Housing Advocate

Salt Lake City, UT
Full Time
Shelter
Entry Level

Who We Are

The Road Home was founded in 1923 and has been a leader in the endeavor to end homelessness for over 100 years. We provide low-barrier emergency shelters, supportive services, and housing-focused-minded rental assistance that helps individuals and families step out of homelessness and back into the community. We are seeking compassionate and empathetic individuals who are interested in making a difference in the lives of others and their community. 
 

The Road Home is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Our mission to help people experiencing homelessness is strengthened by a highly qualified team with a variety of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences. We are committed to fostering a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their unique strengths.

We welcome applicants from all walks of life who share our passion for ending homelessness, collaboration, and compassion. Together, we can create a supportive environment where every voice is heard, and every person has the opportunity to succeed.

The Road Home is a 501c3 non-profit social services agency whose mission is to help people step out of homelessness and back into our community.
Come be part of the solution.
We have a robust, reasonably-priced, and inclusive benefits plan for full and part-time employees (25-40 hours/week)

  • Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
  • HSA, FSA, HRA (We reimburse part of your deductible!)
  • Retirement Plan (403B with TRH contribution and match)
  • FREE Life Insurance for employees
  • Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & 12 Public Holidays)
  • One Floating Holiday Per Year
  • Free Short Term & Long Term Disability
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Free Training & Development
  • Tuition Assistance for a wide variety of classes!
  • Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) qualifying agency

JOB SUMMARY

The Housing Advocate team member provides compassionate and professional support to individuals experiencing homelessness, ensuring they receive the resources and assistance needed during their stay. This role requires strong communication, crisis intervention skills, the ability to regulate activities within the shelter, collaboration with emergency services, and a commitment to maintaining a safe and welcoming environment. Advocates observe shelter operations, maintain professional boundaries, and assist with facility upkeep while providing clear guidance to vulnerable guests. Successful candidates will serve as a trusted point of contact for guests and collaborate with guests, staff, and community partners while upholding trauma-informed care. 

Location

Gail Miller Resource Center (GMRC)

Medically Vulnerable Population (MVP)

St. Vincent De Paul Overflow (Vinnies)

Connie Crosby Resource Center (MFRC)

Pamela Atkinson Resource Center (PARC)

Family Interim Non-Congregate Children's Housing (FINCH)

Reports to
Housing Advocate Supervisor

Position Status
Full-Time, Part-Time

Shift
Day Shift (7:00am-3:30pm),
Swing Shift (3:00pm-11:30pm)
Graveyard Shift (11:00pm-7:30am)

Pay Grade and Starting Salary
Grade 4, $16.80/hour

FLSA Status
Non-Exempt

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

  1. Operate as part of a team that strives to serve the unsheltered in our community while working together with multiple shelter departments. 
  2. Deliver respectful, trauma-informed customer service to guests accessing shelter and needing resources.  
  3. Uphold shelter guidelines and procedures and help regulate activities at the shelter. 
  4. Provide specific information about guidelines and procedures with clear communication. 
  5. Maintain a clean, safe, and organized facility by performing routine cleaning tasks, including sweeping, mopping, and sanitizing bio spills, identifying and reporting special needs to supervisors, and preparing workspaces for the next shift. 
  6. Support pest control efforts, as needed.  
  7. Assist in dorm cleaning and guest belonging management, including bagging and moving clients’ belongings.  
  8. Answer phones, take messages, and respond to the public with direct inquiries.  
  9. Follow and support the instructions of the Shift Supervisor and Team Lead. 
  10. Document incident reports, guests stay, bed management, and maintain accurate records. 
  11. Ability to train other staff members, as assigned and needed. 
  12. Attend mandatory agency trainings, including Trauma-Informed Care, Housing Focused, De-escalation, Suicide Prevention, CPR, and more.  
  13. Participate in emergency drills and environmental safety activities, as required. 
  14. Follow all agency protocols for security, safety, and sanitation to maintain a clean and secure environment for guests and staff. 

*Other duties as assigned. 

*Reasonable accommodations may be considered to enable all individuals to perform these essential functions, so please still apply. 

 

As an Advocate, you will be trained to: 

  1. Assist and resolve conflicts among guests using de-escalation techniques.  
  2. Document incident reports.  
  3. Maintain records of resident stays and maintain an accurate shelter log using excel and other computer programs.  
  4. Collaborate with EMS and Law Enforcement during crises to provide support to our guests.  
  5. Work with and assist vulnerable populations with dignity and respect. 

Promoting Best Practice 

  • Actively engage with and honor the unique backgrounds, identities, and experiences of all individuals we serve.  
  • Advance the agency’s commitment to honoring diverse ethnic and cultural heritages through daily actions that foster genuine belonging.  
  • Implement Housing Focused principles, risk management strategies, and high-access services a foundational to our mission. 
  • Maintain healthy boundaries using trauma-informed approaches in all interactions. 

*Must pass a pre-employment background check and drug screening.  

Education and Experience 

  • High School Diploma or GED preferred. 
  • Experience working with diverse and/or vulnerable populations preferred. 

Skills and Expectations 

  1. Demonstrate emotional regulation skills to remain calm and composed during high-pressure situations, maintaining professionalism in all workplace interactions.  
  2. Manage multiple tasks calmly in a fast-paced and unpredictable environment.  
  3. Make thoughtful decisions using sound judgment.  
  4. Learn and apply healthy and appropriate boundary-setting with guests with respect.  
  5. Respect, be culturally responsive, and engage with people of all races, socio-economic status, and backgrounds.  
  6. Collaborate and engage effectively in a diverse and dynamic team.  
  7. Ability to actively listen, show empathy, and offer support to guests. 
  8. Commit to learning Trauma-Informed Care practices.  
  9. Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with diverse populations. 
  10. Provide thoughtful and attentive customer service by communicating clearly and handling difficult situations with professionalism, patience, and empathy. 
  11. Use basic computer programs (email, spreadsheets, and more) and have basic computer skills. 
  12. Ability to accept supervision, direction, and feedback with openness. 
  13. Be reliable, dependable, and consistent in attendance. 

Physical and Equipment Requirements 

  • Ability to lift and move heavy items up to 50 pounds, including guests' belongings.  
  • Ability to sit, stand, and move for at least an hour at a time or more.  
  • Ability to bend, squat, kneel, twist, push, and pull to perform job functions. 
  • Ability to use stairs or steps.  
  • Wear OSHA-required protective gear for safety.
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