Program Specialist

Program Specialist

San Francisco

Since 1984, Larkin Street Youth Services has helped more than 75,000 young adults in San Francisco with outreach, shelter, housing, education, employment, healthcare, and other services.

Today, Larkin Street Youth Services is the largest provider of housing and services to homeless youth in the Bay Area. We serve 1,500 youth annually, operating or partnering to provide more than 500 emergency shelter, transitional, supportive, and subsidy-based housing beds at several unique sites across San Francisco.

Working at Larkin Street, no matter what department, means making a real difference in the lives of young people experiencing homelessness. Our team is skilled, diverse, and passionate. Our culture encourages achievement and professional development, as well as teamwork and self-care. Our focus is always on the young people at the heart of our mission and to nurture potential, promote dignity and support bold steps by all.

For more information about us, visit

What You'll Do:

The primary responsibilities of the Program Specialist (Emergency Housing) include screening applications and interviewing clients, weekly visits/check-ins with clients and hotel management, ensuring upkeep of property, document agreements, contracts and evictions between Larkin Street Youth Services, hotels and clients. Carefully maintain the budget, ensure positive relationships with hotels and Larkin Street Youth Services. Calculate damages, key deposits and clean up after a client exits services. Act as a liaison between client and hotel management. Ensure client maintains points of engagement while in services.

This is a full-time position, eligible for full benefits.

Your responsibilities:

• To engage successfully with a diverse client population who present with a myriad issues. • To handle crisis situations through de-escalation techniques and assist clients as they process social and emotional problems. • To practice life skills training for youth through modeling, active counseling and motivational interviewing and facilitation of groups. • To promote the wellness of the community through a harm reduction approach. • To ensure the safety and security of all clients, staff, volunteers and the facility. • Maintaining the cleanliness and operations of the facility including preparing and serving meals, cleaning bathrooms, maintaining storage areas and other tasks assigned by program management. • To collect client information through intake and assessment, organize that information by entering data into paper-based and electronic-based data systems and obtain additional information by coordinating with other professional sources. • To participate in professional development activities to enhance counselor skill levels. • The Program Specialist will work in conjunction with other staff members and other agencies to ensure a continuum of services for clients. • The Program Specialist will also act as an advocate and point person to new youth entering the Lark-Inn. • Perform other duties as assigned.

Working Location:

• Lark Inn Shelter
  • Location: 869 Ellis Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
  • Hours: 8AM to 4PM
  • Working Days: Monday through Friday

Who You Are:

• You are passionate about the Larkin Street Youth Services mission to end youth homelessness.
• You embody our values and core strategies: "This Is How We Roll":
  • Client-Centered
  • Trauma Informed Care
  • Restorative Practices
  • Harm Reduction
  • Non-Violent Crisis Intervention
  • Motivational Interviewing
• You have some direct-services, social service experience.
  • *BONUS* You have experience working in drop-in services, shelter, transitional, and/or permanent supportive housing programs.
• You are most excited to serve Transitional Aged Youth (TAY), aged 18 to 25 of diverse backgrounds.
• You are a self-starter and team player. Your colleagues describe you as compassionate, dependable, and patient.
• You work best in an on site, in person working environment. This role is 100% onsite/in person.
• You are willing to work holidays occasionally.
• You hold a valid driver's license.

The Perks:

• Hourly Rate: $25.00-$26.37 per hour
  • +$1.50 for bilingual incentive pay. Must be fluent in Spanish and English.
• Choice of Kaiser and Sutter medical plans, plus dental and vision.
• Generous 3 weeks of vacation annually, plus 11 Paid Holidays and 3 Floating Holidays.
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching.
• Flexible spending accounts for Healthcare and Dependent Care expenses.
• Life Insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for counseling services.
• Health Advocate Service.
• Commuter Benefits Program.
• Paid Sabbatical following 5 and 10 years of employment.

Larkin Street Youth Services is an equal opportunity employer. Larkin Street Youth Service seeks qualified candidates with an interest in the non-profit sector. We are committed to embracing diversity and consider all applicants for all positions without regard to color, ethnic background, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, HIV/AIDS status, veteran status, or any other legally protected class. We encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds to apply for any open position in which they feel qualified.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider employment for qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

All City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. For details on how it is applicable to your employment, please click here.