Site Associate (On-Call) - General Pool

Site Associate (On-Call) - General Pool

Safe Place for Youth (SPY) is the leading service provider for youth experiencing or at-risk of homelessness in West Los Angeles. Founded in 2011, our agency offers trauma-informed, low-barrier programs that support young people in exiting the streets and achieving stability so that they can thrive, not just survive. Our robust continuum of care includes street outreach, drop-in services, health and wellness programming, case management, education and employment services, and housing programs.

SPY is a unique social impact agency that is committed to overcoming structural barriers to equity, community collaboration, and innovative youth-focused programming. If you have the skills, passion, and collaborative spirit, join our growing team of nearly 100 employees.

SPY strives to attract and develop individuals who reflect a broad spectrum of diversity, including (but by no means limited to) racial, ethnic, gender identity, and socioeconomic dimensions. We believe that the inclusion of diverse perspectives is essential to achieving long-term, systemic change. We explicitly seek applications from those who self-identify as coming from historically marginalized populations to enrich and elevate our equity-centered approach to problem-solving.

As a housing team member, the Site Associate will work in one of our 4 locations across Santa Monica, Los Angeles, Inglewood, and Hollywood:

• A Bridge Home (ABH) [100 Sunset Ave, Venice, California 90291]
• Roots To Grow [12536 Mitchell Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90066]
• Stepping Stone [11810 Radio Drive, Los Angeles]
• Podshare [4958 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90029]
• The Nest [823 S. Grevillea Ave, Inglewood, CA 90301]

Site Associates provide services for SPY members experiencing homelessness. The Site Associate is expected to provide support and services to residents, most of which have a variety of complex health, functional and social needs, in order to help them transition back into the community. The Site Associate assists residents in breaking the cycle of homelessness by engaging with members. The role will also support site safety and documentation and collaborate with other departments to ensure that residents have a successful onboarding stay. The ideal candidate will strongly understand direct service to at-risk populations and trauma-informed care. The ideal candidate will need to have previous experience working with transitional-aged youth experiencing homelessness and youth between the ages of 12 and 27.

What You'll Do:

• Act as the first point of contact for all new youth residents at the site/location. Greet and build rapport with residents on a daily basis; encourage residents to engage with ABH programming and services.
• Ensure the grounds and facility are safe and secure for residents, staff and volunteers.
• Organize and coordinate engagement activities; support ABH programming as needed.
• De-escalate conflict and provide crisis intervention and mediation to youth as needed.
• Collaborate with the case management team to coordinate members' care and to ensure they receive the services and support they need to achieve and maintain physical and mental health, and housing stability.
• Keep detailed notes and track data in the SPY database and external databases as needed.
• Complete and submit all required forms, case records, statistical reports and documentation to appropriate parties within designated timelines.
• Develop close working relationships with local service providers, outreach workers, case managers, and collaborative agencies.
• Utilize harm-reduction, trauma-informed, and housing-first approach.
• Participate in meetings with collaborative agencies and other community meetings as directed.
• Maintain safety and support on the grounds common area
• Do daily duties like temperature checks/daily verifications for members.
• Perform daily bungalow check-ins
• Maintain a healthy and professional manner with members
• Support during breakfast, lunch, and dinner prep
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned to support the mission of the program and organization

Skills You'll Need:

• Best practice models including: Housing First, Positive Youth Development, Authentic Youth Engagement, Motivational Interviewing, Harm Reduction, Trauma-Informed Care, Critical Time Intervention.
• Self-Starter skill set, requiring the ability to develop relationships, build rapport and trust with members, community partners, volunteers, and staff.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including organizational, detail and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to uphold Access Center policy and procedure with members, staff, volunteers, and community partners
• Ability to work effectively with people of diverse races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and gender identities in a multicultural environment.
• Works cooperatively with individuals, groups and organizations with diverse mission, composition, function, capacity and geographic location.
• Understanding of homeless services including CES and HMIS database.
• Strong understanding of LA County foster care and juvenile justice systems, including foster care placement options, participant rights and eligibility, and discharge planning processes.
• Strong belief in a growth mindset, self-determination, and psychological resilience.
• Must have a valid CA Driver's License, proof of insurance, and a clean driving record

Background You'll Need:

• 1+ years of case management or related experience working with unhoused and at-risk TAY preferred
• 1+ years experience working in a drop-in center, access center, or access point preferred
• Knowledge and experience working with co-occurring populations (chronic health conditions, mental health and substance abuse) preferred
• Knowledge and experience working with LA-based housing resources, partners, and programs.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Changes in the environment, such as the office or outdoors.
• Physical effort/lifting, such as sedentary- up to 15-20 pounds at times.

Special Conditions:

Mandated Reporting Requirements: The person holding this position is considered a'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 Revised July 21, 2017 as a condition of employment.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements : Effective August 9, 2021, the State Health Officer has mandated that all workers, paid or unpaid, in homeless services organizations must provide proof of vaccination. If eligible for a booster shot, proof of booster is also required. If not fully vaccinated, weekly COVID-19 testing is necessary depending on the program. Please submit proof of vaccination to View email address on click.appcast.io. To request a reasonable accommodation or exemption, please get in touch with HR at the same email address. It's important to note that these accommodations are limited.

Driver Positions: Applicants are required to provide a copy of their driving record from the Department of Motor Vehicles, along with a copy of their valid driver's license and proof of insurance. Job offers are contingent upon a satisfactory driving record. Examples of an unsatisfactory driving record include:

• Suspended or revoked license
• Three or more moving violations in the past 36 months
• Any violations, including drugs, alcohol, controlled substances, within the past 24 months
• Reckless driving, including hit and runs, within the past 24 months
• At fault accidents, resulting in fatality or serious injury, within the past 5 years

The motor vehicle record will need to include a review of all states listed on the individual's employment application and resume. See instructions on obtaining your driving record below:

For driver positions, driving is an essential job function and cannot be reasonably accommodated, employment may be discontinued.

Benefits & Perks:

Safe Place for Youth offers a competitive benefit package including comprehensive health coverage, 403b with agency contribution, and vacation/sick time. We also offer unique perks including weekly meditation/mindfulness and professional development opportunities that are tailored to your individual career growth.

EEO Statement:

All aspects