Resident Assistant

Description

The Resident Assistant is responsible for maintaining the overall management and maintenance of the residence, creating a supportive and welcoming environment for residents, and supporting the staff and the daily operations of the Program. The Resident Assistant reports to the Program Director, or their designee, for support and supervision. 

Location: Victory Programs new EA Family Shelter Priority Support Site (PSS) programs, located in Dorchester, provide safe, temporary congregate shelter for 18-22 high-risk families, referred by EOHLC, who enter the State’s EA shelter system with a Temporary Verification Waiver. Placement in the Priority Support Site program allows families in crisis the time (up to 45 days) to obtain required documentation needed to complete the full EA Shelter Application. In parallel, the Program provides intensive case management, benefits navigation, housing counseling, crisis stabilization services, and access to vital resources, such as physical, mental, and behavioral healthcare. Additionally, the Program offers nutritious, culturally appropriate food, clothing, hygiene products, transportation, and household essentials. Once determined eligible, the Program supports the family’s transition to either a bridge- or rapid-track shelter in the state EA program.

Essential Functions:

• Act in accordance with Victory Programs, Inc.’s Standards of Excellence & Philosophy of Care at all times including maintaining professional ethics, boundaries and client confidentiality.
• Ensure that the residence is maintained in a state of good repair, orderliness and is free from hazards. 
• Assure that fire safety standards are met at all times. 
• Coordinate the arrival of incoming families, fostering a welcoming, dignified environment, while offering education on house rules, program expectations, and local resources.
• Perform initial household screenings, complete intakes, and perform preliminary needs assessments to determine immediate needs, in coordination with Case Managers.
• Enforce all policies and procedures related to maintaining a safe and appropriate residential environment; while promoting a healthy, supportive, inclusive community.
• As directed, facilitate recreational, cultural, community, and youth programming on-site. 
• In coordination with Case Managers, assist in the gathering, processing, review, and proper filing of client documentation necessary for EA shelter application purposes. 
• Engage in relationship building, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention, motivational interviewing and conflict de-escalation as needed in the milieu space.
• Coordinate all aspects of family departures, including assistance with organization, coordinating transportation, confirming directions to the ultimate destination, and ensuring all materials are in-order for a seamless transition. 
• Accurately document observations, encounters, incidents and engagements with clients during your shift. 
• Support with inventory of client belongings.
• Assist with storage of food, household supplies, linen supplies, including inventory, collection, distribution, and laundering as directed.
• Provide assistance with daily office and administrative functions e.g. filing, phone coverage, reception, maintenance of house records.
• Communicate to both management and peer staff any information specific to the organization and maintenance of the facility that occurs during shift (utilizing oral as well as written reports in the daily log and incident reports as required). 
• Attend supervision, staff meetings, clinical team meetings and periodic professional development training and workshops as requested by the supervisor.
• Conduct safety, security and wellness rounds/checks throughout the program as scheduled to ensure the well-being of all residents.
• Work collaboratively within the team to provide client centered services. 
• Staff are required to be awake for the entire shift.

Non-Essential Functions:

• Participate and support the agency in program events, State House rallies, fundraising and advocacy events, rallies, walks and any additional functions.
• Perform any other duty or task that may be requested from time to time by your supervisor or their designee.

Required Qualifications:

• Ability to work effectively with individuals of diverse race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex and drug cultures, age groups, religion, country of origin, disability and economic status.
• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Strong organizational, writing, and communication skills.
• Knowledge of or openness to Addiction/Recovery and Harm Reduction Practices/Philosophy or a willingness to acquire within the first six months of employment.
• Excellent verbal communication skills including an ability to have open and affirming conversations.
• Ability to work and relate to residents in a helpful, directive, and compassionate manner.
• Ability to work independently and cooperatively as a member of a professional team.
• Must be CPR certified (may be obtained upon hire)
• Completed TB screening (may be obtained upon hire)
• Three work related professional references; at least 2 from manager or supervisor.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with families, parents, and youth experiencing housing instability and trauma.
• Previous experience in nonviolent crisis intervention, de-escalation, and milieu management.
• Working knowledge of the Emergency Assistance (EA) Program, including the EA application process and common barriers faced by low-income residents in accessing shelter. Familiarity with HIV/AIDS and viral hepatitis, homelessness, substance use, STIs, and sex work as well as health-related social issues beneficial.
• Proficient computer skills, including the use of Microsoft Word and Excel and other databases.
• Valid Massachusetts driver’s license and safe driving points of 00, 98, 99, 01, 02, or 03.

Position Type: Saturday & Sunday, 8am-4pm. Part-time (16 hours). On-site.

Rate: $22.28 / hour

Victory Programs values a diverse workforce, as we collectively seek to create welcoming, inclusive and accessible environments for our employees and the people we serve. We strive to sustain healthy, functioning communities that respect and celebrate different experiences, identities, cultures and ideas.

Victory Programs has helped individuals and families in crisis for over 45 years. Thousands turn to us yearly for shelter, sustenance, recovery, care, and professional, compassionate support. Most struggle with homelessness, substance use and mental health, and many live with HIV/AIDS. Our team of more than 300 staff across over 30+ programs works with people to develop and execute creative, safe solutions to the very real challenges our clients face.

Our benefit program includes a 75% health and 25% dental employer premium contribution, 100% employer paid disability and life insurance. Victory Programs offers a generous paid time off package to all employees including vacation, sick, and personal time as well as holidays. Upon hire, all staff are entitled to up to: 4 personal days, 160 sick hours, 10 holidays and 3 1/2 weeks of vacation. These figures adjust based on full time or part time status and allocated vacation time increases with length of employment.