About this role
OUR MISSION
The Family Place empowers survivors of family violence by providing safe housing, counseling, and skills that create independence while building community engagement and advocating for social change to stop family violence.
Position Summary:
In this role as Resident Advocate, you will play a vital part in creating a safe and supportive environment for survivors of family violence as they begin rebuilding their lives. By keeping the shelter secure, welcoming, and well-maintained, you help restore stability and dignity for each resident. Through compassionate support, active listening, and collaboration with the program team, you will not only ensure client safety but also empower individuals to move forward with confidence and hope. Your presence helps transform the shelter from a temporary refuge into a place of healing, growth, and new beginnings.
You're often the first face our clients see when they walk through the door, and sometimes, it's the first time in a long time they feel safe. You play a vital role in creating a supportive, stable environment where survivors of domestic violence can begin to heal. Whether you offer comfort during a crisis, keep the shelter safe and clean, or simply show up consistently and with care, your work helps individuals and families feel seen, respected, and empowered. Your compassion, attention, and advocacy directly impact their ability to rebuild their lives with dignity and hope.
Key Responsibilities:
Emotional Support & Crisis Intervention
- Provide emotional support to residential clients by demonstrating sensitivity and active listening in a non-judgmental manner.
- Intervene in crisis situations using approved de-escalation and crisis intervention methods that promote the safety of all residents.
- Provide backup coverage for hotline phone calls, assess the level of client risk, and, through active listening and positive problem-solving, provide mental and emotional support.
Client Services & Orientation
- Assure that all intakes with new clients include reviewing shelter policies, facility tours, completing intake paperwork, identifying immediate needs, and providing personal supplies within 24 hours.
- Assist clients with basic life skills activities, including healthy habits, clean living skills, organization, daily planning, and time management.
- Conduct client exit interviews, provide safety planning for unplanned exits, distribute exit surveys, and schedule transportation services.
- Provide timely communication to supervisor and designated staff regarding pertinent client situations and issues.
Collaboration & Case Management Support
- Collaborate with Case Managers, supervisor, and designated staff on service updates or client needs through documentation, email, and verbal communication.
- Interact with interns and volunteers, supporting and guiding them as necessary.
- Assist with volunteer groups and co-facilitate resident meetings and children's activities during adult groups.
- Assist with special events and other program activities scheduled during the shift.
Facility Safety & Maintenance
- Monitor the facility for safety and cleanliness; take appropriate action to maintain the shelter's physical environment.
- Provide light household tasks, including spot cleaning rooms for incoming and outgoing clients and sanitizing common areas of the shelter.
- Monitor inventory, document items distributed from the adult and children's closet, including overflow storage items, and report to operations and direct supervisor when inventory needs replenishing.
Client Transportation & Supplies
- Transport clients in company vehicles to and from appointments, meetings, and hospital visits when necessary.
- Monitor the resident advocate desk and assist clients with basic needs such as distributing medication, toiletries, cleaning supplies, and other essentials; document appropriately in Clients First.
Other Duties: Performs other job-related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in psychology, social work, sociology, or similar with 6 months of experience working in a residential facility, shelter, or similar environment
- OR an associate degree and any equivalent combination of training and experience, which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
- Bilingual, English/ Spanish, may be required for some roles.
Licenses and Certifications: Valid Texas Driver’s License and a clear driving record.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Knowledge of domestic violence and client trauma.
- Skilled in Microsoft Office applications.
- Skilled in verbal de-escalation and crisis management.
- Ability to maintain a clear and valid Texas driver's license.
- Ability to communicate in both written and verbal formats to meet position responsibilities.
- Ability to be sensitive to the language, economic, and cultural needs of clients.
- Ability to safely drive a company vehicle to offsite locations and attend off-site meetings and events.
- Maintains professional boundaries with clients at all times.
- Protects client confidentiality.
- Ability to work overtime when necessary to cover shifts.
Mental and Physical Duties:
- Duties are usually performed seated with occasional periods of standing or walking.
- Ability to perform physical tasks such as stooping, bending, reaching, and climbing to interact with children and clients.
- A limited amount of physical effort is required, associated with walking, standing, lifting, and carrying light objects (less than 25 lbs.) frequently.
Working Conditions:
Work may be performed, but is not limited to an office environment. Ability to work some weekends, evenings, and overnight hours.
Essential Personnel Designation: Essential
Essential employees are required to report for all scheduled hours regardless of inclement weather, holidays, or facility closures unless explicitly notified otherwise by leadership. This includes all employees assigned to shelter locations or designated as residential staff. Essential employees who work when other operations are closed due to inclement weather will receive time-and-a-half pay. Refer to The Family Place Inclement Weather Policy for complete details.
More About US:
At The Family Place, we embrace and live our values: TEAM
- Together: We believe that collaboration is key to our success. Foster a supportive environment, build trust, act with integrity, and expect transparent communication.
- Excellence: We are known for our compassion and commitment to excellence, acting with urgency, and advocating for our clients and community.
- Accountable: Responsible for our actions and decisions. We accept responsibility rather than blame others. Builds relationships to drive results.
- Mission-Focused: Clients come first. Service is our passion, experienced with empathy and compassion.
What We Offer:
- Competitive salary
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- Agency-paid short-term disability (60% salary replacement up to 11 weeks)
- Multiple Life, AD&D, and Hospitalization in life insurance options
- Retirement options through: 403b, agency matching, and HSA accounts
- Generous paid time off and holidays
- Professional development opportunities
- Benefits referenced above for Full-Time employees
This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. The Family Place reserves the right to revise or change job duties as the need arises. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment. Employment at will.