Housing Focused Shelter Worker

Walking alongside The Mustard Seed’s community participants who are utilizing the shelter and have experienced significant trauma and barriers to housing, food, and other basic needs, the Housing Focused Shelter Worker encourages them in their journey and connects them with programs and services so that they can achieve a positive, coordinated, and sustained exit from the shelter. The Housing Focused Shelter Worker will provide housing support to shelter guests by connecting them with internal and external resources to divert them as soon as possible from the shelter and ensure they are sustainably housed. A Housing Focused Shelter Worker is on the front line and responds to participants’ needs on an ongoing basis. The Housing Focused Shelter Worker fulfills the mission of The Mustard Seed by maintaining a high level of professionalism, and respect for all who enter the building and neighborhood. Crisis intervention, meaningful conversations, case management and conflict resolution are daily occurrences for this role.

**Position Type**:Permanent Part-time
**Reporting to**:Shelter Supervisor
**Location**:Edmonton, AB
**Schedule**: 8-hour shifts, 4 days on and 4 days off, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

**MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES**
- As the first point of contact for participants seeking support, you will be expected to provide excellent service that promotes dignity, kindness, and equity for all.
- Respond quickly to individuals in crisis, both inside and outside the building. This includes, but is not limited to, physical or mental health concerns, anger and aggression, and interpersonal crises. The worker must identify the crisis, minimize the harm to the individual and others, use de-escalation skills and assist the individual to explore healthy alternative options.
- Use case management tools to help shelter/drop-in participants work on short-term and long-term goals in relation to housing.
- Enforce shelter rules, expectations, and suspensions with participants when necessary.
- Practice conflict resolution and facilitate reconciliatory conversations.
- Provide support to community members seeking shelter by addressing basic needs.
- Assist with daily meal programs.
- Assist with various janitorial and maintenance tasks as needed to uphold the cleanliness and functionality of the shelter.
- Ensure the daily operation of the shelter, including tasks such as laundry, cleaning common areas, operating the locker room, conducting security checks, and supervising shelter activities.
- Model healthy relationships with community participants and volunteers through active listening, advising, providing appropriate referrals, and being open to spiritual conversations.
- Be a supportive and proactive member of the team, including volunteers and other visitors.
- Participate in staff training, attend staff meetings, and have one-on-one sessions with supervisor.
- Collect data and maintain accurate client records in CCMS using FDARP.
- Submit incident reports when necessary.
- Respect proper boundaries with participants.
- Provide and maintain a safe, clean environment for respite, for adult community participants.
- Take initiative and use critical thinking to assess situations and make appropriate decisions to support participants.
- Through a person-centered approach, you will encourage community participants to seek resources and services that support them in achieving their goals.
- Adhere to the privacy and confidentiality standards as outlined by FOIP and the Health Information Act.
- Perform other duties as assigned.

**MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS**
- 1 year of experience working with a marginalized population.
- Experience working within the culture of the inner city and/or with the less fortunate.
- A demonstrated passion to be involved in ending homelessness in Alberta is essential.
- Follow organizational protocols of front-line programs to completion.
- Experience in case management and advocacy is considered an asset.
- Able to multi-task and demonstrate organizational skills with shifting priorities.
- Experience working in a volunteer-based organization is considered an asset.
- Strong communication (written and verbal) and conflict resolution skills.
- Customer service experience an asset.
- A self-starter with the ability to work in a cross-functional team.
- Strong desire to work with a marginalized and vulnerable population.
- Desire to serve in a Christian ministry.

**WORKING CONDITIONS**
- The working environment for this position requires moderate amounts of walking, climbing, standing, sitting, lifting, carrying, and daily interactions with colleagues and community participants.
- This position is often fast-paced and requires a moderate amount of mental effort to analyze information and problem solve.
- This position requires varied mental and emotional effort and must be able to respond appropriately to intense situations, provide conflict resolution, and work directly wit