There are NO OPEN Shelter Team Peer support positions at this time.
Resumes and letters of interest that shares a little about why you are drawn to this work are always welcome to be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will reach out to folks who have sent letters of interest when positions become available.
What's a Shelter Team Peer you ask?
Outsider's Inn Shelter Team Peers work together with the Program Director, Team Leads, other Team Members and volunteers to ensure that the shelter spaces are safe, sanitary and welcoming to a broad diversity of persons without housing, including people of all races, nationalities, languages, ages, abilities, and gender orientation. Shelter Team Peers are responsbile for BOTH OPERATIONS of the space AND ENGAGEMENT with the guests and other persons and the daily tasks will include:
- Provide basic intake and orientation to all new guests on a daily basis, including but not limited to reviewing Guest Agreements, drug and alcohol policies and emergency procedures.
- Distribute food, blankets, bedding and other needed items in a fair and equitable manner to guests.
- Assist other staff, volunteers, and community groups and help them to have a positive experience with the shelter, while maintaining shelter guidelines.
- Notify police, fire, emergency medical or other crisis personnel if warranted by events at shelter.
- Interact with guests, staff, and volunteers in a strengths-based, trauma-informed manner at all times.
- Maintain accurate, complete, up-to-date daily documentation of guests served and their basic demographic information.
- Submit documentation in a timely manner.
- Enter data into appropriate systems (HMIS and Care Coordination System).
- Perform regular fire watch walk-throughs and record these on a form provided by the fire marshal.
- Record each shift activity in each shelter’s log book.
- Meet with the supervisor and participate in department staff meetings and monthly all staff training as scheduling permits.
- Refer and connect guests to other community services
- Other duties as assigned.
OI Shelter Team Peers need to have the ability to:
- Model Recovery and have alignment with Outsiders Inn pillars of practice.
- Communicate clearly and respectfully with shelter guests and other staff
- Empower change and support persons in making choices that encourage harm-reduction.
- Support and guide others through moments of learning and practicing emotional regulation.
- Work cooperatively with other staff and volunteers and maintain productive working relationships within Outsiders Inn.
- Be sensitive to diverse cultures, ages and abilities.
- Maintain strict confidentiality and professional boundaries with all guests and staff.
- Understand and follow written and oral instructions, guidelines and procedures.
- Represent Outsiders Inn professionally, accurately and effectively.
- Work independently and at the same time be a vital and contributing part of a team.
- Commute to work location in a timely and safe manner.
OI Shelter Team Peers need the knowledge of:
- Navigating basic social service agencies (DSHS, EBT, etc) and community resources (food banks, support groups, addiction services).
- Modeling good boundaries and basic principles of confidentiality, crisis de-escalation, empowering self-advocacy, and trauma-informed care.
- Supporting SAMHSA’s definition of Recovery : “A process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE for OI Shelter Team Peers include:
- At least one year experience in social services or equivalent personal lived experience that brought about the awareness of people without homes and the issues facing them.
- Certified Peer Support, Recovery Coach, Community Health Worker experience welcomed
- General computer environment skills & experience, Google Drive, data documenting
- Smartphone app environments (time clock access)
- Oral and written English literacy is needed, bi-lingual skills are welcome.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS for OI Shelter Team Peers
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; sit; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and distance vision.
Required qualifications for employment will be
- 18 years old with valid Washington ID or Driver’s License
- Appropriate background check clearance
- Eligibility to work in the United States. (verified through the E-Verify website)
There are NO OPEN shelter team peer support positions at this time.
Resumes and letters of interest that shares a little about why you are drawn to this work are always welcome to be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will reach out to folks who have sent letters of interest when positions become available.