Position Title: Night Shelter Coordinator (Regular Night Shift)
Pay Rate: $18.00/hour (non-exempt)
Schedule: Mix of evening (7:00 PM–11:00 PM) and overnight (11:00 PM–7:00 AM) shifts. Weekends included; holidays optional.
Reports To: Night Shelter Supervisor
Position Overview
The Night Shelter Coordinator is responsible for the safe, orderly, and trauma-informed operation of Downtown Daily Bread’s emergency night shelter during assigned evening and overnight shifts. This role provides direct support to guests, enforces shelter policies, monitors facility safety, and completes required documentation and reporting.
The Coordinator typically works alongside one other staff member during evening shifts (7:00 PM–11:00 PM) and works independently during overnight shifts (11:00 PM–7:00 AM). While not a supervisory role, the Coordinator is expected to exercise sound judgment, manage situations calmly, and follow established protocols, communicating with on-call leadership as needed.
This position requires the ability to remain calm under pressure, act with professionalism and compassion, and work effectively in dynamic, real-world settings with direct, in-person interaction. The Night Shelter Coordinator must be comfortable addressing issues in real time, setting clear boundaries, and engaging in respectful but direct confrontation when needed to enforce shelter rules and maintain safety.
Key Responsibilities
Night Shelter Operations
- Ensure the shelter opens, operates, and closes according to established nightly procedures and checklists.
- Welcome guests and support orderly intake, bed assignments, and transitions into the overnight space.
- Monitor guest flow, shelter capacity, and adherence to shelter rules and expectations.
- Conduct regular walkthroughs of the facility to ensure safety, cleanliness, and guest well-being.
- Monitor security cameras and building access points throughout the shift.
- Oversee use of restrooms, showers (if applicable), and sleeping areas.
- Maintain general cleanliness of the shelter and complete light cleaning tasks as assigned.
Client Support & Engagement
- Maintain a welcoming, respectful, and trauma-informed environment for all guests.
- Respond to guest questions, concerns, or needs in a calm and professional manner.
- De-escalate conflicts using trauma-informed and harm-reduction approaches.
- Issue clear directives, deny requests when necessary, and enforce consequences in accordance with shelter policy.
- Address rule violations and behavioral issues directly, respectfully, and in the moment to maintain safety and order.
- Respond to crises including medical issues, mental health episodes, or unsafe behavior following DDB protocols.
Safety & Emergency Response
- Respond immediately to emergencies and contact EMS, police, crisis response teams, or on-call leadership as appropriate.
- Maintain awareness of banned guests, safety alerts, and any special restrictions.
- Secure entrances and exits and follow all building safety procedures.
- Complete incident reports and required documentation before the end of the shift.
Documentation & Communication
- Complete nightly shift reports summarizing bed counts, turn-aways, incidents, and notable guest concerns.
- Accurately document required data in internal systems (e.g., Bethsaida or other tracking tools).
- Communicate significant incidents, safety concerns, or operational issues promptly to the Director of Operations or on-call leadership.
- Participate in required meetings, trainings, and professional development opportunities.
Other Duties
- Perform other related duties as assigned by the Director of Operations or Executive Director.
Qualifications
- Demonstrated experience working directly with people in community-facing roles (human services, shelters, behavioral health, customer-facing community work, or similar environments).
- Ability to work effectively with individuals experiencing homelessness, crisis, mental illness, or substance use.
- Strong communication, problem-solving, and conflict de-escalation skills.
- Must be comfortable addressing rule violations, setting boundaries, and engaging in direct, respectful confrontation when required.
- Demonstrated ability to remain calm, professional, and decisive in high-stress or unpredictable situations.
- Reliability, punctuality, and ability to work both evening and overnight shifts, including weekends.
- Basic computer skills and comfort completing written and electronic documentation.
- CPR/First Aid certification required or willingness to obtain upon hire.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to stand and walk for extended periods during overnight shifts.
- Ability to climb stairs and respond quickly in emergency situations.
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
- Ability to remain awake, alert, and attentive for the full duration of the shift.
Work Environment
- Fast-paced shelter environment with frequent activity and noise.
- Exposure to strong odors, cleaning products, and varying temperatures.
- Regular interaction with individuals experiencing crisis, mental illness, substance use, or behavioral challenges.
- May require responding to medical or safety emergencies, including contacting emergency services.
Downtown Daily Bread is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team in service of our mission.
www.downtowndailybread.org | (717) 238-4717
Job Type: Part-time
Pay: $18.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
