Shelter Advocates

Position DC SAFE is recruiting Shelter Advocates for full‑time, in‑person positions covering non‑traditional hours, weekdays, weekends, and overnight shifts. Salary is $26.44 per hour. Responsibilities General Direct Client Services: Assess every client for lethality and devise an advocacy plan along with a DC safety plan as part of DC SAFE critical incident response. Provide immediate tangible crisis intervention resources and facilitate Continuum Partners access. Guide clients through the civil and criminal justice process with a focus on their immediate safety and self‑determination. Provide information and assistance about navigating the Civil Justice System (e.g., evidentiary requirements for obtaining an ETPO/TPO/CPO, accessing DVICs, enforcement of Civil Protection Orders, and victims’ rights). Provide information and assistance about navigating the Criminal Justice System (e.g., contacting the USAO screener, victim witness rights, reporting violations to USAO, status of case, holds, releases, ensuring safety). Coordinate with MPD, USAO, and CSOSA regarding the status of violations, supervision, and the location of both client and defendant. Offer soft referrals and maintain referral mechanisms for DC SAFE toward coordinating a community response to client needs. Report back on client concerns, trends, and needs, and partner concerns and needs. Advocate for clients or assist them in advocating for themselves by providing general legal/systems information, writing letters and complaints on their behalf. Facilitate clients’ access to the DC SAFE Space Shelter. Assist clients in applying for Crime Victims Compensation. Shelter Advocate: Provide primary coverage in the DC SAFE shelter, offering support, advocacy, and safety planning to shelter clients during their stay. Ensure the shelter runs smoothly: conduct safety checks, collaborate with support staff, and facilitate building maintenance. Provide information, referrals, letters of recommendation, and broad‑based advocacy to increase access to social service programs. Coordinate and facilitate client intakes and exits, ensuring quality client interactions. Implement and enforce shelter rules. Support interns and volunteers. General Programmatic Duties: Assist in implementing systems advocacy plans, projects, programs, policies, and procedures. Diligently maintain client records and DC SAFE databases. Gather and analyze statistical information on clients, services, and trends. Participate in training to enhance knowledge of domestic violence. Participate in community outreach, media campaigns, and training with community organizations. Attend community meetings, training events, and staff meetings; facilitate 40‑hour volunteer/intern/staff training. Assist in recruitment of volunteers. As Needed/Additional Skills: Effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public. Reasoning ability – solve practical problems and deal with various concrete variables in limited‑standardization situations; interpret multiple instructions in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. Computer skills – knowledge of Google Suite, spreadsheets, email, database software, and contact management. Background and Experience 1–2 years of experience with crisis intervention work. Mandatory 40‑hour advocacy training preferred. Experience with domestic violence issues and DC social service resources. Attention to detail and ability to follow protocol and procedures. Experience working with law enforcement preferred. Comfortable working with diverse populations. Experience with criminal and civil legal system. Must successfully pass background and drug tests. Essential Skills Attention to Detail – achieves thoroughness and accuracy. Problem‑solving – identifies issues, structures problems, analyzes data, and generates actionable recommendations. Project management – oversees complex projects, plans backward, ensures timely delivery. Communications – produces strong written documents, edits effectively, engages in verbal communication. External Relations – serves as ambassador, builds connections, maintains relationships with outside constituents. Team environment – fosters open communication culture. Benefits Benefits include sick leave, vacation, holidays, life insurance, EAP, FSA, personal days, 403b, medical, dental, and vision insurance. Reasonable Accommodations Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Physical demands include standing, walking, using hands, lifting up to 25 pounds, and visual acuity. The job may be performed in office environments. Equal Opportunity DC SAFE is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All persons have equal opportunity and access to employment opportunities, services, and facilities without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status. #J-18808-Ljbffr DC SAFE