Provide companionship to program participants and House of Healing residents as they transition to independent housing. Build and foster community among residents of Plymouth’s long term housing homes, and supervise, recruit and train community companion volunteers.
Specific Duties
– Provide companionship to program participants through one on one meetings and group outings in the community.
– Recruit, train, and support a growing team of volunteers.
Provide quarterly volunteer trainings.
Lead 2 monthly debrief meetings with community companion volunteers.
Foster a volunteers understanding of the companion model and ability to be present with participants.
Work closely with program coordinator to recruit and build a volunteer team.
Be a primary support for all community companion volunteers.
Coordinate group outings with volunteers and participants.
Complete all administrative tasks related to incoming new volunteers.
– Further develop the companion model in Plymouth Healing Community’s properties.
Build relationships with residents of our homes and apartments.
Foster community among residents through meals, coffee socials, outings, and/or other community and house events.
Be a strong presence for residents as they move out of the House of Healing. Introduce them to their new community, showing them food banks, grocery stores, bus routes, etc.
Plan and organize annual events at each property.
– Network with community organizations to provide support to the community companion model.
Identify free and low cost community events and community resources.
Request and administer ticket donations, and subsequent reporting, to community events .
– Be committed to a social service approach of empowerment and mutuality.
Listen closely to program participants, be a support for each person.
Actively work with program participants to enhance and improve their activities of daily living (health cooking skills, navigating public transit, relationship building).
Accompany program participants as they define their role in their community; walk alongside as they explore and reclaim public space as full participants.
Work to increase program participants’ interactions within the community to help them build a stronger community for themselves (help identify interests and support them in exploring those interests, connect them with others and with community resources with similar interests and experiences).
– Engage with organizations.
Participate in staff and board meetings.
Participate in retreats and House of Healing trainings when appropriate.
Connect with case managers as needed.
Other duties as assigned.
Qualities Desired
– Have a strong passion for social inclusion and social justice.
– Be exceptionally empathetic, sensitive to social cues, and adept at navigating varying social interactions with a community that has experienced trauma and isolation.
– Be comfortable working in an evolving program in an unstructured environment.
– Be an organized, yet flexible, creative and organic planner.
– Have exceptional listening skills, strong self-initiative, and a deep curiosity about the life stories of others.
– Be a teacher, and a model of the companion philosophy to others.
Other Responsibilities
– Manage, track, and report a small budget for use in outreaches.
– Report to PHC program coordinator.
– Provide monthly reports to the executive director and board.
Minimum Qualifications
– B.A. in social sciences.
– Minimum 1-2 years working with vulnerable populations.
– Knowledge of community resources in Seattle/ King County.
– Ability to communicate and work effectively with a wide range of populations, including coworkers, mental health staff, volunteers, and program participants.
– Experience providing culturally competent services to a diverse population.
– Flexibility to work some evenings and partial weekends.
This position is 32 hours per week, salaried and includes health insurance benefits.
How to apply
Please send resume and cover letter to Chris Wilcynski at chrisw@plyhc.org.
Position closes November 20, 2015.