Engagement Specialist

Share’s Mission:  

“Share believes every person counts. Together we pursue a stronger community by building relationships, advocating for equitable access to housing and food stability while empowering every individual to grow and thrive.” 

Share provides a wide spectrum of services ranging from street outreach, hunger response, and emergency shelter to housing and asset building. We offer individuals services, resources, and the tools they need to end their homelessness, secure housing, and maintain that housing. Each year, we assist more than 8,000 people experiencing poverty, hunger, and/or homelessness.  

We seek bright, driven people who are passionate about social justice and who want challenging career opportunities that deliver personal and professional fulfillment. Our dedicated and energetic employees provide essential services to a vulnerable population. We take pride in making a difference in the lives of so many people every day.  

Share recognizes that our employees are the foundation for our organization as well as our heart and soul. Share has a generous and robust benefit package including 4 weeks of PTO, a wellness program, 401(k) with match, and health/dental and life insurance. We encourage a culture of supportive compassion for our participants, co-workers, and volunteers.  

DE&I Statement:  

Share wants to be part of a community that brings about change. We are committed to actively working to dismantle racist systems, focusing on sustainable solutions to structural racism, police violence, and inequitable economic, health care, and education systems. It requires all institutions, including ours, to ask what more we can and should do to live our commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion – and we must be brave enough to make changes.  

Job Summary:

The Engagement Specialist provides staffing at all of Share’s 24-hour facilities, including our shelters and Lincoln Place Apartments. Engagement specialists focus on safety, client engagement, and supporting clients in decreasing their barriers to housing. The facilities are low barriers providing shelter or housing and crisis intervention, emotional support, harm reduction and resource coordination. All shifts could be available: Day Shift, typically 8:00 am to 4:30 pm; Swing shift is typically 4:00 pm to Midnight. Overnight shift is Midnight - 8:00 am. Schedule: On-call role with variable hours. Shifts are offered based on operational needs; there is no guarantee of a set number of hours

Summary of essential job functions and responsibilities:

• Work with the Program Director and other Engagement Specialists to ensure that the facilities are safe and welcoming to a broad diversity of people experiencing homelessness including people of all races, nationalities, languages, ages, abilities.

• Provide conflict resolution by encouraging positive methods for problem solving.

• Assist clients with creating and working on goals and a housing plan.

• Provide basic needs assistance including clothing, blankets, bedding and other items in a fair and equitable manner to residents.

• provide crisis intervention to clients and notify police, fire, and emergency medical or other emergency personnel if warranted by events in the building.

• Meet with supervisor and participate in department staff meetings and staff training.

• Maintain accurate, complete, up-to-date daily documentation of residents served and their basic demographic information. Enter data and case documentation into Service Point.

• Communicate with co-workers and supervisor in person, over email, and through Microsoft 365 applications.

• Develop and maintain a positive relationship with residents and other employees

• Perform routine janitorial duties to maintain a clean, safe, and hygienic environment in common areas and program spaces, including but not limited to sweeping, mopping, emptying trash, restocking supplies, and disinfecting high-touch surfaces.

• Swing Shift staff at Family Shelters prepares dinner for 50 people nightly

• Valid Food Handlers Card *all sites **Share will pay for Food Handlers Card

• Valid Driver License.

• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications Experience:

Position requires a minimum of one (2) years’ experience in a related field, specifically with people experiencing homelessness or low-income individuals. Experience in dealing with substance use disorders, mental health concerns and crisis intervention desired.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Social and economic issues create poverty, working successfully with practices and techniques related to people with low income to achieve greater self-sufficiency.

• Knowledge of local social service resources/providers

• Understanding of the housing first model, harm reduction and strength-based case management

• Effective problem-solving skills

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills

• Proficient in written and oral communication

• Show strong leadership abilities

• Strong organizational skills and ability to follow through from beginning to end on tasks and projects

• Basic principles of confidentiality, crisis de-escalation, assertive engagement, and trauma informed care.

• Be culturally sensitive to diverse client populations

• Prepare and maintain clear, accurate, complete, and timely records

• Maintain strict confidentiality and professional boundaries with all clients served

• Understand and follow complex written and oral instructions, guidelines, and procedures

• Work independently and at the same time be a vital and contributing part of a team.

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in a related field is highly desirable.

Potential new hires will require a background check, which could include:   

• Valid Driver’s License/ Motor Vehicle record  

• Criminal Background History  

• Sex Offender Registry  

• OFCCP Registry 

Disclaimer:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.