Residential Support Specialist (Tuesday, Wednesday, and every other Saturday and Sunday four pm to midnight )
*HIRING BONUS: $500!*
At Avalon, housing is a basic human right. We envision a community in which all of our neighbors have a home and an opportunity to thrive. We build supportive housing communities as a long-term solution to homelessness.
Avalon Housing is a non-profit supportive housing provider. Supportive housing is a combination of affordable housing (that we build) paired with services, like case management. We don't just help people find housing. Our property managers and support coordinators help people stay in their homes. This is not easy work, but as one of our tenants says: "Avalon will get in the trenches with you."
We're looking for people who want to join our cause and help eradicate homelessness in our community. Are you interested?
If you are passionate about creating more diverse, inclusive, and equitable communities where all people are welcome, Avalon may be a good fit for you.
Utilizing a "Housing First" approach, our services teams help tenants achieve housing stability and move beyond homelessness. Services staff also collaborates with community partners to ensure the coordinated delivery of a broad range of services that meet the mental, physical, psycho-social and housing needs of the individuals either through direct service or linkage to appropriate resources.
The individuals served by this position face many challenges including multi-morbid conditions, mental illness, substance abuse disorders, and/or chronic medical conditions alongside a history of chronic homelessness. The Residential Support Specialist position will provide hands-on support with these clients in their homes, to help ensure their wellbeing and maintain their housing. Provided services may include apartment cleaning, laundry cleaning, skills coaching, medication administration, and well-being assessment.
Job Responsibilities:
In conjunction with the Team Leader and other staff, Residential Support Specialists are responsible for the provision of basic services to tenants and performance of day-to-day operational functions in addition to monitoring guests entry/exit to the building and providing an onsite response.
- Interact with tenants in the general milieu of common areas
- Assist in the coordination of services to tenants, contact outside service providers as necessary
- Assist in engaging tenants through creative, resourceful strategies that build trust and confidence
- Assist in the initiation, facilitation and promotion of on-site activities, therapeutic support groups, outings and community meetings/events/meals
- Support program operations
- Operate all functions in lobby office, including checking visitors in and out, answering telephones and monitoring security systems
- Maintain safety and security by monitoring all general access areas and enforcing program rules
- Intervene in crises, respond to emergencies, and initiate action as required, including contact with emergency response systems
- Respond to tenant complaints
- Work cooperatively with clinical, property management, maintenance, and other staff onsite in addition to visiting providers; refer tenants to clinical and other staff as necessary
- Initiate appropriate response to maintenance requests
- Participate in staff meetings and trainings
- Assist tenants with conflict resolution among tenants and neighbors
- Assist tenants as needed with activities of daily living such as transportation, housekeeping, meal preparation, medication, shopping, laundry, or other hands on assistance
- Meet documentation requirements as dictated by program need
Supplemental Job Duties:
- Attend staff meetings, retreats and professional training sessions
Required Qualifications:
- High School Diploma
- Avalon Housing is dedicated to eliminating racial inequities. Successful candidates will demonstrate the ability to work well with multicultural communities.
Desired Skills and Abilities:
- A year of experience in human services, preferably working with similar populations, including people who are homeless, people with mental illness, chronic health, and/or addiction disorders preferred
- Basic understanding of homelessness and various characteristics of the homeless adult population; experience with the issues of mental illness and chemical dependency preferred.
- Ability to effectively work with diverse populations in a non-judgmental way
- Capacity to respond to crisis situations
- Strong communication skills - both verbal and written
- Strong problem-solving skills
- Ability to recognize appropriate boundaries with clients
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Must possess a highly positive and enthusiastic attitude and strong commitment toward helping those in need
- Interest and experience in working with individuals who are difficult to engage and refer to traditional programs, subscribe to a philosophy of tolerance and ability to engage with individuals in their current stage of change, expressed knowledge, acceptance, and/or experience with principles of harm reduction
- Ability to communicate and work effectively with staff from various backgrounds ∙ Ability to work flexible hours as required by programs and staffing needs
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required to sit for long periods of time, drive a vehicle with passengers, communicate with other persons by talking and hearing, be required to lift and carry items weighing up to 25 pounds, and to operate computer hardware systems.
A valid Michigan driver's license and reliable transportation are required.
Job Title: Residential Support Specialist
Salary: $16.85 hourly
Benefits: optional 403(b), vacation and additional holidays, Employee Assistance & Wellness programs
Reports to: Miller Manor Team Lead
Status: Part-time (Tuesday, Wednesday, and every other Saturday & Sunday 4 - midnight)
Avalon Housing is an equal opportunity employer and actively seeks applicants from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, as well as historically marginalized groups. This includes but is not limited to lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, people who identify as transgender or non-binary, people living with disabilities or mental health conditions, and with lived experience with homelessness or recovery from a substance use disorder. Avalon also encourages those with criminal histories to apply. Avalon doesn't request information about criminal histories unless and until an offer of employment is extended. Avalon may exclude someone based on criminal history if it determines the criminal history is related to or directly conflicts with the responsibilities of the position.
For more information, or to apply now, you must go to the website below. Please DO NOT email your resume to us as we only accept applications through our website.