Relief Shelter Counselor, Men's Inn
Listed compensation
$21.40–$30.00 /hr
The week · per this posting
Ask the employer about the work setting, weekend coverage, nights and shift pattern and time off.
Job Description
Schedule
On Call as Needed, 2:45pm-11:15pm., Essential position during weather and other emergencies.
Pays $21.40 - $30.00 per hour DOE - (Salary ranges provided are based on relevant experience and skill set)
LOCATION: 444 Harrison Ave – Boston, MA
Job Description
SUMMARY OF THE POSITION:
The Guest Services Specialist (GSS) works from the Pine Street Inn policy and procedures developed to ensure a safe shelter environment for guests and staff.
The Guest Services Specialist has a primary focus on the direct care of guests and, as such, responds to guests in a timely and professional manner based on the prioritization of guests’ needs.
The GSS assists with the development and implementation of a housing pathway by motivating guests to rapidly work on housing and connecting guests to appropriate resources.
The Guest Services Specialists will also assist guests in connecting with substance abuse, mental health and medical resources when the shelter cannot safely accommodate a guests needs. The GSS is required to stay energized and focused even when demands are ambiguous and strenuous.
The GSS is required to enter data into the Homeless Management Information (HMIS) system and to document reports in keeping with agency policy. The GSS is required to make sound decisions and appropriately seeks guidance from a supervisor.
Requirements
Qualifications: Education/Training
High School diploma or GED
Knowledge/Experience
Minimum of one (1) year of experience in the Human Services field
Physical Abilities/Skills
- Ability to stand for long periods of time
- Ability to stretch, bend and lift up to (twenty-five) 25 lbs
- Ability to assist guests up and down stairs, and in-and-out of wheelchairs
- Ability to respond quickly to emergencies
Mental Abilities/Skills
- Ability to respond safely, quickly, and calmly in emergencies and to emergency situations
- Ability to use good judgement in stressful or emotionally charged situations
- The sensitivity and patience to work with guests suffering from mental illness (many untreated), alcohol and other drug addiction and abuse
- Ability to be resilient in difficult and ambiguous situations
- Ability to handle multiple assignments
- Ability to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing
- Ability to comprehend and apply Motivational Interviewing and Trauma-Informed Care skills
- Ability to communicate/speak (as well as to listen) in a non-judgmental manner
Preferred
- Valid MA driver’s license in good standing
- Bilingual English/Spanish
- Administering Narcan and in a work setting
- Knowledge in the areas of addiction, recovery, and mental illness
- Knowledge of issues pertaining to the homeless
- Knowledge of area resources
Key Responsibilities
The Guest Services Specialist ensures a safe shelter environment by providing direct care and professional support to guests. They assist guests in accessing housing pathways, mental health services, and substance abuse resources while documenting data in the HMIS system.
Key Skills
Social Work — Counselor Career Context
Of the 44 active Social Work listings this role was benchmarked against, 41% are remote, 32% have no call, 73% require no weekends.
The cost-of-living index for Massachusetts is 105.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 63.2% of Massachusetts clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
Social Work pay on WeekdayDoc is up 6.3% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).
Work-Life Balance Analysis
WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Relief Shelter Counselor, Men's Inn at PINE STREET INN a 6.2 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Counseling — ranked against 13,890 active Counseling listings on WeekdayDoc.
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