Emergency Shelter Worker - Relief (Nights)

Calgarydropin; Calgary; Hybrid; CAD 23,000 - 33,000; Part time

Job summary

Calgarydropin is seeking an Emergency Shelter Worker to provide trauma-informed, client-centered support to adults experiencing homelessness. This role emphasizes safety, dignity, and connection to community resources in a non-judgmental environment.

Shifts are relief-based, with night coverage from 9PM to 7AM, and the successful candidate will assist with wellness checks, location monitoring, and coordination with the medical team for medication distribution.

Qualifications

• Trauma-informed, client-centered approach to support individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Strong de-escalation and communication skills for high-stress environments.
• Certified First Aid and CPR required within 30 days of start date.
• Ability to recognize and mitigate safety risks, including handling bodily fluids.

Responsibilities

• Build meaningful connections with clients, volunteers, and emergency responders with professionalism and compassion.
• Act as a visible ambassador for the organization, promoting guidelines respectfully.
• Support housing stability through solution-focused conversations and connection to resources.
• Participate in a fast-paced setting, assisting with operational tasks and location monitoring.
• Coordinate with the medical team to communicate health needs and assist with medication distribution.
• Contribute to wellness checks, laundry duties, and other duties outlined by the Coordinator.

Skills

Trauma-informed care

De-escalation

First Aid/CPR

Safety awareness

Education

Standard First Aid and CPR/AED (Level C or A) certification

Job description

The Opportunity

Position Title: Emergency Shelter Worker
Reports To: Coordinator, Emergency Shelter – Nights (Alpha) and (Omega)
Employment Type: Casual
Schedule: As Relief staff, you will help support staffing coverage for vacations, sick leave, and other absences. Relief shifts are assigned on an as-needed basis, offering flexibility while supporting the needs of the organization. We offer three shift options, and employees are assigned to a single shift to support consistency for both staff and the people we serve. Night shifts are: 9PM to 7AM

Location: 1 Dermot Baldwin Way SE, Calgary, Alberta

About the Department

Our Housing-Focused Emergency Shelters provide 24-hour, low-barrier shelter and essential supports for adults experiencing homelessness in Calgary. The shelters are designed to be accessible and inclusive. Individuals are not turned away due to substance use, mental health challenges, or lack of identification. This low-barrier approach helps ensure that people facing the greatest risks can access warmth, safety, and necessities when they need them most.

What You’ll Do

Every role at the DI makes a difference. In this position, you will:

• Create meaningful connections with clients, community members, volunteers, emergency responders, and DI staff by engaging with professionalism, compassion, and respect, while providing trauma-informed, client-centered support that honours each individual’s unique experiences, strengths, and goals.
• Serve as a visible and approachable ambassador for the DI, engaging with clients and stakeholders while promoting and reinforcing Centre guidelines in a respectful and supportive manner.
• Champion positive housing outcomes by engaging clients in solution-focused conversations, and connecting them with the resources needed to achieve housing stability.
• Thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment that requires the ability to lift, push, and pull up to 50 lbs, move quickly in response to emerging situations, bend, kneel, reach overhead, climb stairs or ladders, and remain seated or standing for extended periods as needed.
• Support the day-to-day success of the program by completing a variety of operational and client-focused tasks, including facility upkeep, laundry duties, wellness checks, location monitoring, and other duties outlined in procedures or assigned by the Coordinator.
• Foster positive health outcomes by partnering with the medical team to communicate client health needs and support effective medication distribution.

What You Bring

We know that great people come from all kinds of backgrounds. You don’t have to check every single box! If you’re passionate about helping others and share our values, we want to hear from you.

Must-Have’s

• Knowledge of community resources for homelessness, health, mental health and substance use
• Understanding of the needs of marginalized adults and homelessness issues
• Must be acceptable of industry risks, including coming into contact with bodily fluids
• Standard First Aid and CPR/AED Level C (or A) certification required within 30 days of start.
• Ability to provide a satisfactory vulnerable sector clearance check
• A genuine commitment to the mission, vision, values, and work of the agency.

Nice to Have’s

• Completion of (or working towards) a college or university program in any of the following; human services, community support, social service work, psychology, sociology, addictions or health-related discipline is considered an asset
• Previous work experience in a social service environment is a definite asset
• A combination of education/practical experience may be considered
• Experience working in distress and/or high-stress situations, which may include emergency response
• Ability to work effectively with a diverse population
• Excellent Analytical Skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent communication skills, both, written and verbal
• Excellent professional boundaries
• Strong customer service orientation would be ideal