Mary's Place
Family & Shelter Advocate (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday Evenings, Part-time, d
Mary's Place, Seattle, Washington, us, 98127
Family & Shelter Advocate (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday Evenings, Part‑time, downtown Seattle)
Mary's Place seeks a responsible and energetic individual with a passion for serving families at our 24‑hour shelter locations. The Advocate will coordinate and facilitate shelter activities, provide care and crisis management, maintain a clean environment, and offer acceptance and hope.
Key Responsibilities Guest Relations (40%)
Lead Guest Direct Advocacy (GDA) check‑ins with an assigned caseload, providing consistent, individualized support to families.
Assist guests with internal and external resource navigation, including housing, employment, healthcare, and education services.
Proactively create a welcoming and affirming environment and engage families in high‑quality shelter services.
Maintain a calm, affirming demeanor and model positive behavior, honoring professional boundaries.
Address behavioral challenges and provide trauma‑informed crisis management, conflict de‑escalation, and set appropriate limits through an equity lens.
Collaborate and regularly communicate with staff and supervisors to ensure consistency and high‑quality service delivery.
Shelter Operations & Procedures (30%)
Execute shelter processes according to the time of day and the Shelter Policy Manual.
Maintain a clean and sanitary environment—disinfect high‑touch areas, do laundry, restock supplies, clean bathrooms and showers, vacuum, sweep, mop floors, and manage trash.
Serve food while adhering to all food safety and serving protocols, with clear documentation.
Move around the facility and maintain an active presence to support guests.
Record and report any building or facility concerns.
Attend required trainings and monthly staff meetings.
Implementation of Guest Enrichment Programming (15%)
Facilitate a calendar of activities and events for guests; provide feedback to the Shelter & Services Manager, Program Services Director, and Site Director on effectiveness and improvement ideas.
Welcome and orient volunteers to the space and their roles, actively engaging them in shelter activities.
Data Entry and Information Management (15%)
Author, upload, and maintain clear, objective, accurate electronic guest records, reports, and shelter documentation.
Handle and protect sensitive information; maintain confidentiality.
Keep community resources up‑to‑date and accessible to guests.
Requirements
Prior experience as a Shelter Advocate strongly preferred.
Two or more years of work or volunteer experience in a social services setting, or one or more years of social services experience combined with one or more years of customer service experience.
Experience in a shelter setting or with people experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity highly preferred.
Passion for and demonstrated experience working with children and families.
Demonstrated creative problem‑solving, conflict de‑escalation, mediation, and crisis management skills.
Demonstrated understanding of trauma‑informed care.
Ability to set appropriate boundaries and maintain a professional demeanor in a high‑stress environment.
Highly motivated, self‑starter, resourceful, flexible, with a positive attitude.
Compassion and empathy; works well with parents and children from diverse backgrounds.
Computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office and the database system, with accurate and timely documentation.
Strong reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills.
Strong organizational and time‑management skills.
Sensitivity to clients experiencing homelessness, low‑income, limited English speaking, or other barriers to employment and housing.
Proficient in English; proficiency in another language preferred (Portuguese, Amharic, Spanish, Lingala, Oromo, French, Russian, Tigrinya, or Marshallese).
Willingness to take a TB test within 30 days of hire.
Physical Requirements
Ability to converse with and listen to people in many settings.
Use of computer and telephone, and standard office equipment.
Convey sitting, walking, standing, bending, squatting, climbing, kneeling, and twisting on an intermittent or continuous basis.
Occasional push, pull, lift or carry supplies up to 25 lbs.
Work includes lengthy periods of sitting, computer work, walking various work areas, and stairs.
Travel to program sites and meetings outside the site and county required.
Ability to work in an environment where animals may be present, including dogs.
Benefits
Unlimited use ORCA pass for a small deduction per pay period.
Sick Time in accordance with Seattle Paid Sick and Safe Time Ordinance.
Paid Time Off (PTO) accrues at 0.03846 hour per hour in timesheet, increasing with tenure up to 0.05769 hour for 5+ years.
403(b) plan with 50% employer match on first 6% employee contribution; eligibility after 1 year and 1,000 hours.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Schedule Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, 3:00 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. (27 hours over three evenings)
Pay $25.00 / hour (DOE)
Equity Mary's Place actively engages in equity work, striving for racially equitable outcomes and affirming communities for people of color, immigrants and refugees, trans and gender‑non‑conforming people, and other historically oppressed populations. As an equal‑opportunity employer, people of color are encouraged to apply.
Other Mary's Place is an equal opportunity employer. If you have a disability requiring accommodation with the application process, contact Human Resources. Qualified individuals must be able to perform essential duties with or without accommodation.
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Key Responsibilities Guest Relations (40%)
Lead Guest Direct Advocacy (GDA) check‑ins with an assigned caseload, providing consistent, individualized support to families.
Assist guests with internal and external resource navigation, including housing, employment, healthcare, and education services.
Proactively create a welcoming and affirming environment and engage families in high‑quality shelter services.
Maintain a calm, affirming demeanor and model positive behavior, honoring professional boundaries.
Address behavioral challenges and provide trauma‑informed crisis management, conflict de‑escalation, and set appropriate limits through an equity lens.
Collaborate and regularly communicate with staff and supervisors to ensure consistency and high‑quality service delivery.
Shelter Operations & Procedures (30%)
Execute shelter processes according to the time of day and the Shelter Policy Manual.
Maintain a clean and sanitary environment—disinfect high‑touch areas, do laundry, restock supplies, clean bathrooms and showers, vacuum, sweep, mop floors, and manage trash.
Serve food while adhering to all food safety and serving protocols, with clear documentation.
Move around the facility and maintain an active presence to support guests.
Record and report any building or facility concerns.
Attend required trainings and monthly staff meetings.
Implementation of Guest Enrichment Programming (15%)
Facilitate a calendar of activities and events for guests; provide feedback to the Shelter & Services Manager, Program Services Director, and Site Director on effectiveness and improvement ideas.
Welcome and orient volunteers to the space and their roles, actively engaging them in shelter activities.
Data Entry and Information Management (15%)
Author, upload, and maintain clear, objective, accurate electronic guest records, reports, and shelter documentation.
Handle and protect sensitive information; maintain confidentiality.
Keep community resources up‑to‑date and accessible to guests.
Requirements
Prior experience as a Shelter Advocate strongly preferred.
Two or more years of work or volunteer experience in a social services setting, or one or more years of social services experience combined with one or more years of customer service experience.
Experience in a shelter setting or with people experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity highly preferred.
Passion for and demonstrated experience working with children and families.
Demonstrated creative problem‑solving, conflict de‑escalation, mediation, and crisis management skills.
Demonstrated understanding of trauma‑informed care.
Ability to set appropriate boundaries and maintain a professional demeanor in a high‑stress environment.
Highly motivated, self‑starter, resourceful, flexible, with a positive attitude.
Compassion and empathy; works well with parents and children from diverse backgrounds.
Computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office and the database system, with accurate and timely documentation.
Strong reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills.
Strong organizational and time‑management skills.
Sensitivity to clients experiencing homelessness, low‑income, limited English speaking, or other barriers to employment and housing.
Proficient in English; proficiency in another language preferred (Portuguese, Amharic, Spanish, Lingala, Oromo, French, Russian, Tigrinya, or Marshallese).
Willingness to take a TB test within 30 days of hire.
Physical Requirements
Ability to converse with and listen to people in many settings.
Use of computer and telephone, and standard office equipment.
Convey sitting, walking, standing, bending, squatting, climbing, kneeling, and twisting on an intermittent or continuous basis.
Occasional push, pull, lift or carry supplies up to 25 lbs.
Work includes lengthy periods of sitting, computer work, walking various work areas, and stairs.
Travel to program sites and meetings outside the site and county required.
Ability to work in an environment where animals may be present, including dogs.
Benefits
Unlimited use ORCA pass for a small deduction per pay period.
Sick Time in accordance with Seattle Paid Sick and Safe Time Ordinance.
Paid Time Off (PTO) accrues at 0.03846 hour per hour in timesheet, increasing with tenure up to 0.05769 hour for 5+ years.
403(b) plan with 50% employer match on first 6% employee contribution; eligibility after 1 year and 1,000 hours.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Schedule Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, 3:00 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. (27 hours over three evenings)
Pay $25.00 / hour (DOE)
Equity Mary's Place actively engages in equity work, striving for racially equitable outcomes and affirming communities for people of color, immigrants and refugees, trans and gender‑non‑conforming people, and other historically oppressed populations. As an equal‑opportunity employer, people of color are encouraged to apply.
Other Mary's Place is an equal opportunity employer. If you have a disability requiring accommodation with the application process, contact Human Resources. Qualified individuals must be able to perform essential duties with or without accommodation.
#J-18808-Ljbffr