Youth Navigator

Please note: Applicants must submit a cover letter to be considered.

Summary:

A peer position, a Youth Navigator builds rapport with youth and young adults experiencing homelessness or housing instability to help them meet their housing and related needs. A Youth Navigator assists young people in creating a plan for stability and supports them in accessing resources and taking steps to achieve it.

Reports to:

Youth Navigation Supervisor

Supervises: N/A

Position type: Full-time, non-exempt

Responsibilities:

• Engage and build relationships young people experiencing housing instability, including through meeting with them in person and communicating through calls and texts.
• Support young people in developing goals for housing stability.
• Support young people in accessing resources such as shelter, employment programs, and education programs. Support can include coaching young people, making phone calls together, or accompanying them in person.
• Answer youth phone calls, texts, and emails, and meet with youth to determine resource needs, provide youth with information about resources, and make appropriate referrals.
• Advocate for young adults in accessing resources as needed and support young people in advocating for themselves.
• Make referrals and coordinate warm hand-offs to other organizations in the community to help young people meet their needs.
• Solicit feedback from young people on their experiences using resources and programs.
• Identify gaps in and issues with resources to inform systems change.
• Coordinate access to emergency assistance funds, application fee payments, and provision of housing items and furniture for young people.
• Conduct outreach to new referrals and to young people who have accessed the shelter system in some capacity and left for an unknown destination.
• Provide support to Opportunity Passport, including through assisting with survey month as needed.
• Maintain tracking and other required documentation for recording interactions with young people and resource referrals made.
• Provide support and advocacy using racial equity and LGBTQ equity lenses.

Updated 12/11/24

• Solicit feedback from young adults about resources, access to resources, and events.
• Participate in meetings as assigned.
• Provide presentations to colleagues and community partners, with support, as assigned.
• Maintain regular communication with supervisor and participate in individual and group supervision.

Qualifications:

• Lived experience of homelessness and/or housing instability.
• Knowledge of and willingness to learn about resources for young adults.
• Knowledge of and willingness to learn about A Place 4 Me and young adult homeless services system in Cuyahoga County.
• Ability to work as a member of a team, as well as to function independently while maintaining contact with team.
• Familiarity with or ability to learn Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office, GoogleDocs, and Outlook.
• Demonstrated organizational skills needed to document youth interactions and referrals and to follow up with young adults as needed.
• Communication skills required for interacting with youth, businesses, and organizations.
• Ability to manage time effectively and meet deadlines.
• Knowledge of or willingness to learn about racial equity, LGBTQ equity, and cultural humility.
• Willingness to learn and apply trauma-informed care.
• Ability to maintain boundaries, act professionally, and maintain ethical behavior.
• Open to supervision and coaching.
• Positive attitude, dependable, and flexible.
• Reliable transportation required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience engaging and communicating with young adults while maintaining professionalism.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to apply best-practice approaches to everyday work.
• Valid driver’s license and proof of insurance.
• High school diploma, GED, and/or higher education.

Please note: This position requires interactions with youth and young adults in varying crisis situations. As such, these interactions may trigger the navigator’s personal past experiences. Support will be provided, but the ability to manage oneself and engage in self-care is encouraged.

Please note: Applicants must submit a cover letter to be considered.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $18.00 - $20.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $18 - $20