We are YSS:

Dedicated to exclusively serving the needs of at-risk and homeless youth (age 16.5-24), the Youth Opportunity Center (YOC) provides a safe place for young people to connect with services. Our staff is committed to meeting youth where they are in life, and assisting them in taking the first steps to self-sufficiency and a successful future.

The role:

As a Youth Advocate, you will supervise, provide support and establish rapport with Youth Opportunity Center participants including Emergency Bed, Drop-In and Rapid Rehousing participants during assigned hours, while providing an atmosphere of safety and mutual respect. 75% of duties will be directly with the Youth Opportunity Center. 25% will be in the community as a support Advocate with the Rapid Rehousing program. Participants will be young adults 16-24 who are experiencing homelessness, at risk of homelessness and/or recently housed. The YOC Youth Advocate will work to ensure all basic needs of the participants are met, and that they are provided with a safe, stable environment in which to work towards stability.

What you will need:

• A High School diploma is required.
• Two years of full-time experience in the human services field is required. Experience and skills may include First Aid and CPR certification, crisis intervention, child and adolescent development, individual or group counseling, motivational interviewing, trauma informed care and harm reduction. Knowledge of the needs of young people experiencing homelessness and an understanding of the intervention strategies available to address these needs is essential.
• A Bachelor’s degree in a human services field can substitute years of direct experience, preferred.
  Direct experience working with at-risk youth population highly preferred. Experience working with individuals of diverse identities, including racial, ethnic, gender, sexual orientation and socio-economic status is preferred.

What you will do:

• Conduct intakes with new youth and orient them to the Youth Opportunity Center.
• Provide program information to potential clients, referral sources, and other groups, both in person and over the phone, as needed. Maintain potential client waitlist documentation.
• Build a rapport with all youth that access the Youth Opportunity Center
• Oversee client activities such as chores, laundry, wake-up, and personal hygiene. Is aware of clients' presence and behavior at all times.
• Assist clients in meeting basic needs such as food, clothing, bedding, personal care products, laundry, and safety.
• Clean out recently vacated rooms: bagging and labeling personal items, washing bedding, sweep/mop/sanitize entire room.
• Assist and track inventory of household supplies, personal care products, and food items.
• Daily data entry into Service Point including intakes, services and case notes.
• Maintain open communication with Primary Health Care about vacancies in program.
• Work at least one shift on the weekend.
• Help Rapid Rehousing youth access the Freestore and move into their apartments.
• Participate in the annual landlord appreciation event for the Rapid Rehousing program.
• Provide pro-active follow-up home visits for Rapid participants at minimum twice a month to ensure stability and further progress towards self-sufficiency; this includes support, advocacy, reducing isolation, listening, problem solving, and identification of resources to assist with reintegration of participants in the community after program is done.
• Teach youth living skills around independent living (i.e. thermostat, setting up utilities, grocery shopping, cooking, use of kitchen appliances, cleaning best practices, what does and does not go in a toilet, setting up mail service, cable/internet, being a good neighbor, how to follow a lease).

What we offer:

Fun team environment
Mission-driven work
Wellness program offerings
Discounts on pet insurance
Flexible shift and hours
Training and development opportunities
Employee Assistance Program

For questions about this position, please contact Julia Anderson at janderson@yss.org