Intake & Outreach Peer Specialist

Intake & Outreach Peer Specialist

Location: West Palm Beach, FL


Schedule: Full-time (40 hours/week) | Weekdays with occasional evenings/weekends


Organization: Vita Nova, Inc.

Are you a compassionate individual who has overcome homelessness and is now stably housed? Want to use your experience to make a real impact on the lives of others?

Vita Nova is seeking a motivated and compassionate individual to join our team as a Youth Ambassador & Outreach Peer Specialist. This unique dual-role position supports young adults both at our drop-in center and through community-based efforts with our Street Outreach Program (SOP).


In this role, you will build trusting relationships with young adults ages 18-25 who are experiencing homelessness, helping them access essential resources, navigate barriers, develop life skills, and connect to services that promote housing stability and self-sufficiency. Your lived experience, empathy, and insight will serve as a powerful tool in encouraging hope, resilience, and positive change.

Key Responsibilities:

Intake & Assessment Services

• Provide intake and assessment services to homeless and disconnected youth to facilitate access to essential services, including but not limited to housing, shelter, and meeting basic needs.
• Enter data and case notes in Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and utilize the PBC Coordinated Entry System while maintaining client confidentiality.
• Partner with youth to create an individualized service treatment plan to include meeting basic needs, service coordination, life skills development, social & emotional well being, permanent connections and plan for safe and stable housing.
• Advocate and connect people to needed services for medical, mental health, substance abuse, domestic violence, and other social supports as applicable.
• Facilitate weekly individual and group Life Skills training at the Spot drop-in center and within the community as assigned.

Street Outreach & Peer Support

• Conduct outreach in parks, streets, libraries, campuses, encampments, shelters, and other areas where youth experiencing homelessness are known to congregate.
• Utilize your lived experience to build trust and provide peer-based encouragement and support.
• Assist youth in overcoming barriers to housing and accessing healthcare, mental health services, substance abuse treatment, identification documents, and other community resources.
• Provide transportation to appointments, shelters, and service providers as needed to help resolve immediate crises.
• Use motivational interviewing and trauma-informed care approaches to support youth in moving toward stability and housing.

Qualifications:

• Lived experience with homelessness, now stably housed - required qualification.
• Passion for helping others through a trauma-informed and empathetic approach.
• Prior experience in human services or peer support preferred.
• Willingness to work in an office setting and in the community.
• Strong communication, problem-solving, and crisis intervention skills.
• Willingness to work independently and collaboratively in fast-paced community settings.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and ability to document services in HMIS.
• Reliable transportation with a valid FL driver's license and ability to join company insurance policy.
• Ability to pass drug screen and a Level 2 background check through DCF Clearinghouse: (Existing DCF Exemption Waivers will be considered)

What We Offer:

• Competitive Pay with annual Cost of Living Adjustments
• Access to Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Benefits
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision with significant employer contributions, including 100% employer-paid plan options
• General Paid Time Off, including holidays, PTO days, sick & vacation accruals, and birthday leave
• Retirement Planning: Option to participate in 401(k) plan after one year of employment

Why Join Vita Nova?

This is more than a job. This is a unique opportunity to turn your experience into purpose and make a real impact. Your story can help someone feel seen, supported, and empowered to create a better future.


Apply today and help change the path for young people facing homelessness.