Shelter Assistant

About Us:

Porchlight, Inc. is a dedicated nonprofit organization working to reduce homelessness in Dane County, WI. We offer essential support services, including emergency shelter, housing assistance, and advocacy. Our mission is to ensure that everyone has a safe and stable place to call home.

Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, retirement plan, paid time off, and more.

Summary:

Under the oversight of the Shelter Manager, a Shelter Assistant is responsible for
providing front-line services to guests of the Porchlight Men's Drop-In Shelter (DIS). Shelter
Assistants remain awake and available as a resource to guests throughout the night, including
orienting new individuals to the shelter, mediating interpersonal conflict, providing information
regarding other services and resources, and productively addressing problems if they arise. The
Shelter Assistant may also perform the function of Intake Worker upon opening, depending on
staffing needs and the skills of the individual.

Essential Duties:
• Create a welcoming environment for new and returning guests, including greeting guests as
they enter, orienting new guests to the shelter, and answering questions.
• Work effectively as a member of the shelter team, including maintaining open lines of
communication, consulting about guest needs or situations, cooperating to complete tasks, and
engaging in shared decision-making, as appropriate.
• Treat guests with respect and professionalism by practicing active listening, preserving
guest confidentiality, avoiding power struggles, and maintaining patience in difficult situations.
• Communicate shelter rules and policies; set limits with guests as appropriate, in keeping
with a low-barrier shelter model.
• Identify and intervene productively in emergency situations, including medical emergencies,
mental health crises, and interpersonal conflicts.
• Work individually and as a member of the shelter team to engage in effective de-escalation.
• Provide support and assistance to individuals experiencing crises due to mental illness
and/or substance use.
• Engage in proactive and creative problem solving to maintain a safe environment and keep
people inside (able to continue accessing shelter).
• Engage in ongoing training, coaching, and education related to de-escalation, substance
use, mental health symptoms, and other professional skills (provided by Porchlight). Complete
certifications as required.
• Maintain thorough and timely documentation of incidents, guest situations, and services
provided, in keeping with program guidelines.
• Provide guests with referrals to and information about social services, housing, and other
programs and resources.
• Refer guests needing more extensive support to other program staff or to community
services. Coordinate with shelter case managers on individual guest housing plans as needed.
• Attend and participate productively in weekly team meetings.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries with guests, including refraining from
engaging in social relationships or exchanging money/goods with guests. Report preexisting
relationships that may cause a conflict of interest to the Shelter Manager.
• Open and close shelter according to DIS procedures; secure facility upon closing.
• Issue appropriate, respectful, and timely lights out and wake-up announcements.
• Issue blankets, sheets, and towels; distribute other supplies according to DIS procedures.
• Assist with all aspects of food service during shift, as needed.
• Perform nightly touch point and spot cleaning per specified COVID-19 guidelines.
• Sweep, mop, wipe surfaces, take out trash, and perform other cleaning tasks as required to
maintain a safe and sanitary environment throughout the shift. Use personal protective equipment
(PPE) and follow appropriate protocols when cleaning bodily fluids.
• Assist with laundry and other facility and operation upkeep tasks as needed.
• Monitor all areas, including sleeping areas and restrooms, periodically throughout the
night.
• Complete shelter intake, as needed, including professionally and accurately documenting
guest information and orienting new new guests to shelter policies and procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Teamwork & Collaboration
• Work in collaboration with program and all other agency staff to facilitate a team
environment.
• Demonstrate and model effective communication skills in building relationships with all
guests and employees.
• Create good working relationships with other service providers.
• Participate in the development and implementation of Porchlight's strategic plan.

Porchlight Values & Culture
• Treat all guests, employees, and visitors with caring, kindness, respect, and dignity.
• Strive to reduce barriers to housing, shelter, and services.
• Help to create an environment that values diversity and promotes racial equity.
• Adhere to all Porchlight policies, procedures, code of conduct, and attendance rules.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of all information.
• Adhere to Porchlight policies in the use of computer technology and tele-communication
devices.
• Conduct oneself in accordance with appropriate and expected professional boundaries and
policies.

QUALIFICATIONS
• Genuine desire to work with people experiencing homelessness, including those with mental
illness and/or chemical dependency (experience working with these populations preferred).
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with staff and guests from various backgrounds.
• Belief that shelter is a human right and that allowing individuals to access emergency
shelter when they need it should be a top priority.
• Ability and willingness to work effectively and professionally with guests displaying a
wide range of challenging, unpleasant, and/or unusual behavior.
• Ability to stay awake and alert throughout an overnight shift.
• Willingness to work on site in an environment with numerous other individuals and to wear
personal protective equipment (provided).
• Basic word processing skills and computer literacy skills.
• Ability to compose thorough and accurate incident reports and other documentation.

Minimum Qualifications:
• Seeing, hearing, speaking
• Reading, writing
• Basic English comprehension, written and oral communication
• Ability to lift 25 pounds
• Availability to work second and third shifts, weekends, holidays

Physical Demands:
The following physical demands are representative of those required by an employee to successfully
perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be available to
enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Indoor environment: open office, shelter, kitchen, dormitories, tenant units, facilities,
etc.
• Outdoor environment: parking lot, grounds, on-site trailer, etc.
• Exposure to weather, extreme heat/cold, loud noises, fumes, airborne particles,
toxic/caustic chemicals, risk of electrical shock and vibration
• Sitting
• Standing, kneeling, walking
• Bending, stooping
• Reaching, pushing, pulling
• Climbing stairs
• Lifting, carrying up to 25 pounds
• Repetitive, fine hand, finger, and foot movements
• Typing/data entry to complete timesheets
• Talking, hearing, interacting with coworkers, vendors, participants
• Close vision
• Distance vision, field of vision, color/depth perception
Physical Qualifications:
• Seeing, hearing, speaking
• Reading, writing
• Basic English comprehension, written and oral communication
• Ability to lift 25+ pounds

Title: Shelter Assistant
Department: DIS
Primary Location: 2002 Zeier Road Madison
FLSA Status: Nonexempt
Employment Status: Full-time or Part-time, regular
Regular Schedule: The shelter is open second and third shift, 7 days per week.
Pay Range: starting at $15.00/hour
Benefits Available: Based on the average hours worked