RESIDENT ADVISOR

Class Code: 0001

Salary Range: $21.00 ($1 per hour differential pay for overnight shifts)

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Level: Entry

Benefits (Eligible to Employees working 32hrs or more):

• 5 Paid Flex Day
• 13 Paid Holidays
• 12 Paid Vacation Days
• Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
• 403b Match

CLASSIFICATION PURPOSE

Performs a variety of administrative and client-centered wellness and safety activities at an assigned interim and family housing sites.

ALLOCATION STANDARDS

Positions allocable to this entry-level class report to a site program manager and perform various administrative, wellness and safety, and client support activities requiring knowledge and understanding of housing first, harm reduction and trauma-informed principles. Position incumbents work independently and carry out assignment responsibilities within an established framework of program policies and operating procedures. Position responsibilities involve regular client interactions requiring the use of good judgment, empathy, compassion, situational awareness, and collaboration in order to address and resolve routine and complex issues surrounding client behavior, medical and housing needs. Position incumbents maintain regular communication with Care Coordinators in order to support their efforts in assisting clients with legal, health, personal, recovery, and other issues, during their assigned shift. Resident Advisors also provide for the general welfare and safety of all persons that visit the interim housing and family site or its grounds and engage in activities that promote positive relationships with neighboring residents, businesses, and organizations.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

• Conducts inspections at assigned interim and family housing sites in accordance with established procedures in order to identify and address potential security issues, safety hazards, health and fire code violations, and maintenance repair needs.
• Performs and documents wellness rounds at assigned and family interim housing facilities following established procedures in order to check on client health and safety needs, administer overdose antidotes, monitor and enforce compliance with occupancy agreements.
• Participates in daily meetings with Program Management, Care Coordinators, and other Resident Advisors at the start of a new shift in order to discuss client activity, behavior and needs, perimeter and wellness check observations, and incident reports.
• Maintains a welcoming, clean, and supportive environment for clients and visitors by following established protocols in place at the assigned interim and family housing facility.
• Enforces interim and family housing safety requirements in order to minimize and prevent hazardous or potentially violent conditions that could result in client or structural harm by following pre-approved protocols and methods.
• Performs regular walks through the surrounding neighborhood at designed interim and family housing facilities in order to build relationships with residents, foster positive relations, and mitigate escalation of community concerns.
• Ensures compliance with interim and family housing facility policies and rules by monitoring client behavior, addressing violations, and implementing corrective actions as needed to maintain a safe and orderly living environment.
• Maintains a variety of documents containing client and visitor data following established interim housing facility procedures in order to comply with record keeping requirements.
• Assists with the orderly and efficient receipt, storage, and distribution of meals to interim housing clients in a manner consistent with operating procedures.
• Provides as needed administrative and facility set-up assistance in support of volunteer activities at assigned interim housing facilities.
• Attends on-site and off-site trainings, team meetings, and occasional events as required, in order to participate in discussions and activities, obtain information to enhance professional development, and contribute to the overall effectiveness of interim housing operations.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Ability to serve the homeless community with an inherent desire that demonstrates empathy, compassion, and a commitment to supporting their well-being and quality of life.
• Basic active listening skills in order to understand and engage with clients, visitors, co-workers, and others.
• Ability to demonstrate empathy in order to understand and share the feelings of clients when interacting on sensitive matters.
• Ability to demonstrate compassion when interacting with clients so as to recognize and respond to their needs and struggles with kindness and understanding.
• Ability to discern such things as behavior, body language, and tone in order apply appropriate approaches and de-escalation techniques when interacting with clients on delicate, sensitive or potentially dangerous situations.
• Ability to assert authority with tact, diplomacy and collaboration in order to effectively address and resolve situations involving client violations of policies and procedures.
• Ability to remain calm and composed in challenging situations involving client interactions, medical emergencies, and incidents requiring law enforcement intervention.
• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity to diverse cultural backgrounds, mental health needs, substance use, and other individual circumstances affecting homeless populations in order to engage clients with respect and compassion.
• Ability to learn and apply new concepts and protocols on a continuous basis in order to adapt to changing requirements.
• Basic written and oral expression skills in order to effectively communicate in writing and/or via in-person verbal interactions.
• Basic customer service excellence skills in order to establish and maintain positive, friendly, and professional interactions with guests, visitors, and staff.
• Basic skill in the application of office software, such as electronic mail, word processing, scanning software (Adobe, PDF) in order to open and respond to email, type or prepare written materials, and scan documents.
• Basic skill in the operation of office equipment and machines, such as desktop or laptop computers, printers, and scanners.

Essential Physical Characteristics

The physical characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential job duties of this classification. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of a job, on a case-by-case basis.

• Continuous: walking, standing, bending and twisting of neck, bending and twisting of waist, squatting, simple grasping, reaching above and below shoulder level, and lifting and carrying of materials over 25 pounds.
• Frequent: sitting, repetitive use of hands to operate computers, printers and copiers. Exposure to outdoor weather, noise, dust, fluctuating temperature, and lighting.

Workplace Hazard Exposure

The workplace hazard exposure conditions described here are representative of those that an employee may likely encounter in the performance of the essential job duties of this classification.

• Exposure to potential physical and verbal attacks by clients
• Death threats
• Exposure to controlled substances and paraphernalia
• Exposure to fumes from controlled substances
• Exposure to smoke from cigarettes
• Exposure to communicable diseases, such as tuberculosis, scabies, lice
• Exposure to clients using weapons, such as knives and guns
• Exposure to bed bugs
• Exposure to the sun and heat
• Exposure to vicarious trauma
• Exposure to vehicle traffic conditions
• Exposure to bodily fluids (urine, blood, saliva, and fecal matter)
• Exposure to dog bites

EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

No experience required.

All new hires are required to complete a 90-day introductory period during which they must complete an initial 40-hour training program. The training will cover Union Station Homeless Services’ housing first, harm reduction and trauma-informed program model, interim and family housing policies and procedures, client wellness and safety protocols, and other key people management policies. All new hires must also complete CPR and Security Guard training within 60-days of their hire date.

HIRING ASSESSMENTS

The hiring process for this classification will consist of two parts. Part I: online assessment to evaluate basic software application, written expression, and customer service skills scored on a pass/fail basis. Part II: oral interview to evaluate interest and motivation to work in the homeless services sector, oral expression, interpersonal effectiveness, empathy, compassion, situational awareness, and problem solving. Applicants must achieve a score of 70% or higher in order to be placed on the hiring list.

PREEMPLOYMENT BACKGROUND CHECK

Following an offer of employment, all candidates will be required to pass background check consisting of a criminal and references check.

Union Station Homeless Services Embraces Diversity

We embrace our differences and are committed to furthering our culture of inclusion and belonging. Our commitment to racial equity within the organization is crucial to who we are and the clients we serve. Committed to being an anti-racist organization and sharing the the unique cultural experiences from our networks, we offer annual racial equity training, host ongoing learning experiences through our lunch n' learns, and participate in on-going mental health trainings.

We promote acceptance, respect, teamwork and fosters diversity in the workplace. We believe every individual has a story, past, and a unique set of skills that shape who we are and through this network, we can learn from each other to become better versions of ourselves personally and professionally. Through our staff-led network focusing on diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and accessibility, we work to communicate, educate, and express diverse cultivation through our eight Diversity Networks. We are honored that the Diversity Network has been recognized as part of the Community Impact Awards presented by the Los Angeles Business Journal.

Union Station Homeless Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer