Mission Statement
We serve with care. Assisting families and individuals throughout Southern Nevada to overcome barriers and attain self-sufficiency through direct services, training and referral to community resources. Ending homelessness, one youth, one family, one individual at a time.
HOSN- Youth Services
Youth Peer
Hours: Tuesday- Friday 7:00am-5:00pm
Status: Full Time – Hourly
Reports to: Program Supervisor
Position Description:
This position supports youth and young adults experiencing homelessness in building self-advocacy, increasing independent living skills, achieving self-sufficiency, and maintaining stable housing. The role provides support to the SPARKS: Navigation and Diversion and Anchors Programs.
Must have lived homelessness experience or housing instability
Job Summary:
Under the direct supervision of the Program Supervisor, this position provides direct care services to youth experiencing homelessness.
- Interacts with youth by using a professional and client-centered approach.
- Engage with youth and young adults as a peer by drawing on shared experiences and modeling resilience and recovery.
- Use intentional, appropriate self-disclosure to build rapport, promote engagement, and support participant empowerment and growth.
- Conduct various assessments in the field and in an office setting to include Coordinated Entry Assessment Tool, Environmental Reviews, Housing Quality Standards etc.
- Advocates for participants using a trauma-informed approach that promotes empowerment, choice, and self-advocacy.
- Teaches life skills necessary to obtain and maintain housing such as tenancy skills, budgeting, leases, utilities set up, etc.
- Connect participants to supportive services, including mental health, physical health, substance use treatment, employment, and education
- Collaborate with case managers to provide coordinated, person-centered support in joint sessions in home, office, and community-based settings.
- Assist the youth in obtaining vital identification documents.
- Provides transportation to appointments when necessary
- Provides crisis intervention as needed
- Participating in staff development activities
- Maintain thorough and accurate progress notes, files, and correspondence while preserving tenant confidentiality; address client issues and concerns effectively; and enter case notes into HMIS in real time each day to reflect client progress and activities.
- Maintain clear boundaries with all participants and providers.
- All other job-related duties as assigned by management for the needs of the business
The ideal candidate will possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:
- Experience and understanding of homeless at-risk youth issues
- Communicate effectively with people from a variety of social, cultural and sensitivity to culturally diverse populations
- Effective written, verbal and listening skills. Independently initiates and responds to correspondence
- Ability to maintain order and exercise appropriate judgment in crisis situations
- Is flexible and can adjust to shifting priorities and organize work schedule and budget time
- Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with residents, fellow employees, other agencies and the public
- Understand and follow all agency policies and procedures
- General computer knowledge and ability to use Microsoft Office software
- Ability to work flexible hours
Required Qualifications:
- Lived experience with homelessness required within the last 5 years, with the ability to apply that experience in a professional, trauma-informed, and person-centered manner.
- High school diploma or GED required.
Working Conditions:
Work is performed in an indoor/outdoor environment with driving required at times. May be subject to sitting, lifting, bending, squatting, walking, standing, pushing and pulling, simple grasping and climbing.