We always welcome a helping hand and have volunteer opportunities.
Shelter Volunteer Descriptions
- Site Coordinator
- Food Volunteers
- Intake/Screeners
- Overnight Hosts
- Shower Monitors
- Trailer Transportation
- Laundry Services
Site Coordinators
- Responsible for ensuring that the Shelter runs properly, including non-admission and/or ejection of guests.
- Responsible for coordinating the recruitment of all volunteers:
- Scheduling weekly Overnight Host(s)
- Appointing Site Food Coordinator(s)
- Assigning weekly Intake and Screeners
- Recruiting laundry volunteers
- Interface with the Ojai Valley Family Shelter Management Team as needed.
- Secure volunteer list from previous season and contact experienced volunteers.
- Check to see that basic supplies are at the Shelter (see supply list)
- Fill out Incident Report as needed and file it in the Traveling File.
- Have authority to determine maximum census
Food Coordinators
- Responsible for ensuring food providers for each week.
- Contact food volunteers for the week and make sure the volunteers are aware of their commitments.
- Answer any questions the food volunteers may have.
- Plan on serving approximately 30 to 40 meals at night and up to 35 in the morning.
- Preparation of meals can be either at home or at Sites, if facilities provide.
- After serving the evening meal, clean up the dishes and the kitchen.
- You will be advised if there is any change in the number of meals. Please do not call the Shelter Hotline. Call the Site Coordinator for additional information.
- Direct any problems first to your Site Coordinator.
- Remember to keep your tax-deductible receipts for the food you buy. You are also entitled to deduct for volunteer mileage, if you keep a record.
Intake/Screening Volunteers
- Commitment is about 2 hours per week plus one time training.
- Work from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the site.
- Screen guests for acceptance
- Interview and record information on all guests as they arrive at the Shelter.
- Have each guest sign Intake Form, Waiver and Shelter Rules during Initial Visit.
- Check for TB screening
- Evaluate each Guest to screen out those with substance abuse or severe mental health problems. For those identified persons professional resources will be recommended as may be appropriate.
- Screener must fill out an Incident Report on anyone to whom entrance is denied and bring it to the attention of the Site Coordinator or Shelter Administrator.
- Hand out and be familiar with the alternative and supplemental private and public resources that are available to the homeless. (See flyers)
Overnight Hosts
- Commitment is about 10 hours per week. One host and hostess each week if possible.
- Arrive at Site by 8:00 PM and sleep over night.
- Close Shelter registration at 8:00 PM unless guest has made previous arrangements with Shelter Administrator or Site Coordinator.
- Has authority to eject guests for reasonable cause, i.e., disruptive behavior, unwillingness to obey rules, etc.
- Inform Site Coordinator and Shelter Administrator of any incidents, including non-admission and/or ejection of guests.
- Fill out Incident Report as needed and file it in the Traveling File.
- Coordinate serving morning breakfast and clean up
- Return trailer keys to the designated location or to the Site Coordinator.
Laundry Volunteers
- Commitment is about 1-1/2 hours per week (plus any reimbursable costs).
- Gather towels and bedding (20-35). Transport laundry and wash and dry it.
- Return clean towels and bedding before the Site’s next scheduled evening.
Shower Utility Vehicle (SUV) Transportation
- Commitment is about 1/1/2 hours per week. Volunteer should be familiar where the SUV is being transported to because of hookups for that site.
- Disconnect hook-ups, transport to next site and reconnects the SUV.
Shower Monitor
- Commitment about 3 hours a week
- Oversee and facilitate showers from 6:00PM to 8:00 PM or until there is no one waiting for a shower.
- Provide guest with necessary toiletries
- Monitor duration of shower (approximately 15 minutes) and remind guests to observe the posted shower rules.
- Allow time for hot water to recover between guests.
- Verify guests clean shower between each use with spray solution
- Lock up the SUV for the night and return keys to the site host.
- Place bag of wet towels outside the back door for Laundry Volunteers.