Residential Counselor

Job Description

Job DescriptionSalary: $24 to $27 Hourly

Residential Counselor

ABOUT US

Founded in 1991, Hope Solutions, formerly Contra Costa Interfaith Housing, is avibrantandsocially responsive non-profit agency that provides permanent housing and vital support services to over 2,000 homeless or at-risk families and individuals in Contra Costa County. Over 40 faith-based communities support our work, although there are no religious requirements or affiliations to receive services.

Are you seeking a new role that fully utilizes your talents and potentialwhile helping to make the world a better place? If so, please read on!

What are you passionate about?

At Hope Solutionswe envision a world in which everyone has a place to call home and the support of a strong community so that they can live with dignity and reach their full potential. We strive to be inclusive and responsive to community needs. We are committed to excellence and accomplish our work with integrity, respect, compassion, and humility.

Hope Solution's mission is to heal the effects of povertyandhomelessness by providing permanent housing and vital support services to highly vulnerable families and individuals.

Could our mission be your mission?

Learn more about us @hopesolutions.org

TEAM SNAPSHOT

We're adding to our team of passionate folkswho are on a mission to help make the lives of others betterthrough services and support that lead to a higher quality of life for our clients.

We'd like to learn more about youapply for the role! What's our team like?

Here's a snapshot of some of the folks at Hope Solutions who help advance our vision to achievesecure housing and the dignity of self-sufficiency for the homeless and at-risk families and individuals in Contra Costa County.

A FEW OF US...

DeanneChief Executive OfficerResides with her husband and three children. Enjoys hiking, camping, reading, cooking, and cheering at her kids' games.

AlexChief Operating OfficerLives with his wife, son, and dog (and loves when the grandkids visit!). MSW and macro social worker who enjoys reading, baseball (Go Giants!), cooking, hiking, jazz, and family time.

ChristinaChief Financial OfficerResides with her husband, son, two daughters, and their dog. MPA, Non-Profit Graduate Certificate, and 20+ years in finance; enjoys traveling and family time.

BethDirector of Clinical and Support ServicesResides with her sister and son. Licensed psychologist with 30+ years working with children and families; enjoys singing, cooking, gardening, and traveling.

BillVice President of ProgramsResides with his partner. Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 25+ years experience working with underserved populations, specialized training in somatic psychotherapy and end-of-life care; enjoys reading, gardening, and meditation.

CaylaDirector of Evaluation & Learning Resides with her husband and children. MBA in Business Analytics that thrives on spreadsheet analysis, dashboard creation, and reading.

DebbieDirector of Development & External RelationsResides with her husband, two teenagers, and a rescue mutt. Leads external relations and development with 20+ years in marketing and communications.

DominickDirector of Re-Entry Housing & ServicesA fourth-generation San Francisco native and father of four, holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice and an M.A. in Leadership. In his free time, he enjoys music, travel, nature, cooking, and quarterly wine trips.

GessikaDirector of Properties & Support ServicesA Bay Area native and former frontline social worker, Gessika leads housing and support programs that promote long-term stability by addressing mental health, housing access, and systemic injustice. She brings over 15 years of nonprofit leadership and clinical social work experience, with expertise in trauma-informed care, program development, and advocating for frontline staff.

KristinaDirector of Human ResourcesResides with her spouse, child, and French Bulldogs. 20+ years in leadership, operations, and people management; Bachelor's in Business Administration, SHRM-SCP certified; enjoys family time, lifting weights, indoor cycling, hiking, and laughter.

MashalDirector of Housing & Support ServicesResides in the Bay Area. Daughter of Afghan refugees; enjoys weekends with her son, concerts, reading, and Sonoma Coast drives; former Program Manager for housing and care for chronically homeless adults with AIDS/HIV; co-chair for Hope Solutions' CARE Committee and board member.

TanyaDirector of Rapid Re-Housing & NavigationResides with her husband, daughter, and two sons. Master's in Counseling Psychology with 15+ years serving underserved populations; enjoys music, comedy, movies, exercising, and basketball.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

The Residential Counselor provides direct, overnight support to Transitional Aged Youth (TAY) residing in Hope Solutions transitional housing program. This role is responsible for maintaining a safe, calm, and structured environment during evening and overnight hours (depending on the shift), ensuring the well-being of youth ages 1824 as they work toward housing stability and personal development.

Residential Counselors play a critical role in reinforcing expectations, monitoring safety, and providing supportive engagement when needed. This includes conducting routine safety checks, responding to crises or resident needs, reporting facility/maintenance needs immediately, and documenting overnight activity. The role also includes assisting youth with evening routines and modeling respectful, trauma-informed communication.

Working as part of a collaborative shelter team, the Residential Counselor contributes to an environment that centers youth voice, autonomy, and belonging. All services are delivered through a strength-based, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed lens that reflects Hope Solutions core values.

Supervisory Responsibility: None

WHAT WILL YOU DO:

Consumer Support:

• Create a welcoming, safe, and structured environment for Transitional Aged Youth (TAY) by modeling trauma-informed, strength-based, and culturally responsive practices.
• Build trusting relationships with youth through active listening, consistent presence, and respectful communication that affirms their identity and lived experience.
• Support daily living activities such as meal preparation, hygiene routines, room cleanliness, and overall upkeep of the shelter, while encouraging resident accountability and self-sufficiency.
• Reinforce individualized service plans developed by Case Managers by providing day-to-day encouragement, coaching, and reminders aligned with youth goals.
• Monitor and de-escalate behavioral challenges or interpersonal conflict using nonviolent crisis intervention techniques and collaborative problem-solving strategies.
• Assist youth with developing life skills including time management, conflict resolution, financial literacy, and basic job readiness.
• Conduct regular rounds and safety checks to ensure the physical and emotional safety of all residents, reporting any incidents or concerns in a timely and accurate manner.
• Provide documentation of daily observations, participant interactions, incidents, and service coordination in accordance with agency and program policies.
• Support youth in navigating community resources by offering guidance or accompanying them to appointments when needed and appropriate.

Cultural Responsiveness:

• Awareness of and aptitude to understand, respect, and adapt to cultural and identity-based differences within group environments appropriately and effectively.
• Experience fostering and reinforcing an environment that values unique experiences, cultures, personal humility, authenticity, backgrounds, and goals.
• Participate in and complete our new employee onboarding process, which includes reading and discussing a short chapter in the book, The Color of Law.

Organizational/Administrative Responsibilities:

• Professionally represent Hope Solutions in all circumstances.
• Comply with all legal/ethical professional guidelines for maintaining consumer confidentiality, adhering to HIPAA guidelines, protecting consumer rights, advocating on consumers behalf, and assuring consumer safety.
• Comply with all local, state, and federal regulations and Hope Solutions policies and procedures.
• Complete required administrative paperwork and reports in a timely and accurate manner.
• Attend all required meetings, including but not limited to Hope Solutions staff meetings, team meetings, consumer case conferences, and linkage meetings with other agencies.
• Complete required personnel-related paperwork and complete expenditure reports for food supplies, petty cash expenses, and/or mileage in a timely and accurate manner.
• Document all services provided in a timely manner.
• Assist with data generation for reports and funding applications as needed.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
• On-call, after-hours, and backup work may be required.

Position Qualifications:

• Knowledge of and belief in Positive Youth Development and Housing First philosophy and strategies.
• Passion for and demonstrated experience successfully supporting vulnerable populations, especially homeless individuals with mental disabilities.
• Experience with and/or interest in handling light maintenance skills is strongly preferred.
• AA or AS degree in a field applicable to property/facility management and/or a high school diploma plus a minimum of 3 years' experience in property/facility management.
• Bilingual in English/Spanish is a plus.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
• Computer proficiency in the use of Microsoft and database applications.
• Must pass LiveScan screening and TB test.
• Salary contingent upon skill and experience.

Physical Qualifications:

• The person in this position may make home visits to clients who live on second or third-floor apartments (without elevators) and will need to be able to climb stairs.
• May accompany consumers on walks to local resources (grocery store, childcare, parks) up to mile in distance.
• Must be able to work in a desk setting for up to 3 hours at a time to make calls to consumers, research resources on the internet, and collaborate with community providers with calls/emails.
• Office setting activities are required, such as typing on a laptop/computer to respond to emails, entering case notes into a database, and copying/faxing forms and documents on a copy machine related to maintaining or obtaining housing.
• Occasionally must be able to lift and carry objects weighing up to 25 pounds, including furnishings for new residents, files, holiday gifts, and food donations.
• Ability to drive an automobile and transport oneself and consumers to appointments or meet at consumer homes, including driving at night.

Compensation & Benefits:

• Flexible, dynamic work environment.
• 100% premium paid for employee Kaiser health and dental care.
• Matched 403b retirement savings.
• 11 paid holidays, plus 3 floating holidays.
• Ability to accrue 2-4 weeks' vacation depending on tenure.
• Life insurance and Employee Assistance Program.

We are an equal-opportunity employer. If you're a good fit, we want to meet you!

* Please be advised that we are unable to provide sponsorship for this position. The nature of the work at Hope Solutions does not qualify us to support sponsorship. Only candidates authorized to work in the USA without the need for sponsorship will be considered.