Resident Assistant

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE RESIDENT ASSISTANT

APRIL 2025

General Summary

Project RETURN (Returning Ex-incarcerated People To Urban Realities ​and Neighborhoods) exists to help individuals who have experienced incarceration make a positive, permanent return to community, family, and friends. We are seeking a Resident Assistant to oversee Project RETURN’s new residential units at the Historic Tenth Street Residence. Our 12-unit housing program is for adult men who are returning from incarceration, with the ultimate goal of helping participants transition to permanent housing within 3-6 months. The primary responsibilities for this position are to oversee the residents, foster a positive and supportive residential community, assist residents with their daily needs, and serve as their main resource while they acclimate to release back into the Milwaukee Community.  Our ideal applicant would have lived experience with homelessness after incarceration and/or experience in providing direct care or support to individuals who have been justice-impacted or those with mental health or severe substance abuse issues.

Position Days/Times:  Sunday – Friday (Sunday 6p-10p; Monday through Friday 4p-10p)

Yearly Salary:  $36,000

Principle Responsibilities

The Resident Assistant role is to maintain a healthy, positive and safe residential environment for all of Project RETURN’s residents at Historic Tenth Street. The RA is responsible for providing direct/indirect support to all program residents. The RA will ensure the general well-being of the residents and enforce PR’s policies and procedures.

Duties

The RA plays a crucial role in managing daily operations and in ensuring the well-being of residents.

The RA will report to the Housing Director (HD). The individual will work closely with the HD and Case Managers.

Resident Responsibilities are as follows:

Resident Support (In tandem with Housing Director):

• Serve as a resource for residents, providing information, referrals, and warm hand-offs to outside agencies
• Serve as a positive role model for residents
• Assist residents with academic, social, and personal concerns
• Mediate conflicts and assist residents in resolving disagreements.
• Overseeing residents’ activity and recreational schedules
• Coordinating residents’ volunteer tasks on and around the property
• Responding constructively to the safety and well-being concerns of residents
• Ability to utilize trauma-informed care responses to de-escalate situations
• Take residents to appointments, the pantry, and shopping when needed

Community Building:

• Organize and facilitate social, educational, and recreational activities for clients
• Encourage Resident interaction and foster a sense of community
• Promote respect for those residents with vulnerable backgrounds and perspectives

Policy Enforcement:

• Understand and enforce policies and procedures
• Educate residents about policies and expectations
• Respond to and document incidents or concerns
• Troubleshoot issues that arise and adjust as needed.

Administrative Tasks:

• Maintain accurate records and documentation
• Attend monthly staff meetings and participate in case planning and organization development.
• Respectfully represent Project RETURN at community events
• Complete assigned tasks, such as room inspections and duty hours.
• Reporting residents’ positive and negative behavior to Case Managers and the HD

Other Duties:

• Assisting in coordinating move-in/move-out processes
• Inspecting Units for cleanliness, ensuring all community areas are clean & tidy
• Preparing units for incoming residents, which could include doing minor repairs and painting.
• Responding to maintenance issues, facility issues, and ensuring required parties are contacted
• Attend other Project RETURN sponsored events as instructed by the Executive Director and Board of Directors
• Other tasks fitting and/or requested with the mission of Project RETURN as assigned by the Executive Director or the Housing Director