Resident Advocate

AGENCY SUMMARY: Based in San Leandro, Building Futures is an Alameda County leader providing a safety net of services to help individuals and families rebuild safe and stable lives after homelessness and family violence. To accomplish this aim, the agency provides a continuum of care including two homeless shelters; a domestic violence safe house; a full spectrum of domestic violence outreach services; a transitional and permanent housing site; and rapid rehousing programs which serves target populations including military veterans, families reuniting after CPS involvement, survivors of domestic violence, and others.

POSITION SUMMARY: Building Futures with Women and Children (BFWC), formerly known as the San Leandro Shelter for Women and Children, operates three shelters for women and children. Sister Me Home is the domestic violence shelter. The Resident Advocate plays a very important role that in our agency and anyone that fills this role needs to understand and believe in our mission. Resident advocates at Sister Me Home are responsible for ensuring the safety of the shelter and its residents, carrying out shelter guidelines and schedules, handling crisis situations, answering our 24-hour crisis line, and performing other duties as determined by the shelter manager. The Resident Advocate strives to always provide a high level of customer service to our residents and executes operational tasks while on site. Resident advocate is a non-exempt position that reports to the shelter manager.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Provide for the needs of residents, maintaining the confidentiality, professionalism, and policies of the agency when working with shelter residents. Sign and uphold ethics and confidentiality agreement.
• Provide shift coverage. Shifts are divided into the following three increments: 8 am - 4:30 pm, 4 pm - 12:30 am, 12 am - 8:30am.
• Complete Safety Risk Assessments with clients wanting to enter the sister Me Home shelter.
• Complete safety plans with residents at Sister Me Home.
• Provide and advocate for the needs of residents, maintaining the confidentiality and professionalism policies of the agency when working with shelter residents.
• Sign and uphold ethics and confidentiality agreement
• Log and document appropriate shift and resident information by the end of each shift.
• Perform necessary shelter operations, including serving meals, doing chores, taking inventory, performing client intakes, etc.
• Assist in maintaining accurate client records by provide information to the case manager regarding clients and staying in communication with Case Managers, Site Coordinators, and/or program managers regarding all clients.
• Attend bi-monthly staff meetings.
• Perform other tasks or responsibilities as assigned by the shelter manager.
• Provide shift coverage as scheduled.

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Qualification:

• Commitment to serving the needs of homeless and battered women and children.
• Certified Domestic Violence Counselor (training/ certification provided soon after hire).
• Ability to handle multiple tasks, including service provision, documentation, rule enforcement, and crisis intervention.
• Ability to work independently and ensure the safety of residents and shelter environment during each shift.
• Ability to work as a team, with characteristics including initiative, resourcefulness, flexibility, and reliability.
• Ability to interact in a supportive and professional manner with a diverse population.

Knowledge:

• High School Diploma or Equivalent.
• Experience working with underserved populations.
• Experience in and knowledge of the effects of trauma, domestic violence, homelessness, mental

health, substance abuse, and child abuse prevention, and empowerment of women and children.

• Conflict resolution skills a plus.
• Bilingual in Spanish or Mandarin a plus.
• Domestic Violence Counselor Training a plus.
• Abilities in Client advocacy, counseling, and conflict resolution a plus.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORKING:

The work environment and physical demands described are representative of those required by employee to perform to the essential functions of this job with or without reasonable accommodation

• Must be able to lift 50 pounds.
• In an 8-hour workday.
• Hand use: single grasping, fine manipulation, pushing and pulling.
• Work requires the following motions: bending, twisting, squatting, and reaching.

COMPENSATION:

Building Futures offers competitive salary based on experience and skills of employees. Additionally, the agency provides a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, employee self-managed 403b retirement benefits, ancillary benefits, access to Flexible Spending Accounts, and generous leave benefits.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY:

Building Futures is an equal opportunity employer. Our commitment to equal opportunity extends to the employment relationship and all areas of personnel activity such as recruitment, selection, hiring, placement, job assignment, supervision, training, promotions, transfers, compensation, benefits, employee activities, educational opportunities, and access to facilities and programs. Building Futures’ policy prohibits discrimination based on actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, domestic partnership status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition as defined by applicable state or local law (such as cancer), genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances. Building Futures also prohibits discrimination based on the perception that anyone is of a protected class or is associated with a person who is perceived as being part of a protected class. All such discrimination is unlawful.