ACS Intake & Monitor Coordinator

Carpenter's Shelter; Alexandria (VA); On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Carpenter’s Shelter in Alexandria, VA is seeking an Intake Monitor & Coordinator to partner with the city’s Homeless Services Assessment Center. You will orient new residents, gather information, and help the service team prepare housing plans using a strengths-based approach.

In this role you will conduct comprehensive assessments, maintain paperwork and HMIS data, coordinate with program staff and volunteers, and ensure a welcoming, trauma-informed environment from first contact.

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree or equivalent experience in social work, human services or a related field.
• Ability to develop strong working relationships with households receiving services.
• Ability to maintain documentation and manage time effectively.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint).
• Valid driver’s license and ability to pass a background check.
• Flexibility to work outside normal hours to meet client needs.

Responsibilities

• Schedule and complete intakes with the City of Alexandria’s Homeless Services Assessment Center, optimizing bedspace usage.
• Ensure clients’ basic needs are met ( linens, hygiene products, meals, and community resource information).
• Engage households in housing-focused problem-solving and develop Housing Plans using strengths-based assessments.
• Maintain accurate paperwork, new files, and HMIS data for reports and program evaluation.
• Facilitate hand-offs to Housing Stabilization Case Manager and Therapeutic Services Director.
• Coordinate with volunteers, community partners, and Carpenter’s Shelter staff to ensure continuity of services.
• Oversee resident program activities and schedules with the Volunteer Coordinator and Program Team.
• Monitor shelter safety, including alarm systems and emergency procedures.
• Participate in staff trainings and be on-call as directed.

Skills

Relationship building

Time management

Organizational skills

Microsoft Office

Education

Associate’s degree or equivalent experience in social work or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Intake Monitor & Coordinator is responsible for collaborating with the city’s Homeless Services Assessment Center to coordinate the entry of households experiencing homelessness into the Alexandria Community Shelter, a 64-bed emergency shelter operated by Carpenter’s Shelter in partnership with the City of Alexandria. Using a client-centered and trauma-informed lens, the Intake Monitor & Coordinator orients new residents to the facility, shares resources, communicates safety expectations, and gathers the pertinent information through a strengths-based housing barrier assessment to help the service delivery team prepare to develop housing plans.

TITLE: ACS Intake & Monitor Coordinator

About the Organization:

Since 1988, Carpenter’s Shelter has met the immediate needs of people experiencing homelessness in the City of Alexandria. Through the operation of two emergency shelters (Alexandria Community Shelter and The Hoffman Center), day shelter, and winter shelter as well as rapid rehousing and permanent supportive housing programs, Carpenter’s Shelter identifies housing solutions, supports sustainable independence for more than 1,080 families and individuals each year.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Schedule and complete intakes for Alexandria Community Shelter with the City of Alexandria’s Homeless Services Assessment Center, ensuring the most efficient utilization of bedspace.
• Ensure clients basic needs are met (providing clean linens for the rooms, hygiene products when available, food from the kitchen, and information about community-based resources, etc.)
• Engage households in housing-focused problem-solving conversations to address the immediate housing crisis and identify safe solutions that may exist within their networks.
• Conduct comprehensive strengths-based housing barrier assessments to collect financial, employment, housing, educational, mental health, substance abuse, etc. histories to support the development of Housing Plans
• Foster a welcoming and non-judgmental atmosphere for clients by actively listening, showing empathy, and providing a safe space for individuals seeking shelter, ensuring they feel respected and supported from their very first interaction.
• Ensure all paperwork, new file compilation, database input, medication review, etc. is accurately completed, signed as needed, and organized appropriately.
• Facilitate a smooth transition and warm hand-off from the intake assessment to the Housing Stabilization Case Manager and the Therapeutic Services Director
• Work closely with volunteers, community partners, and other Carpenter’s Shelter programs staff to ensure a continuity of services.
• Use the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) to record data; use other data collection systems to track data for required reports and general program evaluation.
• Coordinate and oversee resident class offerings, meetings, and activity schedules in collaboration with the Volunteer Coordinator and Program Team to promote engagement, skill-building, and community within the shelter.
• Disperse the mail received for residents and community clients.
• Ensure the safety and security of the shelter during shift. This includes complete knowledge and function of alarm system, emergency exit procedures, appropriate action during emergency situations, weather emergencies, etc.
• Monitoring the activities of the shelter, and assisting residents with their needs, supporting other departments as necessary.
• Participate in staff meetings and trainings, including but not limited to Housing-Focused Case Management, Motivational Interviewing, Trauma-Informed Care, and Harm Reduction.
• Be on-call status as directed by supervisor.
• Adhere to the Carpenter’s Shelter Code of Ethics and SEED Values.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

• Associate’s degree or equivalent experience in social work, human services or a related field
• Ability to develop strong working relationships with households receiving services
• Ability to maintain documentation
• Strong time management and organizational skills; reliable and self-motivated
• Proficient skill level in Microsoft Suites (Word, Excel, Power Point, Teams, SharePoint)
• Valid driver’s license and ability to pass a background check
• Flexibility to work outside of normal business hours, if needed, to accommodate client and community need

Preferred:

• 2 years experience working with a diverse population experiencing homelessness
• Ability to speak a language other than English at a proficient level (i.e. Spanish)
• Lived experience or direct personal connection to homelessness

Carpenter’s Shelter is an Equal Opportunity Employer and agrees not to discriminate against any employee or job applicant because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, age, gender, physical or mental disability or any other characteristic protected by law. Successful candidates must be committed to working with a culturally diverse population.