Housing Advocate – On Call
Hours: Hours Vary
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Job Summary
For 35 years New Horizons has been dedicated to helping homeless youth on their journey toward a more sustainable future. We are inspired by Jesus’ work among the poor, the outcast and the disenfranchised. We believe in hope.
Our Housing Advocate (HA) is the primary contact youth make when accessing our housing services and plays a critical role in ensuring housing services are welcoming to our shelter guests.
Housing Advocates are responsible for staffing the Shelter Program and ensuring that shelter guests are safe and supported during their stay.
In addition to overseeing shelter milieu, the Housing Advocates collaborate on the creation and facilitation of Independent Living skills and Positive Youth Development training opportunities for program guests. Housing Advocates also work closely with Housing Services program volunteers to maintain upkeep of shelter facility.
Primary Responsibilities
Responsible for providing culturally competent programming grounded in the principles of Positive Youth Development.
Responsible for facility oversight and security during shift.
Facilitate pre-brief and de-brief.
Maintain shelter upkeep.
Register shelter guests; conduct any required intake and complete daily documentation. Participate in the tracking of outcomes and use of outcome measurement tools.
Engage shelter guests in supportive non-judgmental relationships while maintaining professional boundaries at all times.
Monitor laundry and showers.
Provide referrals to other service providers and community programs as needed and maintain the resource and job board.
Participate in the on-going development of Housing Programs supportive services.
Develop therapeutic relationships with all youth (demonstrating faith, hope, love, trust, compassion) through conversations and intentional meetings during shelter hours.
Model for volunteers how to engage and interact with youth while setting and maintaining healthy boundaries.
Model for volunteers’ the appropriate ways to engage youth in conversations about faith.
Participate in designated staff and community meetings and trainings.
Other duties as assigned
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Enthusiasm for New Horizons’ mission to partner with homeless youth.
Prior experience working with homeless or high-risk youth.
Strong leadership skills.
A growing personal commitment to Jesus Christ, community and God’s work in the world.
Knowledge of community resources for youth impacted by homelessness and the foster care and juvenile justice systems.
Experience and comfort in facilitating small group activities.
Knowledge of the effects of substance abuse.
Excellent communication skills.
An ability and willingness to love before or without understanding.
Complicity with professional code of ethics and rules of confidentiality.
Ability to develop cooperative relationships with homeless youth.
High boundary setting and self-reflection skills.
Basic motivational interviewing skills.
Must demonstrate ability to work effectively in a diverse harm reduction setting.
Ability to establish and maintain rapport with program guests as well as program volunteers.
2-year degree or equivalent experience preferred
Personal Qualities
Growing personal commitment to Jesus Christ, community, and God’s work in the world.
Must be non-judgmental and enthusiastic about engaging with homeless and/or street involved young people across the spectrum of religious and spiritual beliefs, race, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation and gender.
Loving heart and sensitivity for homeless youth.
A cooperative, “team” attitude.
Flexibility and great sense of humor.
Must maintain good self-care, keeping strong social and spiritual relationships a priority.
Hours: This is an hourly, part-time, on-call position that requires overnights and weekends. Typical shifts vary between open grave and close grave shifts. New Horizons Housing Program is a 365 day per year nightly shelter.
Accountability: On-Call Housing Advocates are non-benefited positions. Shift assignments are based on covering PTO and vacation shifts for regular Housing Advocates. All residential program staff will be reporting to New Horizons Housing Director.
To Apply: E-mail resume and cover letter to careers@nhmin.org.