Temporary Relocation Assistant

DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center); Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 54,000 - 59,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Life insurance

Long-term disability

ORCA card subsidy

Paid Time Off (34 days per year)

Retirement plan

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

Job summary

DESC’s Morrison Hotel relocation team is seeking two Relocation Assistants to support residents during major building upgrades. The role is 8am–4pm, on-site at The Morrison, with a 20-month temporary contract.

Responsibilities include organizing moves, packing, inventory, and coordinating with housing staff to ensure smooth relocation processes. The position requires hands-on support, strong organization, and trauma-informed interaction with clients, all while maintaining compliance with

Qualifications

• Two years' experience assisting individuals with moving, packing, organizing, or similar hands-on support.
• A valid Washington State driver’s license and insurable driving record.
• Ability to coordinate multiple stakeholders to complete complex tasks.
• Proficiency with computers and electronic work order systems.
• Strong organization skills.
• Experience with homelessness, mental illness and/or substance use.
• Bilingual is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Distribute packing materials and supplies to residents.
• Assist residents with organizing, packing, labeling and transporting items to storage locations.
• Perform unit clean outs, debris removal and prep for renovations.
• Prepare units for temporary housing, testing amenities, pest control, cleaning and repairs.
• Update spreadsheets with relocation data and timelines.
• Coordinate move-day logistics and notices to residents.
• Support residents returning to rehabilitated units and maintain trauma-informed interactions.

Skills

Moving support

Packing

Inventory management

Coordination

De-escalation

Tools

Computers & work orders

Job description

Job Type

Full-time, Temporary

Description

Days Off: Saturday, Sunday

Shift: Day (8:00am - 4:00pm)

Location: DESC's The Morrison, fully on-site

Insurance Benefits: Medical (no premiums/payroll deductions for employee coverage), Dental, Life, Long-term Disability

Other Benefits: Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), ORCA card subsidy, Paid Time Off (34 days per year), Retirement Plan

About DESC: Recognized nationally as an innovator and leader in developing solutions to homelessness, DESC is a social services organization, supportive housing operator, and licensed behavioral health treatment provider focused on meeting the needs of people experiencing long-term homelessness and living with complex behavioral health and other medical conditions. Approximately 3,000 people are actively receiving services from DESC at any given point in time. Our vision is a community where all people are shown compassion, treated with dignity, and everyone has a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home.

DESC operates five shelter/emergency housing programs, 19 permanent supportive housing facilities with over 1,750 units, several hundred additional scattered site apartments, and a range of behavioral health services including outpatient mental health and substance use disorder treatment, residential crisis stabilization, street outreach, mobile crisis response, and treatment for opioid use disorder.

Job Description

The Historic Morrison Hotel is DESC’s largest Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) site with a total of 190 units. The Morrison Hotel will be undergoing building system upgrades, and renovations will occur to all 190 units. The Relocation Assistant oversees relocation planning for residents. This role provides direct operational support during resident relocation and transition activities, in addition to hands‑on support that is necessary to complete relocation efforts. The Relocation Assistant will be scheduled from 8am to 4pm and is required to be fully in‑person to align with construction working hours.

This is a temporary position that is expected to last for 20 months. We will be hiring for 2 Relocation Assistants.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Distribute packing materials and supplies to residents.
• Assist residents with organizing, packing, labeling and transporting (by vehicle) items/belongings to designated areas or various storage locations.
• Perform unit clean outs, debris and unwanted item removal.
• Perform unit preparations for temporary units, testing functions and amenities, pest control assistance/tracking, cleaning and auditing for repairs.
• Returning items/belongings to designated areas upon completion of contracted work.
• Assisting with inventory and labeling resident items.
• Coordinating move‑day logistics.
• Support residents with return to rehabilitated units.
• Print, post and hand‑deliver relocation notices to residents within required timelines. Partner and collaborate with housing staff, care team and leadership when barriers prevent client signatures and/or delivery.
• Update spreadsheets with pertinent information and data. Tracking dates for exiting, entering units and pest control services.
• Assist the Morrison Operations Coordinator and care teams with engaging clients and supporting physical relocation of clients and belongings.
• Using trauma informed approaches directly with clients, maintaining appropriate social interactions.
• Actively participate in staff meetings and trainings as assigned.
• Provide support to other DESC housing sites, programs, or special projects as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Two years' experience assisting individuals with moving, packing, organizing, inventory management, or similar hands‑on support activities.
• Ability to drive an agency van/vehicle to conduct agency-related business. A current Washington State driver's license and insurable driving record are required.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully coordinate and organize multiple stakeholders to complete complex tasks.
• Proficiency with using computers and/or electronic work order systems.
• Organization skills.
• Basic understanding of homelessness and various characteristics of homeless adult populations.
• Experience working with adults challenged by homelessness, mental illness and/or substance use.
• Ability to work effectively with clients displaying a wide range of unpleasant and/or bizarre behavior.
• Demonstrated de‑escalation skills in unique settings.
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with staff from diverse backgrounds, disciplines, and identities.
• Be able to pass a Washington State Criminal background check.
• A willingness to be flexible and work cooperatively with coworkers to accomplish all team responsibilities.
• Commitment to the philosophy and mission of DESC’s Permanent Supportive Housing and to the principles of equity.
• Subscription to a philosophy of cooperation and continuity across programs and of consideration and respect for clients.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Strong organization skills.
• 2+ years’ experience working with vulnerable adults in housing settings.
• 2+ years' experience moving, caregiving, or providing cleaning services.
• 1+ years’ experience with occupied rehabs in a professional construction firm.
• Experience working with adults living with mental illness and/or substance use disorder.
• Understanding construction activities or the ability to strengthen current knowledge.
• Bilingual

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands 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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required to stand for long periods, climb stairs, sit, communicate with other employees, required to lift and carry items weighing up to 75 pounds, and to operate computer hardware systems. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:

DESC is committed to diversity in the workplace and promotes equal employment opportunities for all staff members and applicants. The Agency will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, caste, marital status, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability in any employment practice, unless based on a bona fide occupational qualification. Minorities and veterans are encouraged to apply.

Salary Description

$39.08 - $43.15 per hour