Site Support Staff

Organizational Summary:

Franciscan Outreach’s mission is to provide healthy meals, safe shelter, and critical services that affirm the dignity of men and women who are marginalized and homeless and empower them to gain the stability they need to transition into permanent housing.

Position Description:

The Site Support Staff is considered an essential position and supports this mission by providing direct services, assuring the safety and security of program participants, helping them adapt to community living and program policies, and ensuring the effective operation of the site program. Hours vary depending on the site location. SPARC serves as a critical hub for homeless individuals to access emergency shelters and supportive services in the City of Chicago.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Complete daily reports, signin sheets, incident reports, and other paperwork as assigned.
• Performs general administrative functions such as noting within the communication log (TEAMS), answering the phone, and responding to inperson inquiries in a professional manner.
• Receives new guests, verifies homelessness status, completes intake paperwork, creates proper client files, completes HMIS intake, and orients new clients to the shelter and its policies.
• Provides appropriate requested information and directs requests for service.
• Monitors the activities of clients to ensure the safety of guests, volunteers, and staff.
• Perform securityoriented duties, including periodic checks of the facility and surrounding property.
• Assist with maintaining overall cleanliness and sanitation of the site.
• Records guest attendance, maintains bed count, and ensures site capacity.
• Assist guests and encourage compliance with site routines and rules.
• Hold site guests accountable for upholding program rules and expectations.
• Communicate any guestrelated issues or concerns to site management.
• Help guests work through conflicts with others living at the site.
• Conduct bed checks during the night.
• Assist with maintaining the site is clean, restocking supplies, and completing site laundry.
• Communicate observations and interactions with guests to site management and the site case manager through documentation in a daily log, and record any unusual happenings.
• Become familiar with events that have occurred since his/her last shift
• Prepare and set up meals, following all food safety guidelines.
• Provides crisis intervention as needed, including determining when it is necessary to involve other staff, management, or the authorities.
• Collaborate with the community and fulltime volunteers during the shift and help with questions or issues when necessary.
• Complete documentation for inkind donations as needed.
• Report any facility or equipment maintenance needs to the appropriate staff.
• Treat guests in a culturally sensitive manner.
• Participate in program, department, and agency meetings and relevant trainings.
• Adhere to agency policies, procedures, and professional code of ethics.
• Performs all duties as assigned, including other duties as required.

Skills needed:

• Demonstrates an understanding and commitment to the organization’s mission, vision, and core values
• Ability to establish and maintain professional boundaries in working with guests
• Ability to work effectively in a constantly changing and sometimes demanding, highpaced, and stressful environment
• Ability to work with a diverse population, with sensitivity to differences in culture, religion, sexual orientation, race, age, and physical and mental illness
• Ability to manage multiple projects with demanding and competing deadlines, superior organizational skills, and the ability to maintain highquality work
• Ability to work independently or in a team
• Demonstrates a positive attitude, selfmotivation, organization, and resourcefulness while maintaining a reputation through proven action of being team and guest oriented and willing to assist where/when needed.
• Ability to negotiate different personalities and work under competing priorities
• Ability to assess emergencies and respond effectively.
• Demonstrated proficiency in using Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and other applications, as well as experience using and entering data into HMIS or other client databases
• Must have the ability to obtain a HMIS/Service Point license
• Ability to work with individuals who are experiencing homelessness
• Ability to remain alert and on duty throughout shifts
• Ability to effectively use conflict resolution and deescalation techniques
• Ability to communicate well both orally and in written form, and follow detailed instructions
• Ability to accurately record information for required guest and staff documentation
• Ability to apply policies fairly and consistently
• Physical ability to lift 25 pounds, sit, stand, bend, reach, and perform cleaning duties

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or GED
• Maintain Food Manager's Certification
• Basic computer skills, including the use of Windows Office Suite programs
• May be required to become First Aid/CPR certified
• May be required to become certified in overdose prevention and administer Naloxone
• General knowledge of substance use and mental health disorders
• Knowledge of Housing First, TraumaInformed Care, and Harm Reduction principles
• Valid Driver’s License and a clean driving record are a plus

Benefits We Offer

Generous vacation program based on years of service.

Paid holidays based on position and eligibility

Paid Sick Leave days annually

Paid Leave days annually

Medical, dental and vision coverage

Accident & Accidental Death and Dismemberment coverage

Complimentary life insurance

Complimentary short-term disability

403b retirement savings plan

Pet Insurance

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Health and Safety Requirements:

• COVID19 vaccination is mandatory for all employees. Accommodation requests will be considered in compliance with applicable laws

Additional Requirements:

All staff are expected to abide by the policies of Franciscan Outreach including, but not limited to rules governing ethics, confidentiality, dual relationships, honesty, and integrity. All staff are expected to always act in good faith and in keeping with the mission and values of Franciscan Outreach. Staff must have a commitment to serving the guests of Franciscan Outreach and to contributing to a positive, respectful, and accepting environment.

Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position. This description provides a summary of the major duties and responsibilities and is not an exhaustive list of the duties and responsibilities. The employee holding this position may be required to perform additional duties to meet the needs of the organization.

About Franciscan Outreach

Franciscan Outreach is a leading provider of homeless services in Chicago. We operate as a system of support for men and women who are marginalized and homeless. We empower people to gain the stability they need to transition into permanent housing. Through five service sites, we offer healthy meals to those who are hungry, a warm bed for those who need shelter, vital case management for those who need guidance, and access to critical resources for those who need specialized services such as health care, mental health counseling, and substance use disorder treatment.