Light v Dark

Dark Side

VS

Light Side

Choose Your Side

Whether you choose the Light Side (Day Shift) or the Dark Side (Night Shift), both are equally important to the client support and safety.

The Basics of Sheltering

• Shelters are operated and staffed 24 hours/day​
• Clients must be looked after all day and throughout the night​
• You may be assigned to day or night shifts on a deployment​, be preapred for either!

1.

DAY SHIFT

"Offering a hand up is not a hand-out."

Day Shift Tasks

The Daily To-Dos at a Shelter

Set-UpCleaning

Registration and Data

Talk to Clients!

Meals and Snacks

There is always cots to be assembled, bulletin boards to update, or tidying up to do.

SCIA is crucial. Includes demographics and SRT.

The most important job of all. Get to know client needs and gaps.

Serve meals to clients and keep the snack table sourced.

Extra Curriculars

• Activities
• Morale Boosters
• Town Hall Meetings
• Emergency Action Plan

1.

NIGHT SHIFT

"The night shift is not about the hours we work, but the impact we make on the world while others rest."

Evening

Time Periods for Night Shifts

• Night shifts have fewer tasks, duties, and workers than daytime shifts​
• Night shifts are generally quieter and less stressful than day shifts​

Overnight

Early Morning

Night Shift Tasks

The Nightly To-Dos at a Shelter

Dinner Service

Talk to Clients!

Town Hall Meeting

Cleaning

Empty trash containers, check bathrooms, prep dorm for the evening.

Finish serving dinner and clean up food service and dining areas afterwards​

STILL the most important job of all!

Hold and attend the shelter resident meeting.

Getting Ready for Lights Out

• Make announcements 30 minutes and 15 minutes before lights out in the dormitory​
• Make sure cots and client belongings are not in aisles or blocking exits, fire extinguishers, etc.​
• Turn a table lamp or electric lantern on at the service desk in the dormitory​
• Have a flashlight with working batteries available​

Bottled Water

Infant Supplies

Hygiene Products

Misc.

Formula, Diapers, Wipes

Water allowed in dorm, but not food/snacks

Tissues, Paper towels, extra blankets

Extra comfort kits, feminine products

Items to Have Handy

Overnight Tasks

Overnight Phase

• Turn lights out in the dorm
• Maintain quiet throughout the shelter, but especially in the darkened dorm​
• Lock all exterior shelter doors so they open from the inside​
• Admit new clients, late returning clients, and officials but ask for quiet​

• Clean and straighten up all areas except the dormitory
• Review shelter log for tasks​
• Remove old signs and announcements​
• Reorganize registration
• Clean and restock the snack table and refresh coffee as needed​
• Inventory

Monitoring the Dorm

• Watch from the service desk inside the dormitory and quietly walk the dormitory aisles every hour​
• Watch for fire or other threats​
• Watch threats to client safety (theft, assault) ​
• Maintain quiet​

Tips for the Night Shift Worker

Ways to Prep for Working Overnights

Conquer the 2 a.m. Struggle

Keep a Schedule

Hotel/Staff Shelter

Review sheltering tip sheets and documents​ Take an EDGE course​ Read something or listen to a podcast (use earphones)​ Talk quietly with other workers outside the dormitory​

Take Your breaks and never skip meals

Use the "Do Not Disturb" sign at hotels If in a staff shelter, ask to be placed in a day sleeper area

Thank you!

All shifts are important for client service, shelter safety, and shelter maintenance. You can do it if asked!