Hope Center Young Adult Support Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Position Information

Title: Emergency Shelter Young Adult Support Specialist

FLSA Status: Hourly, Full-Time, Non-Exempt

Location: Hope Center

Reports to: YA Emergency Shelter Program Manager

Job Description

S 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

• Engage with young adults to make them feel welcome, safe, and supported;

• Collaborate with case managers and the program coordinator on how best to support young adults

• Connect young adults to community and on-site resources to ensure basic needs are met;

• Appropriately respond to and coach young adults through verbal, physical, and emotional altercation;

• Prevent and de-escalate situations as they arise;

• Maintain a positive, non-judgmental, trauma-informed approach;

• Actively seek opportunities to be inclusive and equitable.

• Go on outings with young adults to embrace more life experiences outside the emergency home

• Help them learn life skills; cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, budgeting, laundry, resume building 

• Escort young adults 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;

• Monthly assigned tasks

• Daily responsibility checklist

• Deep cleaning throughout the week/Sunday deep cleaning

• Participate in monthly program outcome reporting with all program staff;

• Complete data entry tasks, as assigned

• Maintain proper record keeping and documentation

• 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. 

• Attend weekly staff meetings (Wednesdays mandatory)

Education and/or Experience

• High school diploma or GED Required

• Must be at least 21 years of age Required

• Valid driver’s license and auto insurance Required

• Bilingual (Spanish-English) Preferred 

• 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

Salary/Compensation and Benefits 

• Starting hourly wage of $17.30

• Medical, Dental, and Vision

• Vacation Time

• Sick Time

• 401K

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities