Lot Advisor

Safe Parking LA is a nonprofit organization that provides safe overnight parking to facilitate stability and housing in Los Angeles County for individuals living in their vehicles, and advocates for fair and equitable treatment and resources of the unhoused.

Founded in 2017, Safe Parking LA has evolved to become the largest safe parking program in Los Angeles and the only provider of safe lots exclusively focused on vehicular homelessness. We currently operate in the San Fernando Valley, Hollywood, Downtown Los Angeles, and West Los Angeles, including a program on the VA West Los Angeles campus.

WHAT YOUR ROLE CONSISTS OF

Onsite Lot Operation Support

- Driving daily to safe parking sites with a radius of up to 25 miles from the office to locations within LA County (spanning LAX area to the San Fernando Valley).

- Open program site on assigned nights and ensure gates are unlocked.

- Complete daily site inspection routine at each lot, including:

- Communication with security guards about participants and lot amenities.

- Check vehicles against sign-in sheets.

- Inspection of restrooms, service log, trash cans, storage bins, handwashing stations and

full facility for proper function and reporting any issues.

- Cleaning amenities, maintaining extra supplies, and restocking as needed.

- Debriefing security guards as needed when starting their night shift.

- Interaction with sanitation and other third-party vendors onsite as issues arise and/or special services are coordinated.

- Other lot operations duties as lot-specific needs arise.

Participant Engagement

- Opening safe parking lots by greeting participants as they enter, verifying permits and completing check-in on sign-in sheets.

- When security is not onsite, monitoring and completing sign-in sheets as participants exit the lot.

- Provide support to participants at the parking lot, problem-solving for needs and questions that arise onsite relating to lot operations.

- Communicate and coordinate with the case management team for participant needs.

- Implement and monitor code of conduct of the safe parking program.

- Assist with the delivery of donations and resources to participants at safe parking sites, coordinating with other departments as needed.

Lot Host & Volunteer Engagement

- Assist in developing the lot hosts’ presence, covering the first few hours of program operations each evening.

- Coordinate with and support paired Lot Host volunteers.

- Assist onsite volunteers with meal setup/delivery, donations and clean up as needed.

Reporting & Administrative

- Complete incident reports for all issues on the lot.

- Maintains accurate records in written form, completes daily logs and monthly reports, including monthly mileage reimbursement reports.

- Clerical and administrative support for Lot Operations Department as needed.

WHAT TO EXPECT

- Increasing lot opening responsibilities, eventually opening assigned lot every night, 5 days a week: Driving to lot location, checking in participants followed by completing inspection duties, transitioning to security guard night shift, with regular reporting to Supervisor. This program is currently being developed and built.

- Trauma-Informed Focus: Will be trained in trauma-informed care and de-escalation techniques with expectation to implement these strategies when engaging with participants. This is the lens for all our programmatic work.

- Regular Individualized Check-ins: weekly meetings with the Lot Operations Supervisor focusing on your assigned lot(s), interactions with participants and security guards, and opportunities and challenges identified for personal and professional goals.

- Physical Demands: this role requires a lot of movement within your vehicle and on foot. You’ll be required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; bend, stoop, or kneel to complete duties on lots. You occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Please note that reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

QUALIFICATIONS

- Prior experience working with people experiencing homelessness or vulnerable population services is valuable, compassionate communication and demeanor.

- Excels at operating in a community environment and readily adaptable to changing circumstances.

- Attention to detail.

- Computer skills and proficiency in Word and Excel preferred.

- Excellent interpersonal and verbal communication skills

- A valid California driver’s license, auto insurance (as required by law), and access to a reliable vehicle. Will have your MVR reviewed to be deemed an “acceptable driver” for insurance coverage.

- Background check (Live Scan), COVID-19 vaccination and TB clearance are required by funding and regulatory agencies.

- Must be available evenings/nights.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

- Ability to write participant data accurately, cohesive reports, and professional correspondence.

- Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from your supervisor, participants, Safe Parking LA teammates, partner organizations, and the public.

- Ability to read, analyze, and interpret organizational procedures, governmental regulations, and news alerts from public agencies.

- Ability to respond effectively and compassionately to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints.

- Spanish or other language skills, highly desirable.

REASONING ABILITY

- Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions.

- Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.

- Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.

- Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.