Shelter Specialist-Overnight

The-Salvation-Arm; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 32,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

The Salvation Army Overnight Shelters-SAFES in Portland, OR is seeking a Shelter Specialist to maintain on-site operations, provide basic services, and de-escalate conflicts while ensuring participant safety. The role requires a high school diploma or GED and experience in homeless services, with a driver license preferred.

This is a full-time, non-exempt position with travel as needed and an hourly wage of $23.00-$25.00 DOE.

Qualifications

• Education: High school diploma or GED.
• Documented experience in homeless services (or related experience).
• Education and/or work experience commensurate with the duties and responsibilities required.
• Strong Human relations skills; trauma-informed care.

Responsibilities

• Maintain program operations and services for participants on site.
• Provide basic needs and de-escalate negative participant interactions.
• Contribute to site safety and access control for participants.
• Communicate positively with on-site staff, managers, supervisors, volunteers, and participants.
• Follow safety and security procedures and document activities.

Skills

MS Office

Diversity engagement

Conflict resolution

Confidentiality

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Bridgeway of Hope Portland, OR 97220, USA

• Travel Required : Yes

Description

Recruiting Opportunity Closes: 10.19.2026

Hourly Wage: $23.00 - $25.00 DOE

Status: Non-Exempt / Full Time

Number of Positions: 1

Department: The Salvation Army Overnight Shelters-SAFES Location

The Salvation Army Mission Statement:

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

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Education and Work Experience:

• Education: High school diploma or GED.
• Documented experience in homeless services (or related experience).
• Education and/or work experience commensurate with the duties and responsibilities required
• Strong Human relations skills; trauma-informed care.

Scope of Position:

The Shelter Specialist is responsible for completion of various assigned tasks. The primary focus will be maintaining program operations and services for participants on site. The Shelter Specialist works closely with program participants of the Shelter to provide the basic needs, services, or to de-escalate negative participant interactions. This role will also have a focus on site safety and access control for the participants.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• Basic Microsoft Office experience is needed
• An ability to engage with diverse populations in a respectful and culturally responsive manner.
• Demonstrated ability and willingness to consistently communicate and work well with staff and residents from a variety of racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds and with various religious beliefs, traditions, lifestyles, sexual orientations, age variance and differing abilities.
• Understanding of basic conflict resolution.
• Commitment to keeping client information confidential.
• Ability and willingness to understand and fully comply with mandatory reporting requirements and laws pertaining to vulnerable adults and children.

Licenses and Certifications required/Preferred: Driver License. Trauma informed Care, Assertive Engagement, First Aid and CPR; Non-Violent Crisis Intervention; Peer Support; Heat Illness Prevention; Safe Driving; Rent Well; Community Warehouse Escort; Civil Right Training; Bloodborne Pathogens Training; De-Escalation Training;

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Ability to safely follow instructions pertaining to the use and storage of all workplace chemicals.
• Ability to properly operate all safety and security systems, which may include CCTV video monitoring.
• Ability to conduct visual inspections of the workplace on a continuous basis, through direct observation, walking inspections and the use of video monitors.
• Ability to learn and act upon new information; work cooperatively with individuals and groups; exercise mature and sound judgment in problem solving; organize own work; present material properly and accurately document activities.
• Keep the facilities clean and organized, including but not limited to, changing light bulbs, vacuuming, cleaning bathrooms, replacing supplies, emptying trash, cleaning and organizing storage areas, dusting, cleaning floors and carpeting, cleaning tables, chairs and other furnishings within your work area on a regular basis, and as indicated by unusual or emergency circumstances.
• Follow the Program Exit procedure to exit participant from the shelter daily.
• Report any concerns to the identified supervisor.
• Ensure participants are safe, along with any animals allowed on site.
• Respond to and provide crisis intervention and institute security procedures should a critical or threatening situation arise. Provide timely and appropriate notification to police, fire, emergency medical and supervisory authorities.
• Maintain statistical records, reports, logs, files and other required documentation.
• Work cooperatively with other Salvation Army staff and programs.
• Communicate positively with all on-site staff, managers, supervisors, volunteers, and participants.
• Be on time for established shift, take breaks according to established patterns.
• Ability and willingness to respect and maintain the confidentiality of client information, in compliance with Salvation Army policies and procedures.
• Ability and willingness to understand and fully comply with mandatory reporting requirements and laws pertaining to vulnerable adults.
• Remain awake, the ability to provide observational oversight of program activities while on shift.
• Comply with Salvation Army procedural requirements, including those set forth in the Policy & Procedure Manual and provided guidelines.
• All other duties as assigned.

Physical Requirements:

• Sit, walk, stand, bend, squat, climb, kneel and twist on an intermittent or continuous basis.
• Grasp, push, pull objects such as files, file cabinets drawers, and reach overhead.
• Lift and carry up to 50 lbs.

Working Conditions:

• Work in all types of weather conditions.
• Works on many projects at once in a semi-open office environment with interruptions and noises from voices, telephones, printers.

MISCELLANEOUS:

The Salvation Army does have a dress code that includes professional dress which is appropriate to the work environment and reflects well on the organization.

The candidate chosen for this position will be required to pass a criminal history information check. Conviction of a crime will not automatically preclude employment. The circumstances involved in the conviction(s) will be considered.

Qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential duties of the position with or without accommodation. A qualified person with a disability may request a modification or adjustment to the job or work environment to meet the physical requirements of the position. The Salvation Army would attempt to satisfy requests if the accommodation needed is reasonable and no undue hardship would result.

Travel Required

Yes . Travel, as needed, to fulfill essential job duties.

Qualifications

Skills

Required

Intermediate

CPR/AED

Intermediate

Education

Required

High School or Equivalent or better.

Experience

Required

Documented experience in homeless services (or related experience). Education and/or work experience commensurate with the duties and responsibilities required.

Licenses & Certifications

Required

Driver's License

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.