Full Time First Shift Shelter Advocate

YWCA Northeast Kansas; Topeka (KS); On-site; USD 38,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

YWCA Northeast Kansas seeks a First Shift Shelter Advocate to maintain a safe, confidential, and trauma‑informed environment for clients in the Center for Safety and Empowerment shelters.

You will provide crisis intervention, safety planning, and case management, serving as the first contact for residents, assisting with housing, healthcare, legal needs, and access to community resources, while coordinating with partners and internal teams.

Qualifications

• Degree in a related field and experience in crisis intervention or shelter services.
• Ability to engage individuals in crisis with empathy and professionalism.
• Knowledge of community resources and service coordination.

Responsibilities

• Provides crisis intervention, safety planning, and advocacy in shelter settings.
• Serves as primary contact for shelter residents during first shift and supports daily needs.
• Manages caseload and coordinates housing, health, legal, and financial services.
• Conducts intakes and orientations; documents client contacts and outcomes.
• Maintains trauma-informed, confidential, survivor-centered care.

Skills

Crisis intervention

Case management

Advocacy

Trauma-informed care

Communication

Driver's license

Education

Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Public Health, Human Services, or related field

Job description

YWCA Northeast Kansas is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. We provide transformative services in the areas of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and human trafficking, Community Violence Interruption, before- and after-school programming, and leadership and inclusion initiatives.

Job Classification:Exempt, Full-Time

Work Schedule:Monday-Friday between the hours of 7:00AM-3:30PM

Reporting Relationship:Shelter Manager

JOB SUMMARY

Reporting to the Shelter Manager, the First Shift Shelter Advocate maintains a safe, confidential, and trauma-informed environment for clients of YWCA Northeast Kansas’ Center for Safety and Empowerment (CSE). The First Shift Shelter Advocate provides crisis intervention, safety planning, and case management services to individuals and families residing in CSE Shelters, supporting immediate safety and ongoing stabilization. This role ensures a safe, structured, and trauma-informed shelter environment while coordinating access to housing, healthcare, legal, and other supportive services. The First Shift Shelter Advocate works closely with internal teams and community partners to deliver consistent, survivor-centered care.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides crisis intervention, safety planning, and advocacy services to individuals and families residing in CSE Shelters.
• Serves as a primary point of contact for shelter residents during first shift, supporting stabilization, safety, and day-to-day needs.
• Carries a caseload of shelter-based clients, providing ongoing case management and service coordination.
• Conducts intakes and orientations for new shelter residents, ensuring timely completion of all required documentation.
• Provides crisis intervention, advocacy, and safety planning services in person and over the phone, including hotline support.
• Responds to victims/survivors at police stations and hospitals during assigned shifts.
• Assists clients in accessing safe and stable housing, healthcare, mental health services, financial assistance, and other supportive resources.
• Offers advocacy and/or transportation to community appointments (e.g., medical, mental health, housing, court) to provide a supportive presence.
• Assists clients with completing and filing Protection Orders and navigating systems such as legal, housing, and public benefits.
• Supports a safe, structured, and trauma-informed shelter environment through consistent presence, engagement, and responsiveness.

Shelter Operations

• Supports daily shelter operations, including monitoring shared spaces, responding to client needs, and reinforcing program expectations.
• Provides guidance and support to evening and overnight shelter staff to promote consistency in service delivery across shifts.
• Communicates regularly with shelter team members regarding client needs, safety concerns, and updates.
• Assists with conflict resolution and de-escalation within the shelter environment using trauma-informed approaches.
• Maintains regular communication with community partners regarding available resources.
• Refers and coordinates services with community agencies for needs not provided by CSE.
• Attends community meetings and collaborates with partner agencies, as needed, to support client services and systems coordination.
• Attends all required YWCA Northeast Kansas, CSE, and shelter staff meetings.
• Serves in the on-call rotation, including after-hours, overnight, weekend, or holiday availability as required.
• Completes all required documentation for each client served in a timely, accurate, and confidential manner.
• Enters all client contacts, services, case notes, and outcomes into the agency database in accordance with program and funder requirements.
• Maintains strict adherence to confidentiality laws and ethical standards, including VAWA/VOCA/FVPSA protections.

OthePosition Functions

• Refrains from assuming any duty that is unrelated to and/or interferes with the responsibilities of the position.
• Advocates, promotes, and practices cultural sensitivity and responsiveness in day-to-day interactions.
• Performs other duties assigned by the supervisor or CEO. The job description does not state or imply that these are the only activities to be performed by the employee holding this position.

QUALIFICATIONS

At a minimum, the First Shift Shelter Advocate must have a degree in Social Work, Public Health, Human Services, or a related field. Relevant professional experience may be substituted for formal education requirements, depending on the nature and scope of the experience. In addition, the First Shift Shelter Advocate shall have:

• Basic understanding of dynamics of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking.
• Knowledge of local community resources and support services.
• Sensitivity to the needs of others.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage individuals in crisis.
• Ability to function well in a crisis setting where interruptions are frequent.
• Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and the ability to travel within service areas.
• Dedication to relationship building and a commitment to working as an integral part of a team, while exercising significant initiative and autonomy.
• Commitment to the YWCA mission and values, including a strong focus on racial equity and social justice.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions:

• Able to climb flights of stairs multiple times daily.
• Travel Requirements:
  • Valid driver’s license.
  • Transportation.
  • Auto insurance.
  • Travel throughout the multi-county rural service area required.
• Pass various background checks.

NON DISCRIMINATION

YWCA Northeast Kansas is an equal opportunity employer committed to building an inclusive, equitable, and trauma-informed workplace. We recognize that systemic inequities impact many aspects of society, and we strive to address these through our policies, practices, and organizational culture. We believe that diversity in all its forms strengthens our mission and our work.

We do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. No question on our application is intended to secure information to be used for such discrimination.

We are also committed to fair hiring practices, including the consideration of qualified applicants with criminal records, in line with applicable laws and our values of second chances and community reintegration.

We strongly encourage applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds — including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color; immigrants and refugees; LGBTQIA+ individuals; people with disabilities; gender-diverse individuals; survivors; and members of other historically underrepresented communities.