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Pillars, Appleton - Crisis Housing Intern (SEJ Cohort)

Career Center Lawrence Funded Opportunities
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Pillars - Appleton, WI

 

SUMMARY:   From homelessness to coming home, Pillars provides shelter, support, and solutions to address the housing needs in our community. Pillars team members have a passion for the mission of the agency and displays agency values: Respect, Collaboration, Empowerment and Grit.

The Crisis Housing Intern may work in any of the Crisis Housing sites – the Adult & Family Shelter, the Adult Shelter or the Resource Center.  Crisis Housing Interns are responsible for maintaining the safety of the building and serve as a point of contact for clients and volunteers, including walk-ins and phone calls. 

CRISIS HOUSING INTERN ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Has passion for the mission of Pillars and displays agency values: Respect, Collaboration, Empowerment and Grit.
  • Welcomes guests to the building, including clients, volunteers, donors, any other building visitors.
  • Answer and direct telephone calls. 
  • Assists the clients to successfully complete daily activities, including dispensing medications and distributing hygiene items. Reviews, organizes, and puts away donations. 
  • Prepares and serves evening meal, as necessary. Maintain a clean and sanitary kitchen.
  • Clean and prepare living spaces for the intake of new clients. 
  • Works with agency volunteers to create a positive environment; coordinates volunteer times and assigns tasks and responsibilities to volunteers, as necessary. 
  • Maintains the security of the building and clients by following established safety procedures. 
  • Ensures building meets organizational standards for cleanliness and safety. 
  • Maintain accurate electronic log sheets for all individuals served, including documenting significant events.
  • As needed, check clients’ personal bags and living areas to promote a safe and secure environment and call law enforcement when safety is jeopardized.
  • Handle office paperwork tasks, including searching CCAP for new warrants or criminal charges for clients.
  • Support the onboarding and training of new volunteer team members.  
  • Other duties as assigned.

CORE COMPETENCIES: 

  • Accountability - Takes initiative with minimal supervision, follows procedures, and demonstrates accountability and adaptability while ensuring accuracy, thoroughness, and consistent self-monitoring to maintain high-quality work.
  • Building Relationships – Demonstrates exceptional relationship-building ability with volunteers, clients and consumers, tenants, agency partners, donors and potential donors, board and committee members.
  • Decision Making – Displays sound judgment when making decisions, at times with limited information; follows organizational policies and procedures; aware of implications of state and federal regulations; ability to make complex decisions in line with agency’s mission, vision and values.  
  • Conflict Management – Reacts and responds to complaints and solves problems.  Helps consumers and staff come to agreement and de-escalates charged situations.  Reacts quickly to assess the conflict and determine appropriate steps to resolve.  Remains calm and professional during high stress situations.  
  • Confidentiality – Ability to maintain confidential information and safeguard the security of information of Pillars and our clients. Keep private information from unauthorized individuals, either within Pillars or others outside the organization.
    • A strong understanding of barriers specific to persons experiencing homelessness
    • Experience working with people facing mental health struggles and/or challenges with addictions
    • Knowledge of community resources available to individuals and families who are low income and/or experiencing homelessness

QUALIFICATIONS: 

 

  • Relevant experience preferred, such as:
  • Experience working with survivors of domestic violence

 

This position is expected to work inclusively and respectfully with a diverse community and practice civility in the workplace. In addition, this position requires strong oral, written, interpersonal, and organizational skills, demonstrated integrity, and the willingness to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.  This position requires knowledge of Microsoft office suite and related technologies. 

 

COMPLIANCE ACCOUNTABILITIES:  The Crisis Housing Intern must act in accordance with Pillars’ policies and procedures, complete all required compliance training/continuing education within specified timeframe, and maintain a thorough knowledge of all internal operating procedures, as well as applicable laws and regulations.

 

WORK ENVIRONMENT:  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

Compensation:
This internship is part of the Lawrence University Social & Environmental Justice Cohort, which provides an opportunity for Lawrentians to explore social and environmental justice impact careers, gain professional experience, and develop as leaders. Students complete a full-time summer 2026 internship with an identified social and/or environmental justice impact organization in Milwaukee or Appleton, while participating in ongoing reflection with fellow students, , the Career Center, community leaders and alumni.  Students may apply for as many positions as they are qualified for and interested in. Each student in the SEJ program will receive a $5k stipend to help cover housing and transportation costs and living expenses. For additional details and to see other SEJ opportunities, please see the SEJ Cohort webpage.

  • Before applying, you must meet with a Career Center's Ty Collins for a resume review, or your resume must achieve green status in VMOCK.  If your resume does not meet professional expectations, you may be asked to resubmit your resume.  Please make an appointment with Ty here on Handshake.
  • Once your resume is approved, you will then apply directly to one or more of the designated SEJ Internship options in Handshake by February 13, 2026 at 11:55 p.m. A separate application should be prepared for each position.
  • Complete this form to indicate your transportation needs. The form only needs to be submitted once.

Please ask Michelle Buchinger for more details about how funding works Michelle.m.buchinger@lawrence.edu