The Salvation Army – Northwest Division – Seattle Social Services Department - Non-Proft & Volunteer Scheduling - Case Study

Case Study: The Salvation Army – Northwest Division – Seattle Social Services Department in Everett, Washington, United States

Business Overview

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination. The Seattle Social Services Department provides essential human services through the following programs:

William Booth Center – Transitional residence for up to 180 men seeking wellness, restoration and self-sufficiency.

Pike Street Seattle Social Services Office – Emergency services to support families facing economic emergencies that could result in homelessness. Food Bank serving the First Hill Neighborhood of Seattle.

Domestic Violence Programs – Providing shelter, housing and advocacy for survivors of domestic violence. Catherine Booth House provides a maximum of 90 days of emergency shelter for survivors of domestic violence and their children (maximum capacity 35). Hickman House provides up to 24 months of transitional housing and case management support for survivors of domestic violence and their families (maximum capacity 35). The Community Advocacy Program provides rental and other financial assistance, advocacy, legal support and resource information to survivors of domestic violence.

Women’s Shelter – The Salvation Army Women’s Shelter provides emergency housing, shelter and supportive services to unaccompanied women. (maximum capacity 22).

Winter Shelter Program – Between October and April each year, the Salvation Army operates Winter Shelters, serving our homeless neighbors in Seattle and King County. (maximum capacity 175).

Scheduling Overview

We are able to support these programs with a total of 55 regular employees, assisted by an additional 20 seasonal and on-call staff. Community volunteers provide an amazing level of support to their neighbors in need, keeping overall programs costs as low as possible.

Previous Scheduling Method

Our previous work scheduler system consisted of manual charts and Excel spreadsheets.

Since ShiftPlanning

The work scheduler ShiftPlanning shows promise in making the process much easier to manage. We have seen a reduction in overtime due to more careful scheduling possibilities and the ability to determine who is working at any given time, across several work locations.

The ShiftPlaning team is very accessible and responsive. - Captain Dana Libby - The Salvation Army

Further

ShiftPlanning is developing into a work scheduler that can provide the necessary flexibility for almost any setting.