YAEH Support Specialist, Part-Time/On-Call

In every job at Rod’s House, our mission and vision are embedded deeply into the responsibilities. A job at Rod’s House is about more than completing tasks; rather, it is about prioritizing building positive and lasting relationships with the young people, other staff, volunteers, and our community. 

 Our Mission: Rod's House builds authentic connections with young people, encourages them in feeling respected and secure in who they are, empowers them to reach their full potential, and positively connects them to the community. 

 Our Vision: Rod's House envisions an END to youth homelessness in the Yakima Valley. To break the cycle of homelessness we engage volunteers, donors, and the community to ensure young people's basic human needs are met and that they have a safe, stable home; permanent, positive connections; meaningful education and employment opportunities; behavioral and physical health care; and supports that reinforce their individual abilities.

Position Information

Title:  Support Specialist

FLSA Status:  Hourly, Part-Time/On-Call, Non-Exempt

Location(s):  Young Adult Emergency Home

Reports to:  Young Adult Emergency Home Program Coordinator

Overview (what unique role does this position play within Rod’s House?)

               Support Specialists at Rod’s House focus on providing a safe and stable environment for young adults to learn new skills in order to thrive on their own in the community. Support Specialists help support a wide-spectrum of needs for young people (ages 18-24) experiencing homelessness throughout Yakima County. Support Specialists play a pivotal role as guides for young people so they may progress from temporary sheltering to permanent, safe, and stable housing.

Duties and Responsibilities

Relationship Building and Problem Solving

• Engage with young adults to make them feel welcome, safe, and supported;
• Collaborate with case managers and program managers on how best to support youth;
• Connect youth to community and on-site resources to ensure basic needs are met;
• Appropriately respond to and coach youth through verbal, physical, and emotional altercation;
• Prevent and de-escalate situations as they arise;
• Maintain a positive, non-judgemental, trauma-informed approach;
• Actively seek opportunities to be inclusive and equitable.  

Safety and Cleanliness

• Escort youth to designated activities and meal times;
• Assist with housekeeping duties in the emergency home, Rod’s House after hours, and ensure cleanliness and tidiness at all times;
• Ensure a safe environment for fellow employees, volunteers and residents;
• Conduct fire watch with proper documentation;
• Ensure completion of closing duties each morning to ensure sites are ready for operations;
• Transport linens to and from laundry as needed;
• Order supplies as needed.

Data Management

• Participate in monthly program outcome reporting with all program staff;
• Complete data entry tasks, as assigned;
• Maintain proper record keeping.

General

• Ensure standard operating procedures are clearing defined, updated, and followed;
• Regularly assess policies, procedures and processes and recommend improvements;
• Provide general assistance and support as directed. 

Required or Preferred Education and/or Experience

• At least 1 year experience working directly with youth (ages 13-17) and young adults (ages 18-24), particularly youth and young adults experiencing homelessness OR 2 years of social services education (required)
• High school diploma or equivalent (required) / Bachelor’s degree (preferred);
• Bilingual (Spanish-English) (strongly preferred);
• Experience working with individuals who have experienced trauma, specifically severe mental illnesses and substance use disorders (preferred);
• Lived experience relevant to the population served (preferred).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

• Must be at least 21 years of age (required);
• Pass a Washington State criminal background check (required);
• Pass a Federal (FBI) criminal background check (required);
• Valid driver’s license and auto insurance is (required);
• Possess skills and ability to work successfully with the unique needs of children in care;

Work Conditions and Physical Requirements 

Shifts could include overnight, evening, early mornings, or weekends, including holidays. This position requires daily interactions with youth experiencing homelessness and with community members, social service providers, and other organizations.. Physical requirements for the position include frequent walking, hearing, seeing, speaking, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, grasping, climbing, and repetitive motions. This position requires exerting up to 50 pounds of force to lift, carry, pull, or move objects. Ability to safely drive a 14-passenger van is strongly preferred. 

Rod’s House will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with a disability so that they can perform the essential functions of a job unless doing so causes a direct threat to these individuals or others in the workplace and the threat cannot be eliminated by reasonable accommodation or if the accommodation creates an undue hardship to Rod’s House.

Salary/Compensation and Benefits 

• Starting hourly wage of $17.30
• Sick Time
• Vacation Time

Rod’s House is all about building authentic connections. We are committed to equity and inclusion and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We encourage people with lived experience of homelessness and those who identify as LGBTQ and people of color to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.