Outreach Counselor for Homeless Youth

Outreach Counselor for Homeless Youth Alliance

Although HYA has administrative offices the majority of our work is street-based.

JOB DESCRIPTION: The Outreach Counselor conducts street-based outreach and one-on-one case management sessions to youth and young adults experiencing homelessness, runaway adolescents and young adults predominantly in the Haight Ashbury district. Many youth we work with are injection drug users and experience high levels of trauma. The OC promotes an understanding of the risks associated with homelessness, drug and alcohol use; including hepatitis, HIV and overdose. The OC builds non-judgmental, supportive relationships with young people, guides them to appropriate referral resources, and advocates for their care. Most importantly the OC accepts youth exactly the way they are and allows them to set their own goals at their own pace.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis (This posting will be deleted when the position is filled).

In addition to providing an up-to-date resume and cover letter in your application, please also respond in writing to the following 7 questions below (applicants who do not respond to the questions will not be considered). Your cover letter, resume and answers to the following questions can be sent to hiring@homelessyouthalliance.org. Incomplete or improperly submitted applications will not be considered.

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

1. What interests you in working for Homeless Youth Alliance?

2. Do you have a personal connection to our mission?

3. What qualities do you see as important to work with youth experiencing homelessness?

4. What are your feelings about drugs and alcohol and working with active often chaotic users?

5. What types or groups of youth do you work best with? What types or groups of youth present you with the biggest challenge?

6. When someone you care about makes a decision you don’t personally agree with, or finds themselves in a tough situation, how do you deal with it? How would you deal with the same situation working with the youth at HYA?

7. Have you accessed or received services during periods of instability in your life? If so, can you describe what you found to be positives and negatives of that support?

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Treat all participants and team members with kindness, respect and dignity.

Provide services and support free of judgement.

Contact and build relationships with participants in the target population during daily street outreach and at syringe access and disposal sites.

As needed, engage with youth experiencing homelessness around housing resources (primarily through the City of San Francisco’s Coordinated Entry System).

Distribute harm reduction supplies, hygiene supplies, education materials and snacks.

Provide preventive health education around substance and alcohol use and safer sex practices, using harm reduction techniques.

Refer participants into counseling, mental health and medical services.

Refer participants into drug treatment and housing.

Attend staff meetings, staff groups, trainings and conferences as assigned.

Maintain good self-care.

Role model healthy and professional behavior.

Perform manual duties, such as cleaning, preparing snacks and stocking supplies.

Maintain confidentiality, appropriate boundaries and a sense of humor.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Personal experience with homelessness or extensive knowledge of issues facing youth experiencing homelessness.

A minimum of one year of professional or volunteer experience in harm reduction, HIV prevention outreach or similar work with the target population.

Must have the ability to engage IDU’s and their sex partners in informational, non-judgmental discussions about HIV, hepatitis and related health issues.

Must be streetwise, able to think critically, and solve practical problems.

Must be comfortable and confident approaching and engaging with a diverse population of young people.

Must be able to advocate for participants with medical, treatment and other social service providers and police.

Must be able to keep consistent written records and be proficient with Google programs (docs, word, excel, calendars, email, etc.) and basic math skills.

Must be able to read and write in English at a functional level

Must have excellent communication and listening skills, including the ability to speak with, understand and have clear communication with participants and other service providers.

Must maintain strong confidentiality and appropriate boundaries.

Must be sensitive to multicultural issues of race, ethnicity, gender and sexuality.

Must have strong self awareness, be open to learning new approaches and concepts, be open to giving and receiving feedback.

Must be able to work in a stressful, fast-paced environment and both autonomously and as part of a team.

Valid CA Drivers License a plus.

Familiarity with San Francisco and local services for youth experiencing homelessness a plus.

If in recovery, two continuous years are suggested.

If from the target population or a former HYA participant, two continuous years not engaged with our services is essential and required, no exceptions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Must be able to walk for three hours, stand for two hours and climb stairs daily. Must be able to lift and carry 30 lbs.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The job is 32-40 hours/week

You must be available to come to our office for an in-person interview.

HYA is an equal opportunity employer. Applications are strongly encouraged from women, people of color, young people, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender and genderqueer people, people living with HIV/AIDS, people with disabilities, and bilingual and bicultural people. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. We have a long practice of aiming to hire and retain staff who have lived experience that reflects the population we are honored to work alongside.

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: $24.00 - $27.00 DOE per hour

Benefits:

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

Vision insurance

COVID-19 considerations:

All Homeless Youth Alliance employees presently are fully vaccinated. We follow all current COVID-19 mandates, recommendations, and precautions issued by State and Local Health Departments.

Work Location: In person

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: In addition to providing an up-to-date resume and cover letter in your application, please also respond in writing to the aforementioned application questions (applicants who do not respond to the questions will not be considered). Your cover letter, resume and answers to the following questions can be sent to hiring@homelessyouthalliance.org. Incomplete or improperly submitted applications will not be considered.