Wings Homeless Advocacy

Organization Description

Begun in 2011, Wings has a well-organized structure designed to provide maximum support to our advocates, partners and participants. ​Working closely with over 30 Santa Cruz County case managers from over 11 county and city organizations, our Wings master dispatcher coordinates task requests and assignments, eliminating stress and providing flexibility for advocates to work within their schedules.

The requests we receive come directly from our partner case managers and are always centered around helping the homeless find a home and staying housed so healing can begin.

Wings organizes volunteers to help end homelessness in Santa Cruz County.

 

Program Information

General Description of what students will be doing at this Site:
Helping run Wings' 2 programs:
*Move-in program - dispatch deliveries to volunteers, make deliveries to newly housed clients, maintain inventory for welcome home baskets, bedding, & mattresses, seek out donation partnerships
*Vital Docs program - notary assistant at office hours, data input, communication with birth cert clients and case managers, processing of birth cert apps
*possibly help with fundraising and social media

Key Responsibilities:
-Maintain accurate computer records
-Communicate with volunteers, clients, and case managers to ensure unhoused people get onto a path to housing
-Support volunteers and staff with the Move-In and Vital Docs Programs
-Special projects as they arise

Desired Intern Characteristics:
Belief that everyone deserves housing, good communication skills and ability to work with unhoused people with a compassionate, trauma-informed approach,

Interprofessional opportunities available for the student:
Wings is connected to 40 other homeless service providers in Santa Cruz County - interns will be able to interact with many other people in social services and may discover a passion and/or career path.  Staff and volunteers are required to complete a 3 hour training. Other training is on-site learning from staff. Weekly staff meetings are as needed.Concentration:

  • Social Work
  • Community Health
  • Public Administration/ Non-profit Management

Format of Service:

  • Remote Service
  • In-Person Service

Type of Service:

  • Direct Client Service
  • Indirect Service

The following CHHS Competencies that the student will be exposed to:

  • Cross Cultural Competency
  • Knowledge of Health & Human Services (SW or CH)
  • Leadership
  • Systems Management
Health & Safety

ADA requirements Need to be able to lift 50 lbs.
Additional requirements and/or considerations
  • Background Check (e.g. fingerprinting/livescan, driving record)
  • Computer Literacy
  • Driver's License
  • Bilingual Desired
Address 
PO Box 1509
Felton, CA 95018
United States
General Phone 
(831) 291-5096
Website:
http://wingsadvocacy.org

Current Opportunities

Title Program Start Date Location Type
Vital Documents database creator CHHS, CHHS Pre Placement Ongoing Hybrid (combination of on-site and remote)
View all opportunities here
Program(s) 
CHHS
Organization type 
Human, Social, or Employment Services (Nonprofit)
Focus Population(s)
Adopted/Foster Youth or Young Adults, Adults, Children/Youth, College Students, Families, Females, Formerly Incarcerated People, Guardians/Parents, Immigrants/Refugees, Incarcerated People, LGBTQA, Males, People Experiencing Addiction, People Experiencing Disability, People Experiencing Homelessness, People Experiencing Illness, People Experiencing Material Poverty, Seniors, Survivors of Sexual or Domestic Violence, Teens/Young Adults, Veterans, Active Military and/or Military Families
Focus Area(s)
Advocacy and Human Rights, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Social Justice, Food & Housing Security
Hours of operation 

Working with Wings can be a hybrid experience - computer/social media work can be done from home, Vital Docs office hours are at various sites around the county and the move-in program would require time at our storage site in Santa Cruz.

Maximum students 
1