Temporary Cold Weather Shelter Support Staff*

Orange County Government; Hillsborough (NC); On-site; USD 2,066,000 - 2,755,000; Part time

Job summary

Orange County Government is seeking temporary Cold Weather Cot Support Staff to assist in operating a low-barrier, trauma-informed shelter that activates during cold nights. The position includes data entry for shelter guests, overnight coverage, and inventory management. Shifts are flexible and may run 7:00 PM–7:00 AM when needed, with confidentiality required and SBI fingerprinting.

Location is Chapel Hill, NC. This role is part-time, on-site, and contingent on background clearance.

Qualifications

• One year of experience working in human services.
• Experience working with people from marginalized populations is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Complete data entry of shelter guests in HMIS.
• Routinely lead shelter laundry with Street Outreach Team support.
• Open/close shelter shifts during rotation (evening to morning).
• Manage shelter supply inventory and coordinate with Homeless Programs Coordinator.
• Provide overnight coverage when overnight staff is unavailable.

Skills

Human services experience

Experience with marginalized groups

Job description

Orange County is hiring a couple Temporary Cold Weather Cot Support Staff positions. The shelter operates on an as-needed basis when temperatures drop to 32 degrees or below, and hours are not guaranteed since shifts depend on weather conditions. This position will primarily provide administrative support to the operations of Cold Weather Cots and will be overnight staff when needed. The hours of this position will be flexible primarily during business hours. As overnight staff when needed, you will be on-site from approximately 7pm to 7am, and this is an awake position. The program provides trauma-informed low-barrier shelter services with no substance testing requirements.

*All employees must strictly adhere to confidentiality guidelines.

Shelter Location

828 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Chapel Hill, NC 27514

* This position requires an SBI background check with fingerprinting.

Examples of Essential Functions

Following are examples of typical work activities and responsibilities. The incumbent may be responsible for performing other related duties and responsibilities as required or assigned.

A position may not include all the work examples given, nor does the list include all that may be assigned.

Support Staff functions

• Complete data entry of our shelter guests in our homelessness database, known as Homelessness Management Information System (HMIS).
• Routinely take lead on shelter laundry with support from our Street Outreach Team.
• In partnership with permanent housing staff, be a part of the regular rotation in opening (6:00pm-8:00pm) and closing (6:00am-8am) shelter.
• Managing shelter supply inventory and work with Homeless Programs Coordinator in obtaining these supplies, via donations and/or shopping.
• Provide overnight coverage when overnight staff is not available.

Overnight Staff functions, when needed

• Welcome shelter guests and sign them in.
• Provide blanket, cot, food and water to shelter guests.
• Provide client support via the Street Outreach program, in collaboration with the Chapel Hill Police Crisis Unit.
• Perform Fire Watch functions as well as periodic bathroom checks during overnight hours.
• Collect individual identifying information for data collection and housing coordination purposes.
• Maintain shelter cleanliness and tidiness.
• Enforce safety guidelines for shelter, including calling emergency services for excessively disruptive and/or dangerous behaviors.
• *Other shelter-related duties as requested.

Minimum Qualifications

One year of experience working in human services.

Experience working with people from marginalized populations is strongly preferred, including but not limited to those who:

• Are unhoused
• Are justice-involved
• Have issues of mental health
• Have issues of substance use
• Have experienced sexual assault

Direct lived experience of housing instability or homelessness preferred.

Special Requirements

All offers of employment are conditional upon successful clearance of an SBI background check with fingerprinting. Employment cannot commence until the employee has been cleared.

In accordance with Section 28 of the Orange County Code of Ordinances, and/or relevant State and Federal statutes, candidates for employment may be required to undergo fingerprinting and a criminal history background check based on the job responsibilities of the position. A fingerprinting check is conducted by the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and a criminal history background check is conducted by an authorized Federal or State regulatory agency to determine eligibility for appointment. Employment is contingent upon successful clearance through these checks, which are mandated for certain roles depending on the nature of the job and applicable laws.

Physical Requirements and Possible Hazards

Ability to physically perform the basic life operational functions (with or without reasonable accommodation)of climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing and repetitive motions of the hands/wrists.

Ability to perform light work exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 5 pounds of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.

Ability to endure emotional stress related to the nature of interactions with residents and/or family members who may be hostile, resistant or violent.

Possess the visual acuity to operate a passenger vehicle when applicable, prepare and analyze data and figures, perform work on a computer terminal, and perform extensive reading,

Orange County is an Equal Opportunity and Affimative Action Employer