Housing Advocate

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The private non-profit agency Youth Empowerment Siskiyou advocates for youth who have been exposed to trauma and youth who are at risk of trauma exposure. Our staff and volunteers strive to build and support a strong local community in Siskiyou County, where every child, teen, and young adult is and feels, loved, and empowered.

Our Values:

Equity. Individualized service plans better meet the needs of the people we serve. “One size fits all” may still leave people underserved.

Evolution. As community members, we value engagement with our neighbors and strive to be locally responsive. We want to grow together.

Nurturance. We believe everyone deserves to be treated with compassion, dignity, and empathy. We embrace trauma-informed care.

Integrity. We strive for financial and programmatic transparency and encourage our community to hold us accountable for discontinuing the harm that has been caused in the past by child welfare organizations.

Youth Empowerment Siskiyou is an equal opportunity employer committed to diverse (multi-gender, cross-class, multi-racial), collaborative, and sustainable work environment. We strongly encourage all to apply (including people of color; lesbian; bisexual; queer; trans and gender non-conforming people; intersex people; and people with disabilities). If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the application and interview process, please express that with your application, cover letter, and resume submission.

POSITION: Housing Advocate

REPORTS TO: Housing Director

WAGE: $20.00-$22.00/hour

HOURS: Full-time up to 40 hours per week; some evenings and weekends may be required; on-call shifts may be required; some overnight shifts may be required

LOCATION: YES’s emergency shelter and offices in Yreka, CA; some travel throughout Siskiyou County and the state of California required; some remote work possible with supervisor approval

STATUS: Non-exempt from state and federal overtime laws

BENEFITS:

• Health, dental and vision insurance with employee’s premiums 100% paid by YES;
• Generous vacation and sick leave;
• Tuition reimbursement after one year of consecutive employment;
• Reimbursement for use of personal cell phone
• Flexible scheduling with supervisor approval

DESCRIPTION: Working under the supervision of the Housing Director, the Housing Advocate will

provide trauma-informed, youth-focused and responsive case management services to teens and transition-age youth, especially those not housed at YES’s emergency shelter, and serve as additional support to Housing Program staff and clients when needed across YES’s various Housing Program projects.

TO APPLY: This opportunity is open to all current YES staff in good standing. To be considered complete, applications must include the following and be submitted via email to jobs@yesiskiyou.org with “Housing Advocate Application” in the email subject line:

1. Cover letter

2. Resume detailing all work history

3. YES Employment Application, available online at www.yesiskiyou.org/employment-opportunities

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conduct weekly case management with youth clients in the Housing Program, including working collaboratively with youth to effectively identify their individual needs and establish and pursue their case goals;
• Provide one-on-one support to youth clients, including crisis intervention, safety planning, community navigation, transportation, skill building, and any other additional supports needed to ensure youth have opportunities to complete case goals;
• Conduct referrals and “warm hand offs” to other service providers to connect Housing Program clients with needed resources;
• Actively advocate for youth clients to access needed resources, including skillfully and creatively navigating around systemic and/or personal barriers;
• Track and input client-level data efficiently and effectively in accordance with the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) policies and procedures and YES’s Housing Program policies and procedures;
• Effectively communicate with community partners, landlords, and YES Housing Program staff to secure shelter and permanent housing for youth clients;
• Support the daily operations of the transition-age youth emergency shelter or any other YES Housing Program project as determined necessary by the Housing Coordinator or Housing, Deputy or Executive Directors;
• Assess and articulate critical Housing Program needs to the Housing Director;
• Perform any other duties as necessary to support the success of the Housing Program and/or as assigned by the Housing, Deputy or Executive Directors.

QUALIFICATIONS:

· Authorized to work in the United States;

· Ability to pass background check;

· Possession of valid driver’s license, current auto insurance, good driving record and reliable vehicle for travel;

· Possession of reliable personal smart phone and ability to use it for agency work during scheduled hours (reimbursement provided);

· Strong knowledge and application of case management ethics, HIPAA, Housing First, Harm Reduction and Trauma informed philosophies;

· Experience working with unhoused populations and current knowledge of Housing programs, laws, and resources at the county, state, and federal level;

· Experience working with individuals experiencing mental health struggles, substance use, and homelessness;

· Ability to regulate own emotions and maintain composure under stressful circumstances;

· Experience working with teens and other young people;

· Excellent verbal and written communication skills;

· Excellent computer skills, including data entry, and familiarity with Google Docs and Microsoft Office, especially Word, Excel and PowerPoint;

· Strong management and organizational skills;

· Ability to maintain work schedule;

· Ability to keep all client information confidential;

· Ability to work independently;

· Ability to prioritize various tasks;

· 21 years old;

· Agree to test for COVID-19 per the agency’s current policies with tests provided by the agency and remain in compliance with state, federal, agency and Housing Program COVID-19 regulations.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $20.00 - $22.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Yreka, CA 96097: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $20 - $22