Pine Street INN logo
Pine Street INN
Boston, Massachusetts

Relief Shelter Counselor, Men's Inn

CounselorIncludes callPer Diem

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.

Posted 4mo ago

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

Crisis InterventionHMIS Data EntryCase ManagementEmergency ResponseConflict ResolutionNarcan Administration

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.

Top contract/1099 Counselor Jobs

44 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution19 jobs

9
<$70k
6
$70k-95k
0
$95k-120k
4
$120k-145k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks28 jobs · 26 employers

401k / retirement match
93%
CME allowance
68%
Sign-on bonus
32%
Loan repayment
29%
PSLF eligible
18%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

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$58.5-$85/hr
#3

Mental Health Therapist (Part-Time, W2)

$58.5-$85/hr
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Mental Health Therapist (Part-Time, W2)

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+ 42 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.3this job 6.2
Better work-life than 50% of Social Work (Counseling) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 258 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • On-site
  • Includes call

Living in Boston

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$813k
Typical market rent
$3,338/mo
Residents’ average commute
30 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
108.3
State income tax
Up to 5%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.