ROOTS In-Shelter Overnight Volunteer

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ROOTS is a young adults emergency shelter serving individuals between the ages of 18-25. We service up to 45 guests per night with a safe place to sleep, warm meals and other essential services. We need volunteers to provide social support and build meaningful relationships with the folks who stay with us. Additionally, our volunteers help facilitate and maintain the shelter space through various tasks. We welcome all unique bodies and value inclusivity and diversity amongst all people in the shelter space, including our volunteers. You must be at least 18 years of age to volunteer with us.

At ROOTS, we use every day to make a difference in the lives of homeless youth. Overnight volunteers are crucial in this effort and make the biggest impact to the individuals we serve.

In-shelter Overnight Shift (This shift starts at 7pm and ends at 8:30am the following morning, except Fridays which end at 9:30am). Overnight volunteers stay overnight at our shelter along with our guests. Volunteers work in teams and directly with our staff to help ensure emotional stability and physical safety within the space. Between 7PM and 10:30PM, overnight volunteers will assist in tasks identical to evening volunteers. After lights out, overnight shifts are broken up into four 2-hour awake shifts. Overnight Volunteers are asked to remain awake for one of these 2-hour shifts, and will sleep for the remaining 6 hours at our shelter. During the awake shift, Overnight Volunteers are responsible for assisting in walk-arounds of the room every 10 minutes. During walk-arounds volunteers are available for guests who require emergency assistance, and complete guest laundry. We ask that Overnight Volunteers commit to one shift per week; bedding, dinner, and breakfast are all provided. All overnight volunteers will be supported by shelter staff at all times and they are there to address any questions or concerns during your shift. We highly appreciate the commitment of Overnight Volunteers and see them as crucial support in the operation of the shelter space.

For the safety of all guests, volunteers, and staff, we require all volunteers to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination and to wear face masks throughout the duration of their shift. Volunteers are free to bring in their own face masks or other PPE, and we can provide gloves and disposable face masks on-site. The wellbeing of our volunteers is of the utmost importance, and we only ask you to commit to volunteering based on an individual assessment of personal health and comfort. Each shift, your Volunteer Supervisor or other staff will ask you questions listed on the ROOTS COVID-19 screening guide and will take your temperature. Staff and guests are screened in the same way upon entering the space. We work to provide the safest environment for all bodies in the shelter and we appreciate your consideration.

If you are interested in signing up for this position, fill out an application on our website at http://www.rootsinfo.org/get-involved/volunteer/volunteer-application/ for your own welcome packet and all the information you will need to volunteer with us.