Housing Specialist

New Avenues for Youth; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, vision, and dental insurance

Job summary

New Avenues for Youth in Portland, Oregon seeks a compassionate Housing Specialist for a temporary, full-time role through January 1, 2027. You will guide youth facing houselessness, connect them with resources, and advocate for stable housing as they work toward independence.

You bring lived or professional experience with high-risk youth, strong listening and advocacy skills, and reliable transportation. The team emphasizes equity, collaboration, and ongoing learning, with a supportive

Qualifications

• Minimum of two years of relevant work experience with high-risk youth.
• Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, or related field is a plus.
• Experience with sexual minority and culturally diverse staff and participants.
• Access to automobile, valid driver’s license, and active auto insurance.
• Willingness to CPR trained and certified.

Responsibilities

• Be a mentor and guide, building connections with youth and helping them set and reach goals.
• Advocate to help youth navigate systems, access resources, and coordinate with providers.
• Support growth through case planning and skill building for greater independence.
• Document the journey with accurate, timely records for program needs.

Skills

Lived experience

Experience with high-risk youth

Empathy

Advocacy

Reliability

Growth mindset

Education

Bachelor's degree in social work or psychology

Tools

Driver's license

Job description

This is a temporary position expected to run through January 1, 2027.

Schedule: Full-time; temporary through January 1, 2027; Monday-Friday, 9:00am-5:30pm

Transform Lives, Transform Yourself:

Are you eager to be a part of the change and care that supports youth in our community?Do you have experience that could be an assurance and lift for young people facing houselessness to help them with the skills and resources to lead healthy, independent lives?New Avenues for Youth seeks a compassionate Housing Specialist to join our Housing team.

As a Housing Specialist, you'll be a consistent and intentional guide for youth navigating difficult paths. Your unique perspective, experience, and resilience will foster opportunity and empower young people to be more prepared and resourced to move through challenging moments and reach their unique goals.

Join New Avenues and…

• Make an Impact: Provide consistent support, guidance around resources, and advocacy.
• Thrive in a Supportive Team: Join a collaborative and inclusive environment where your contributions are celebrated.

Our Commitment to Equity:

At New Avenues for Youth, we envision a community where all young people thrive. We recognize that historical inequities and intersecting forms of oppression have created barriers for many. We are unwavering in our commitment to dismantling these barriers and fostering a truly equitable space where every voice is heard and valued.

Who You Are:

• Experienced: You have lived experience or work experience dealing with challenges related to houselessness. Your experience is a source of strength and fuels your compassion and care.
• Compassionate Listener: You offer empathy without judgment, creating a safe space for young people to share their stories and struggles.
• Reliable Advocate: You are committed to showing up consistently, building trust, and following through on your promises to young people.
• Growth-Oriented: You embrace continuous learning, seeking new knowledge and skills to better support yourself and the youth you serve.
• Equitable: You understand how systemic oppression impacts the lives of youth in programs and the systems that you will support youth in navigating. You approach this world with humility and a deep sense of growth and learning.

What You'll Do:

• Be a Mentor and Guide: Build genuine connections with youth, supporting them in developing and working towards goals, growing skills, helping them manage crises
• Empower Through Advocacy: Help young people navigate complex systems, access resources, collaborate and coordinate with other providers, and make informed decisions about their own journey to housing independence.
• Support Growth and Learning: Engage in case planning and skill building to help youth move towards greater independence
• Document the Journey: Maintain accurate and timely records, ensuring that our programs have the data they need to thrive and continue serving those who need it most.

Qualifications:

• A minimum of two years of relevant work experience, lived experience, or both.A bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, or related human services field a plus.
• Minimum of two years of experience working with high-risk youth.
• Experience, ability and commitment to working with sexual minority and culturally diverse staff, participants and community.
• Reimbursed use of personal automobile for transporting self and clients for work purposes
• Must have access to an automobile, a valid driver’s license, and active auto insurance on that vehicle.
• Must be willing to be CPR trained and certified.

• Medical, vision, and dental insurance available at a 50% employee cost share.

A person in this position must be able to perform, with or without accommodation, the essential functions of this job including any physical requirements associated with this role. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. If the position may require the use of any personal protective equipment, New Avenues will have such equipment on hand for the employee’s use.

Any candidate deemed viable for this position based on resources and resume submission will be contacted to participate in a screen interview to discuss interest and job compatibility.Of those screened, advancing candidates will be asked to participate in a subsequent interview or interviews to evaluate job qualifications and interest further.From this process, a hiring selection will be made.New Avenues for Youth is an equal opportunity employer.

New Avenues for Youth is an Equal Opportunity Employer.