Director of Development & Communications

This senior leadership position will oversee all aspects of fundraising, development and communications. The successful candidate will be a strategic thinker and team player with excellent communications skills. A full job description can be downloaded here.

Resume & cover letter to board.whbw@gmail.com  or WHBW, PO Box 1535, Burlington, VT 05402.  No phone calls please.  EOE.

Housing Stabilization Advocate    

Full Time/Non-Exempt Position

Program: Shelter and Housing Program

Job Responsibilities:

The Housing Stabilization Advocate (HSA) provides direct services and coordinates service provision by other WHBW programs as well as outside community providers to individuals and families who are residing in WHBW’s emergency shelter and safehome program. The HSA is responsible helping service users maintain their housing, transition to safer housing, and/or assist residents in our shelter and safehome program transition into long term housing.  The HSA will co-facilitate Housing Clinic to provide housing advocacy to service users in need.  The HSA will assist the Emergency Housing Coordinator, volunteers, and interns. The HSA is a member of the Direct Services Team and reports to the Emergency Housing Coordinator.

Essential Functions:

Direct Service Functions

• Provide information, advocacy, support and referrals to service users residing in the emergency shelter and Safehomes through our 24 hour hotline.
• Collaborate with Economic Justice, Children & Youth and Legal Advocacy programs to coordinate service provision for individuals and families in the shelter and Safehome.
• Provide information, referrals and advocacy for housing, public benefits and other relevant community resources.
• Provide crisis management support and intervention as needed.
• Meet regularly with individual residents in the shelter and Safehome to provide emotional support, case work and advocacy during the end of their stay in the programs to assist with their transition out
• Facilitate communal living and communication for a diverse population of residents.
• Develop and maintain working relationships with relevant community advocates and community service providers.

Administrative Functions

• Computer proficient, including Microsoft Office, and e-mail as a significant mode of communication/documentation.
• Coordinate emergency procedures, i.e., power outage, evacuation, medical emergencies, etc. Inform residents, staff, interns and volunteers on emergency procedures.
• Maintain case files and daily and monthly and quarterly statistics.
• Oversee general day to day operations of the Shelter and Housing Program.
• Develop and maintain up-to-date forms, files, resources and referrals.
• Maintain a clean, well-supplied, and secure shelter for residents.
• Oversee general maintenance of shelter building including coordinating necessary repairs and construction projects.

Organizational Responsibilities

• Participate in weekly direct services team meetings, monthly staff meetings, weekly supervision with Emergency Housing Coordinator.
• Participate in shelter and hotline coverage.
• Participate in general agency trainings.
• Participate in on-call rotation.
• All other duties as required to maintain a safe, secure and well-run shelter for survivors of domestic violence and their children.

Education:

A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in social services or equivalent experience, with at least 2 years of direct service work.

Working conditions:

Working in the shelter for survivors of domestic violence. Varied hours and varied days to maintain 24-hour coverage of shelter services.

Provide coverage for hotline and shelter emergencies as needed.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• In-depth knowledge of the causes and effects of domestic violence, related safety issues, gender analysis of domestic violence, and multiple oppressions.
• Direct practice experience in victim services or other social services, preferably in a residential program, with advocacy and homelessness.
• Demonstrate knowledge of community resources.
• Assessment and case-planning skills.
• Oral and written communication skills.
• Organizational skills.
• Time management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with internal and external partners.
• Group facilitation skills including team building and conflict resolution.
• Competency regarding serving individuals from multicultural and other underserved populations.
• Ability to work independently.
• Access to reliable transportation.

Resume & cover letter by Fri. May 24th to legaladvocate@whbw.org  or WHBW, PO Box 1535, Burlington, VT 05402.  No phone calls please.  EOE.

*****

Part Time Legal Advocate Position – 20 hours

Job Responsibilities:

The Legal Advocate provides legal advocacy services for victims of domestic abuse.  The Legal Advocate’s responsibilities are primarily as follows:

• Provide legal information, advocacy, support and referrals pertaining to legal needs to victims through the hotline and to residents in shelter and safe home
• Provide in court support in the family, civil, and criminal courts
• Assist victims with Temporary Relief from Abuse Order (RFA) requests and with other court petitions such as divorce and parentage actions.
• Attend Permanent Relief from Abuse Order hearings on Thursdays
• Assist victims as they navigate the legal system
• Participate in Legal Clinic
• Collaborate with community partners
• Follow up with referrals from Police Departments and the State’s Attorney’s office and meet with victims as needed
• Assist the Legal Advocacy Coordinator, interns, and volunteers
• Collectively work with other advocates to provide general advocacy, crisis intervention, information, support, referrals
• Participate in agency meetings and activities
• Prepare Plaintiffs for Family Court Relief from Abuse Order Hearings by providing information, support, and advocacy

The Legal Advocate is a member of the Direct Services Team and reports to the Legal Program Coordinator.

Qualifications:

• Experience in social service work
• Passion for helping others
• Written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to provide on the job training to volunteers and interns

• Competency regarding serving victim/survivors and children from multicultural and other underserved populations

Resume & cover letter by Fri. May 24th to safehomeadvocate@whbw.org or WHBW, PO Box 1535, Burlington, VT 05402.  No phone calls please.  EOE.