Site Support Specialist

POSITION:     SITE SUPPORT SPECIALIST

RESPONSIBLE TO:  Housing Services Manager, Community Health Home

COMMITMENT (HOURS): Full-Time, 40 hours per week, or Part-Time, 20-30 hours per week (Some evenings and weekends may be required)

STATUS: Regular, Non-Exempt (3 months orientation period)

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Open until filled

Family Bridges in Oakland is looking for Site Support Specialists to join our Community Health Home (CHH) – Oak Street Community Cabin Team. The Oak Street Community Cabin (OCC) is a 24/7 emergency residential shelter for houseless adults in the greater Oakland Chinatown area. We provide residents with a safe place to stay, food, basic needs, and supportive services to help them stabilize from houselessness and exit into more stable or permanent housing. Successful candidates thrive in a positive, team-driven environment, are skilled in encouraging and promoting an environment that is strength based, and are committed to working with and treating persons facing houselessness, substance abuse, and/or mental health issues with respect and dignity.

JOB SUMMARY: The Site Support Specialists provide supportive site services at the Oak Street Community Cabin and form a critical component in our Community Cabin partnership with the City of Oakland. The Site Support Specialist position helps to ensure the safety and comfort of all OCC participants, staff, and volunteers at this site, creating an environment that fosters service access and community building. 

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Site Maintenance and Operations

  • Maintain cleanliness and safety of OCC site, common areas and surrounding areas.
  • Provide site and cabin maintenance, including but not limited to ensuring operable front gate, doors/doorknobs, lights, windows, porta-potties, fence, etc. as well as light landscaping/gardening. 
  • Assist with storage, inventory and distribution of food, clothing, personal hygiene items, PPE, etc.
  • Address any emergencies such as fire evacuation, police intervention, injury reports, etc.
  • Provide on-call coverage relating to resident or facility concerns after hours and on weekends. 

Participant Engagement and Information Sharing

  • Ensure that all participants review and sign the Community Cabins Program Agreement within 24 hours of site entry.   
  • Ensure only participants and authorized individuals enter premises, participants are living in their assigned cabin, and cabins are occupied by OCC participants only.
  • Engage participants on site, regularly informing them of upcoming opportunities to engage/receive services from providers, programs, and/or volunteers.  
  • Provide support for participant meetings and assist in addressing any issues as they arise including communicating facilities issues, conflict resolution, and reaching out to providers that the participants are seeking.  
  • Create (with input from participants and in collaboration with other staff on site), maintain, and ‘publicize’ a weekly calendar of service engagement opportunities, meals schedule, community building events, etc. available to participants.
  • Assess and engage participants for immediate health and safety needs and communicate such needs to housing services staff.
  • Facilitate and maintain community provider relationships to create referral pathways and/or facilitate providers to come on site to offer services for program participants.  This includes volunteers and community based agencies seeking to work with clients on any number of issues; clean slate, anger management, good tenancy workshops, etc.
  • Support the process of moving new clients in as spaces becomes available; including but not limited to maintaining an active list of interested clients, filling vacant units within 48 hours of vacancy, leading an orientation for new program participants, assist in the transition, and address participants with their needs. 
  • Support participant leadership and self-management.
  • Meet regularly housing services/navigation staff to communicate about resident needs, successes, progress, and challenges in order to collaboratively support resident success.

Approach

  • Model positive attitudes, strengths based, and restorative approaches with participants. 
  • Build trusting relationships and develop a rapport that leads to acceptance and openness to receiving or seeking help.
  • Maintain a respectful attitude with all participants, Family Bridges staff and Supervisor, as well as vendors, providers, and other members of the community.
  • Maintain strict confidentiality and only discuss participants in a private setting to support their goals. 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Experience with individuals who are houseless, dealing with mental health and/or substance abuse, or living with other needs strongly preferred.
  • Ability to remain calm, exercise good judgment and promote solutions in crisis situations.
  • Proven ability to communicate effectively with culturally diverse houseless populations.
  • Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
  • Ability to contribute to positive and productive relationships with other staff members.

ADA REQUIREMENTS:

  • Ability to communicate clearly with others.
  • Ability to see and hear in order to interact with others.
  • Ability to use a computer as well as smartphone and/or tablet (e.g. iPad).
  • Ability to travel locally.
  • To lift a minimum of 20 lbs.
  • Vision 20/20 with correction.

SALARY RANGE:  Depends on Experience, plus full benefits.

TO APPLY: Send, fax or e-mail cover letter and resume to: Human Resources, Family Bridges, Inc.,
168 – 11th Street,  Oakland,   CA 94607,    Fax: (510) 839-2435    Email: [email protected]  

Family Bridges, Inc. is a non-profit multi-services community based organization that has been serving the Asian American communities in the East Bay for more than 50 years.  Family Bridges is an equal opportunity employer regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, age or disability.