Social Services Assistant - Rescue Mission

Light of Life Rescue Mission serves people experiencing homelessness, poverty, and other challenges in Pittsburgh. We've recently completed a capital campaign that produced two new facilities and our team is growing.

SUMMARY OF POSITION:

The Social Services Assistant serves as a bridge between Light of Life's Day Center and external community partners that provide supportive services to those in immediate need. This role assesses the needs of individuals who call or visit in person and then connects them with appropriate resources.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Process applications for people with furniture, rental assistance, and food insecurity needs.
2. Offer crisis intervention of acute medical, psychiatric, or social issues by assessing needs and contacting healthcare or law enforcement parties as appropriate.
3. Make referrals for those with addiction, substance abuse, or chronic mental health issues.
4. Schedule and handoff guests to be received by local community partners.
5. Manage a high volume of calls from potential guests and existing service providers to coordinate responses between parties.
6. Review client documents such as leases, eviction notices, and utility bills in the process of discerning eligibility for assistance.
7. Create purchase orders or requisition forms for rent, utility payments, or furniture.
8. Other administrative or direct care tasks, as needed.

Due to the interface with the clients, all jobs at Light of Life require employees to:

• Walk alongside clients as a disciple, sharing the Gospel through actions and words.
• Establish mutual trust and create a safe, authentic environment.
• Serve clients and co-workers in a Christ-like manner.
• Model Light of Life's core values: Honor God, Love Well, Embrace Growth, Value Diversity, and Pursue Excellence.
• Help the clients make choices that are justifiably in their eternal best interest.
• Practice effective stewardship of all resources.
• Model personal responsibility, accountability, timely reporting and a self-evaluative lifestyle.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS

• Associate degree in social work, human services, or a related field.
• 1-2 years prior work experience or volunteer service assisting vulnerable people or at-risk populations.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, collaborative, able to work effectively with diverse groups of people.
• Knowledge of recovery, addiction, mental health preferred.
• Functional computer skills utilizing Microsoft Office (mainly Outlook and Excel), databases, and digital information systems.