Day Shelter Supervisor

Description

The Haven’s Day Shelter is open 365 days a year, providing low-barrier services to community members experiencing homelessness, housing insecurity, and poverty. As a Day Shelter Supervisor, you will serve as the first point of contact and support for our guests, offering access to in-house respite services and connecting them to other community resources. With a team of dedicated staff and volunteers, you will supervise the day-to-day, frontline operations of the Day Shelter.  This position requires an enthusiastic commitment to the values of trauma-informed care and the harm reduction approach. It embodies the ideal of radical hospitality for all.

*Must be able to arrive for shifts at 6:30 AM.

*Must be available to work weekends. 

The Haven is an equal opportunity, second chance employer. We encourage people who have experienced oppression or were formerly incarcerated to apply, as well as those who feel particularly called to The Haven’s mission even if you do not yet possess all the preferred skills for this role.

Job Duties

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Consistently embody the guiding values of The Haven when interacting with human beings:
  • Respond to human beings with radical hospitality, unconditional positive regard, and a commitment to the principles of the Housing First and Harm Reduction models 
  • Practice and promote antiracist, trauma-informed, person-centered, and strengths-based responses to human beings
  • Communicate clearly, thoroughly, and with outcomes/solutions in mind
• Guest support and guidance:
  • Maintains impeccable professional boundaries with all guests
  • Warmly welcome guests and assist them with sign-ins (showers, laundry, etc.)
  • Proactively and effectively connect guests with resources inside and outside The Haven
  • Develop authentic and meaningful relationships with guests allowing you to anticipate their needs and reduce likelihood of conflict
  • Proactively exercise conflict prevention strategies 
  • De-escalate guest issues as they arise, with support from the Day Shelter Manager when necessary
  • Assist guests with grievance reporting and follow proper grievance procedure
  • Effectively support guests with the assistance request process (eyeglasses, bicycles, clothing vouchers, phones, etc.)
  • Inform Day Shelter Manager as soon as possible when any issues with guests, staff, or others arise
• Day Shelter operations and administration:
  • Arrive on time and ready to work for the duration of your scheduled shift
  • Provide support for coworkers 
  • Answer and direct incoming calls
  • Receive, sort, and replenish incoming donations in bins, lockers, and storage room
  • Add supplies and other items to restock list when running low
  • Enter daily numbers into spreadsheet (laundry, men’s showers, women’s showers)
  • Sort incoming mail into alphabetized mail bins for guests and staff
  • Wash, fold, and store all used towels and washcloths daily
  • Keep Day Shelter areas clean and free of trash
  • Maintain guest sign-in sheets weekly by removing inactive guests and adding new guests
  • Identify mail that has been on site for 30+ days and return to postal carrier
  • Identify bins of guests that have not accessed services for 30+ days and clean/assign bins to guests on waiting list
  • Carry out emergency procedures when necessary, including fire and flood protocols
  • Attend weekly Day Shelter team meetings
  • Participate in assigned training and professional development
  • Attend semi-annual staff retreats
• Volunteer management:
  • Supervise and support volunteers in execution of Day Shelter operations
  • Intervene and de-escalate if any guest or staff issues arise with volunteers
  • With Volunteer Coordinator, train and support volunteers during their shifts
  • Check in frequently with volunteers during their shifts and be available when guidance or support is needed

Skills Required

Preferred Skills:

• Compassion for all people, especially those in crisis
• Ability to provide clear direction, instruction, and feedback to volunteers and staff
• Understanding of personal/professional boundaries and self-care practices and ability to consistently implement them
• Strong verbal and written communication skills 
• Ability to improvise and adapt to changing circumstances
• Comfortable with computers and able to learn new software programs
• Reliable, punctual, detail-oriented, and organized 
• Physical stamina, i.e. carrying large boxes up to 25 pounds and standing for long periods of time
• Access to reliable transportation

Additional Info

About The Haven:

The Haven’s mission is to provide a safe and welcoming space for people experiencing homelessness or extreme poverty, supporting individuals as they pursue stability through connections to resources and creative housing interventions. Located in downtown Charlottesville, Virginia, trained staff and dedicated volunteers at The Haven practice radical hospitality, opening the doors wide for any and everyone, no matter their circumstances.

At The Haven, we value the diversity of backgrounds, experience, perspectives, and skill sets that we collectively provide to our community, guests, and colleagues. We celebrate and thrive on our differences and welcome everyone’s unique contributions.

Benefits include:

• Generous PTO policy
• Wellness stipend
• Child care stipend
• Retirement fund matching