Role of the Security Guard in Serving Homeless Shelter Clients

Course Code: RSGSHSC

New York City Local Law 124 requires all security guards working in New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS) shelters to complete a 40-hour course. It is an in-depth program to prepare them for the challenging work they will face in our shelters. International Development Institute is authorized to provide this training.

Shelter, and temporary emergency housing provided to homeless individuals by the department or by a provider under contract or similar agreement with the department.

The shelter operator shall ensure that all covered guards employed by or under contract with the shelter operator shall receive 40 hours of training within 120 days of hire.

The shelter operator shall ensure that each covered guard employed by or under contract with the shelter operator annually completes an eight-hour refresher training of which at least two hours must be techniques for interactions with individuals experiencing homelessness and those individuals in a mental health emergency or crisis.

The trainings required under this section shall be in addition to the minimum training required under article 7-A of the general business law. Such trainings must be provided by a security guard training school and by instructors with at least three years of security guard or law enforcement experience via classroom based interactive sessions or, if a declared public health emergency prohibits classroom-based instruction, via synchronous instruction delivered by a live instructor.

Every shelter contract shall require the shelter operator to ensure that all covered guards employed by or under contract with the shelter operator receive training in accordance with this section, and shall require that such guards be paid at their regular hourly rate while receiving such training. Such training requirement shall be deemed a material term of such contract.

Beginning no later than September 1, 2023, and every September 1 thereafter, shelter operators shall submit to the commissioner a quarterly report regarding the number of covered guards employed by or under contract with the shelter operator who have completed the trainings required under this section. The shelter operator shall provide the department with an annual certification to verify compliance with such training requirements.

This Course covers the Following Topics

• New York City Local Law 124 rules and regulations

• The Role of the Shelter operator

• Sexual harassment prevention

• Communication skills

• Observing, Reporting, and Documentation

• Techniques for interactions with individuals experiencing homelessness

• Individuals with a mental health emergency or crisis

• Training on best practices for improving interactions between shelter employees and clients of the department