Job Description

CAREER OPPORTUNITY

Agate is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to end homelessness and relieve hunger through action and advocacy. We provide emergency services, shelter, and housing programs for individuals and families. We encourage applicants with lived experience to apply (anyone who has not received services from Agate within the last two years is welcome to apply). We believe that housing is a basic human right.

Our Values:

• Integrity: Always doing what's right, even when it's not easy or popular.
• Equity: Challenging unfair systems and making changes that better support those most affected by homelessness and hunger.
• Humanity: Recognizing how these issues affect everyone, building trust, and forming strong relationships by understanding people's needs.
• Creativity: Finding new and original ways to meet the community's needs.

Shelter Advocate

The Shelter Advocate is a member of a team responsible for daily operations at either of Agate's two housing-focused shelter program sites. The Shelter Advocate works closely with other shelter employees in a team atmosphere to ensure consistent, affirming, safe operation of the shelter for all guests and volunteers.

Primary responsibilities include answering phones and performing intakes for new shelter guests, monitoring guest behavior, light housekeeping, meal preparation, meal service, administrative work, documentation, and data entry. As part of our housing-focused program, the Shelter Advocate also provides core services to shelter guests, including offering information, making referrals, and assisting with paperwork or services navigation. Additional responsibilities include regularly attending staff meetings, keeping rosters updated using HMIS, and representing Agate's shelters at community meetings and trainings.

• Shifts offered will primarily be the 2nd (3:00 pm - 11:00 pm) shift or the 3rd (10:30 pm - 8:30 am) shift. 
• Occasionally, 1st shifts will also be available, but primarily on weekends.  
• Must be flexible to work at either shelter location to address staffing needs.

As-Needed Expectations 

• As-needed employees will be provided with the monthly schedule and asked to pick up a minimum of 1-4 shifts per month.  
• Supervisors may reach out to the as-needed team to cover emergency shifts when an employee calls off for a scheduled shift.  
• Shifts offered will primarily be the 2nd (3:00 pm - 11:00 pm) shift or the 3rd (10:30 pm - 8:30 am) shift. Occasionally, 1st shifts will also be available, but primarily on weekends.  
• Agate reserves the right to move an on-call employee to an as-needed position based on coverage needs and employees' willingness to accept harder-to-fill shifts. 

Position Responsibilities:

• Enforce shelter policy in a consistent, fair manner with a positive and respectful demeanor.  
• Answer and direct calls to the shelter and monitor entrances to allow guests to access the shelter.
• Make regular rounds inside the shelter to ensure guest safety and maintain a calm and peaceful atmosphere for sleeping guests; call emergency services when appropriate and manage guest behavior throughout the shift.  
• Use de-escalation and crisis response skills to address behavior issues or conflicts, always maintaining professional boundaries.
• Monitor and review security camera footage throughout the shift; document and report incidents accurately.
• Work collaboratively with program staff, property management, and facilities teams to support overall site operations.

Operational Duties & Hospitality

• Serve as the first point of contact for guests, staff, and visitors, offering a warm, professional, and trauma-informed welcome.
• Respond to voicemails, emails, and other communications promptly.  
• Assist with volunteer and donor check-ins in coordination with the External Relations Team. 
• Ensure daily program routines and procedures, including meal service, occur at scheduled times. 
• Perform housekeeping and light maintenance tasks as needed and appropriate. Make sure the office and program spaces are kept tidy.  
• Support food service, including putting meals out, coordinating the delivery of meals, and supporting volunteers who come onsite to provide food or meals.  

Program Responsibilities

• Respond to incoming inquiries for assistance and make appropriate referrals.  
• Demonstrate appropriate professional boundaries with guests and colleagues.  
• Conduct shelter guest intakes.  
• Assist and encourage guests to make progress on self-identified goals using the Housing First/harm reduction model. 
• Demonstrate appropriate professional boundaries with guests and colleagues. 

Administrative Duties & Documentation

• Facilitate collection and maintenance of required daily shelter documentation, including intakes, bed assignments, data collection, and input into online databases and logbook entries.  
• Create and maintain guest files, case notes, and other supporting documentation following agency policies and procedures.  
• Troubleshoot technical issues with office equipment and phones, and reach out to Admin for assistance as needed.
• Actively participate in regularly scheduled staff meetings and supervisory one-to-one meetings. 
• Understand and adhere to mandated reporting responsibilities. 

Benefits of working with us include:

• Eligible for Minnesota's Earned Sick and Safe Time
• Metro Pass
• Referral Bonus Program

Required Qualifications:

• Work respectfully with guests, coworkers, and key stakeholders who are diverse with respect to race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, and religion. 
• Ability to meet expectations regarding paperwork and documentation through organizational skills, a strong attention to detail, and the ability to work efficiently and accurately, competency, and comfort using technology and computers. 
• Lift to 50 pounds occasionally and 20 pounds routinely.  
• Have experience with Microsoft Office products
• Meet government screening criteria

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with Coordinated Entry systems. 
• Experience with HMIS.  
• Bilingual skills relevant to the individuals we serve (Spanish, Hmong, Oromo, Somali, Amharic). 
• Experience working in settings with all genders.
• Hold the belief that every household can achieve housing stability. 
• Understand that homelessness is primarily the result of policy decisions beyond the control of the people we serve. 
• Commitment to harm reduction and housing first philosophies.  

Union Membership

This position is represented by AFSCME Local 999. As part of this union-represented role, employees benefit from collective bargaining rights, union representation, and other provisions outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

In accordance with the agreement, all employees in union-covered positions are required to contribute through union dues or fair share fees. The current contract does not provide an option to opt out of these contributions.

Agate Housing and Services is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and strives to promote an environment that is diverse and inclusive, where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect. Agate Housing and Services is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from people of color, indigenous people, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ individuals.