WA /

Specialized and Integrated Services King County – King County Services Housing /

Full-Time

/ On-site

Why work with YWCA Seattle King Snohomish?

YWCA SKS is the region’s largest non-profit organization with a 120+ year legacy, focused on the needs of women, with programs serving 7,000 people each year. When you work with YWCA, you make a difference.

We’re women and BIPOC-led, family-centered, and supportive of employees. As a full-time YWCA employee (30+ hours), you’ll enjoy a benefits package including medical insurance, generous vacation, holiday, sick leave plans, and an outstanding retirement plan. Put your passion for racial equity and social justice to work – apply today!

What You'll Do

The primary responsibility of the Shelter Life Coach is to serve families experiencing homelessness by providing time-limited emergency shelter, along with enhanced services focused on employment, support with housing search and placement to help secure permanent housing. Shelter is provided in the form of hotels/motels or individual shelter units. The enhanced services include, but are not limited to, landlord liaison activities, financial coaching, and housing counseling. This position will work closely with the Housing Program Manager to implement new housing and employment strategies aimed at linking housing case management and employment services with the goal of making progress toward living-wage employment and housing stability. There are two open roles for this position.

This position supports the YWCA’s Social Justice Initiative by understanding how racism, sexism, classism and other oppressions play out in institutions and systems. Knowing the core principles of antiracism work and grounding those principles in everyday social service practices are required job skills and core values of the YWCA. As an equal opportunity employer, we highly encourage people of color to apply.

Hours per week: 40

Hourly pay: $25.00

Responsibilities

Systems Navigation & Assessments
Conduct a thorough family assessment using screening, intake and placement of emergency housing families as assigned by the Housing Program Manager. This includes determining eligibility of program participants for YWCA services.
Work with families to set goals and objectives around obtaining and maintaining employment encouraging self-reliance and self-determination, leading to stabilization in permanent housing.
Work in partnership with YWCA Employment Services staff to create a family development plan utilizing a strength-based model with emphasis on employment and permanent housing
Meet weekly with assigned families to coordinate service delivery, aid in overcoming barriers to housing, assist in navigating the social service system and evaluate progress in meeting goals
Provide advocacy, information and referrals in response to needs expressed by the family
Develop and maintain knowledge of community resources and provide appropriate referrals to address barriers to stable housing and employment (e.g., medical, mental health, chemical dependency, domestic violence, etc.).
Effectively collaborate with other YWCA programs to provide comprehensive services to meet families’ needs
Act as a liaison between mainstream/non-culturally responsive service providers and families when needed
Respond with antiracist trauma informed care in crisis/conflict situations
Work with co-workers and/or your supervisor to implement an action plan for families who are in need of innovative solutions
Strong working knowledge of best practices of service navigation, for families, through a culturally responsive lens
Evaluate and assess level of financial and other support for families on a regular basis to determine level of interventions
Facilitate workshops, life skills classes and other program services to program participants in shelter programs
Serve as a liaison for the agency with partnering hotels/motels
Conduct exit coaching activities and retention services for families upon their completion of the program
Facilities
Conduct monthly walk through of all housing units
Schedule cleaning of emergency and transitional housing units, to include reporting and monitoring repairs needed to the Facilities Technician or the Program Manager, and schedule pest control services, as needed
Stock emergency housing units with hygiene supplies, cleaning supplies and household items. Communicate with the Program Manager about needed items for stocking units and necessary furniture needs
Maintain complete and accurate auditable file for each family
Keep case notes updated and complete daily after each meeting and/or interaction with families. Document service provided and track families progress
Actively participate in regular supervisory and team or unit meetings
Assist in collecting and compiling program participants’ data to complete funders program reports
Provides information to administrative staff for the completion of reports and database
Comply with all YWCA, federal, state and local COVID-19 safety policies (e.g., social distancing, wearing a mask, no social gatherings for the duration of the national pandemic); encourage residents to follow YWCA, federal, state and local COVID-19 safety guidelines such as, wearing a mask, limiting social gatherings, and social distancing, etc.
Work internally with other YWCA departments (e.g., Children and Youth Services, Gender Based Violence Intervention and Prevention, Economic Advancement, Health and Safety) to provide seamless service provision
Create external connections with other culturally responsive social service providers or institutions (e.g., public schools, medical providers, government institutions) to ensure seamless service provision
Race and Gender Equity
Actively engages in agency-wide Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI), and strives for racially equitable outcomes; takes responsibility for creating and maintaining a safe and welcoming community by making room for people of color, trans and gender-non-conforming folks, and other populations who routinely encounter systemic oppressions
Analyzes and understands population and agency data to strengthen Race and Social Justice Work Plan
Implements all work using YWCA’s Social Justice Initiative
Understands institutional and systemic intersectional racism as well as internalized oppression
Has 3-5 recent community-based race and gender equity work projects/experiences within the last 5 years
Has experience working in multicultural and multiethnic communities, specifically African- American/Black communities
Exhibits a mature level in their racial identity development and a desire for continued learning
Other Responsibilities
Represent the YWCA in the community; including but not limited to committees and fundraising events
Ensure distribution of donations including YWCA in kind donation programs for program participants
Adhere to all Volunteer Services protocol relative to volunteer usage, recognition and monitoring
Attend required safety trainings and meetings; follow all safety and health guidelines, standards, practices, policies and procedures; and actively participate and lead in the agency’s Emergency Preparedness program and activities
This position description generally describes the principal functions of the position, the level of knowledge and skills typically required and the general scope of responsibility. It is not intended as a complete list of specific duties and responsibilities and should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals will perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

At least two years of direct social service experience, including one year working with low-income and/or homeless families and/or victims of domestic violence
or:
A Bachelor’s Degree with at least one year of direct social service experience working with low income and/or homeless families
Knowledge of domestic violence issues
Knowledge of homelessness issues
Demonstrates an ability to engage with diverse communities
Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills
Demonstrates excellent listening skills
Demonstrates commitment to anti-racist principles
Demonstrated knowledge and skills of basic computer competencies such as emailing, calendaring, entry-level data entry and familiarity with Microsoft Office products
Ability and willingness to work independently and as a part of a team
Knowledge of available resources in Seattle-King County for low income/homeless families
Knowledge of mental health, drug and alcohol issues preferred
Experience working with communities of color and people from different cultures than your own
Demonstrated understanding of the intersection of racism and poverty
Must be able to travel independently from site to site
Core Competencies Expected: Initiative, Collaboration, Achieving Measurable Results, Ethics and Integrity, Problem Solving, Race & Social Justice Advocacy, Fostering Diversity

Physical Requirements

Continuously exchanges information through listening and talking with families, agency staff, volunteers and individuals in the community
Frequently stands, walks, sits and climbs in performing duties and in traveling to off-site meetings
Frequently reaches and grasps in using telephones, computers, and in general operations
Frequently lifts and carries up to 5 lbs. of paperwork, files and materials
Frequently to occasionally performs close work while updating files, reading program information and using computer
*Continuously = Over 80% of the time * Frequently = 20-80% * Occasionally = Under 20%

#YWCAWORKS

YWCA encourages applicants with a variety of experiences to apply!

We recognize people gain knowledge, skills, and abilities through various experiences. For this reason, professional, academic, lived and volunteer/community-based experiences will all be considered in the application review process.

Vaccination Requirement

All new hires must be vaccinated in accordance with CDC guidelines before their first day of employment.

Mental Health Considerations

All employees of the YWCA interact with clients who have experienced or are experiencing trauma in various forms, including but not limited to, racial trauma, domestic violence, sexual violence, homelessness, unemployment, and financial hardship. As a result, employees are at risk of secondary trauma. We encourage employees to seek support inside and outside the workplace and maintain self-care routines.

Equal Opportunity Employment

YWCA Seattle King Snohomish is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To read more about this, view the EEO is the Law Poster and this EEO is the Law Poster Supplement.

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