LIFE SKILLS COORDINATOR: Homeless Women's Shelter

TRANSITION PROJECTS, located in Portland, Oregon, serves people’s basic needs as they transition from homelessness to housing. This position works at our Jean’s Place Woman’s Shelter in inner Northeast Portland. APPLICATION PROCESS Please submit a letter of interest specifying the position for which applying and a current resume to [email protected], or by FAX to 503 823 9210, or by mail or in person to TRANSITION PROJECTS, 475 NW Glisan St, Portland OR 97209.

JOB DESCRIPTION May 13, 2009

Position: Life Skills Coordinator Supervisor: Jean’s Place Director Hours: Full Time, May Include Some Evenings and/or Weekends Salary: $14.07 Hourly $14.46 Starting Wage if Bilingual Spanish/English Benefits: Standard Benefit Package GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES Coordinate the Life Skills program for current and former shelter residents. Facilitate classes, groups and individual support for housing, job readiness, and obtaining income. Coordinate Access Center. See attachment for building-specific duties. SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Coordinate and operate the on-site computer Access Center 2. Assist Volunteer Coordinator in training and scheduling volunteers to oversee Access Center as needed. 3. Maintain and update Access Center computers on a weekly basis. 4. Provide referrals to BEST team as appropriate. Coordinate with BEST team for updated and ongoing information on SSI/SSDI process. 5. Conduct individual employability assessments with TPI case managed residents. Provide assistance for those seeking government entitlements. 6. Assist residents and former residents, on an individual and group basis, with obtaining job leads, updating resumes & creating cover letters. 7. Organize Jobs Board and regularly update listings. Organize clothes closet and facilitate distribution of job & interview appropriate clothing. 8. Work with housing and mental health case managers to include income and self sufficiency planning in housing case plans. 9. Facilitate semi-monthly Jean's Place house meetings. Schedule guest speakers – training or employment services – for one meeting each month. 10. Lead Ready to Rent classes for Jean's Place residents when volunteer is not available 11. Conduct criminal background checks and credit reports for Ready to Rent participants 12. Organize and facilitate ongoing groups in preparation for moving into permanent housing. 13. Assist current and former residents in finding appropriate avenues for becoming involved in the community. 14. Conduct monthly retention and education group for former residents. 15. Develop and maintain relationships with relevant community resources to assure services availability to clients. 16. Collect and analyze data, providing reports and statistical information. 17. Assign voice mail boxes to residents referred by case managers. 18. Participate in staff meetings as required. 19. Other duties as assigned. Performance Responsibilities: Each Transition Projects employee must: 1. Represent the organization professionally at all times. 2. Provide positive role models to residents, tenants and clients. 3. Maintain positive relations with clients, volunteers, co-workers, staff from other agencies, agency funders, and the general public. 4. Be tested for TB within 2 weeks of hire and be retested at least annually thereafter throughout employment. 5. Demonstrate effective communication skills by conveying necessary information accurately, listening effectively and asking questions when clarification is needed. 6. Plan and organize work effectively and ensure its completion. 7. Exercise necessary cost control measures. 8. Demonstrate reliability by being present for work as scheduled, arriving and leaving on time and taking breaks in expected time frames. 9. Interact effectively with persons of diverse ethnic backgrounds, religious views, cultural backgrounds, and sexual orientations and treat each individual with respect and dignity. 10. Demonstrate team behavior and promote a team-oriented environment. 11. Demonstrate initiative. 12. Participate in ongoing development and improvement of all program processes and relationships.

Physical/Mental Requirements: The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee, with or without accommodation, to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. 1. Hearing and vision adequate for interaction with clients, interaction with staff and interaction with the general public. 2. Hearing adequate for telephone work. Vision adequate for close work. 3. Hand and finger dexterity adequate to operate standard office equipment. 4. Ability to walk, bend, stand, sit, reach, stoop, pull, sit, and squat. 5. Ability to climb stairs.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

1. (a) A Bachelor's degree with 1 year experience providing groups or education to homeless persons, OR (b) 3 years experience working with homeless populations with at least one of those years providing groups or education to that population. 2. Demonstrated knowledge of regional employment resources and of overcoming barriers to employment. 3. Demonstrated ability to work with special needs population. 4. Demonstrated knowledge of money management and resources. 5. Demonstrated knowledge of landlord tenant issues and housing barriers. 6. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks. 7. Demonstrated ability to create program procedures. 8. Demonstrated ability to maintain paperwork in an organized manner. 9. Ability and willingness to become certified as a Ready to Rent instructor. 10. Strong writing abilities. 11. Excellent computer skills. Demonstrated ability to use word processing, database, calendar, spreadsheet, e-mail, Internet, and graphic design programs. 12. Ability to operate office machines, including copy and facsimile machines. 13. Bi-lingual English/Spanish preferred but not required.

APPLICATION PROCESS Please submit a letter of interest specifying the position for which applying and a current resume to [email protected], or by FAX to 503 823 9210, or by mail or in person to TRANSITION PROJECTS, 475 NW Glisan St, Portland OR 97209. Disclaimer The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.