Neighbor 2 Neighbor Pendleton
Title: Shelter Support Staff
Reports to: Executive Director or designated lead
Status: Full-Time and Part-Time positions available, Year-Round, Non-Exempt Compensation: $22.50 per hour, plus benefits
Location: 715 SE Court Ave., Pendleton, Oregon
Position Summary
Neighbor 2 Neighbor has served the Pendleton community since 2011 by providing emergency shelter and support to individuals experiencing homelessness. As the organization transitions from seasonal operations to a year-round, low-barrier emergency shelter, Neighbor 2 Neighbor is expanding its Shelter Support Staff into full-time, year-round positions.
Neighbor 2 Neighbor operates a 27-bed congregate emergency shelter. Shelter Support Staff help maintain a safe, welcoming, and well-functioning shelter while providing direct support to guests. As a low-barrier shelter, Neighbor 2 Neighbor serves people without requiring preconditions such as sobriety, treatment participation, or employment. Staff are expected to approach every guest with dignity, respect, patience, and professionalism.
Essential Responsibilities
Guest Support & Basic Needs
- Welcome and support guests while maintaining a safe, respectful, and low-barrier shelter environment.
- Treat every guest with dignity and respect and maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
- Assist guests with day-to-day needs and respond appropriately to concerns.
- Coordinate guest shower access and provide towels, hygiene supplies, clothing, bedding, and other basic-needs items as available.
- Use respectful communication, de-escalation, and sound judgment when responding to challenging situations.
Shelter Operations & Safety
- Conduct guest intakes in accordance with Neighbor 2 Neighbor policies and procedures, including completing required intake documentation and orienting guests to shelter expectations and available services.
- Develop and maintain a thorough working knowledge of Neighbor 2 Neighbor shelter policies and procedures and consistently implement them during assigned shifts.
- Communicate shelter expectations to guests and apply policies consistently, respectfully, and in accordance with the shelter's low-barrier approach.
- Regularly monitor guest sleeping areas, common areas, security cameras, and the building perimeter throughout assigned shifts.
- Maintain building security and safe and appropriate conditions within sleeping and common areas.
- Respond appropriately to safety concerns, emergencies, disturbances, and requests from law enforcement or other community providers.
- Notify shelter leadership of significant incidents, safety concerns, police activity, or other significant events.
- Follow established procedures for guest belongings and secured property.
Resource Connection
- Help guests identify and connect with resources appropriate to their needs.
- Provide information and referrals to CAPECO, Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS), treatment and behavioral health services, housing and healthcare providers, employment resources, and other critical community services.
Documentation & Data
- Complete accurate and timely intake records, guest logs, shift documentation, incident reports, and other required records.
- Enter required guest and program information into applicable data systems.
- Maintain confidentiality of guest information and records.
Cleaning & Facility Care
- Clean and sanitize bathrooms, showers, sleeping areas, common areas, kitchen and dining areas as assigned.
- Sweep, vacuum, mop, remove trash and recycling, wash dishes, and restock supplies.
- Launder bedding, towels, and other shelter linens.
- Complete other routine janitorial tasks necessary to maintain the facility.
Facility, Donations & Inventory
As time allows, Shelter Support staff will:
- Receive, organize, store, and distribute donated clothing, hygiene products, bedding, and other supplies.
- Maintain inventory of shelter and basic-needs supplies and identify items that need to be restocked.
- Sort, organize, and distribute mail received for shelter guests.
- Maintain organized storage and supply areas.
Team Responsibilities
- Work collaboratively with the Executive Director, Kitchen & Shelter Operations Manager, other Shelter Support Staff, and volunteers.
- Communicate effectively between shifts to support consistent shelter operations.
- Participate in staff meetings and required training.
- Support volunteers and contribute to the overall operation of the shelter.
- Follow all Neighbor 2 Neighbor policies, procedures, confidentiality requirements, and safety practices.
- Perform other duties reasonably related to shelter operations as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
- At least 21 years of age.
- Commitment to treating individuals experiencing homelessness with dignity and respect.
- Ability to communicate effectively with people from a wide variety of backgrounds and circumstances.
- Ability to work effectively in a low-barrier environment, including with individuals experiencing mental health challenges, substance use, or other crises.
- Ability to learn, understand, and consistently implement Neighbor 2 Neighbor shelter policies and procedures.
- Ability to remain calm, use sound judgment, and communicate respectfully during challenging situations.
- Basic writing and computer skills and ability to accurately complete intake documentation, data entry, and other records.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriate professional boundaries.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Ability to perform routine cleaning and facility duties.
- Ability to lift up to 30 pounds.
- Ability and willingness to complete required training.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working with individuals experiencing homelessness or other vulnerable populations or direct lived experience of homelessness.
- Experience in shelter, social services, behavioral health, healthcare, crisis response, or another human services setting.
- Familiarity with low-barrier and trauma-informed approaches.
- Familiarity with community resources in Pendleton and Umatilla County.
- Experience with client data systems or program documentation.
Prior shelter or social service experience is helpful but not required. Neighbor 2 Neighbor values applicants who demonstrate empathy, reliability, good judgment, willingness to learn, and the ability to treat every guest with dignity and respect.
Work Environment
Shelter Support Staff work directly with individuals experiencing homelessness in a congregate emergency shelter. Employees may encounter individuals experiencing mental health crises, substance use, illness, or other challenging circumstances. This is an active, hands-on position that includes direct guest interaction, monitoring sleeping areas and the facility, cleaning and janitorial work, documentation and data entry, and other responsibilities necessary to maintain shelter operations.
Schedule
We are hiring both full and part-time positions for this role. All positions will be year-round. Neighbor 2 Neighbor is currently developing its year-round staffing model and determining final operating hours. Anticipated operating hours will be from 6:30 pm through 6:00 or 7:00 am. The final schedule may include a mix of evening shifts and/or overnight shifts positions.
Benefits
Full-time employees are eligible for Neighbor 2 Neighbor's benefits package, as listed below. Part-time employees receive a pro-rated benefit package.
- Health insurance stipend of $200 per month
- 10 days of paid vacation annually
- Holiday pay when required to work on a holiday (holidays are those recognized by Umatilla County.)
- 5 days (40 hours) of paid sick leave annually
- Retention bonus after 12-months of employment
- Employer-paid professional training and development, including Trauma-Informed Care, Mental Health First Aid, Harm Reduction, Fair Housing, de-escalation and crisis response, shelter safety and emergency procedures, confidentiality, professional boundaries, and other training relevant to the position.
Pay: $22.50 per hour
People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply
Work Location: In person
