Overview
Support Associate – Community Shelter Jobs in Chicago, IL at Black Women’s Mental Health Institute
Title: Support Associate – Community Shelter
Company: Black Women’s Mental Health Institute
Location: Chicago, IL
Position Summary
The Residential Monitor maintains safety, security, and well-being in transitional and overnight shelter programs. They rotate across front desk, parking gate, and residential floors, performing duties professionally and trauma-informed. As a primary contact, they create a supportive and safe environment, enforcing policies, monitoring activity via security systems, and assisting participants, visitors, staff, and volunteers.
Key Responsibilities Include
- Greeting and verifying visitors, maintaining logs, conducting bag screenings, and monitoring security cameras.
- Managing parking gate operations, checking IDs, and coordinating vehicle access.
- Conducting safety checks, distributing medications, enforcing program rules, and providing escorts for participants.
- De-escalating conflicts using trauma-informed techniques and intervening early in disputes.
- Responding to crises such as suicidality, medical emergencies, and traumatic events, following protocols and notifying leadership.
- Documenting incidents, observations, and actions accurately using trauma-informed language.
Qualifications & Skills
- High school diploma or GED, with at least one year of experience in social services, shelter, security, or customer service.
- Effective communication, calmness under stress, and ability to work rotating shifts including evenings, overnights, weekends, and holidays.
- Experience working with individuals facing homelessness, mental health, or substance use challenges preferred.
- Basic computer skills for documentation and reporting.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in behavioral health or transitional housing, trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, or certifications like CPR/First Aid and Narcan.
- Bilingual in English and Spanish highly desirable.
Physical & Work Environment
- Ability to stand, walk, climb stairs, and lift up to 25 lbs for extended periods.
- Work outdoors in varying weather when assigned to parking gate.
- Operate in a shelter environment with exposure to challenging behaviors and crises.
