Youth Advocate, 1st Shift

HUMAN SERVICE CHAMBER OF FRANKLIN COUNTY; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

The HUMAN SERVICE CHAMBER OF FRANKLIN COUNTY is looking for a dedicated Youth Advocate to work at Star House in Columbus, OH. The role involves supporting youth aged 14-24 facing homelessness, building trust, and connecting them with vital resources.

Candidates must have a high school diploma, with an Associates degree preferred. Strong interpersonal skills and experience in crisis management are essential. The position offers significant opportunities to make a positive impact in the community.

Qualifications

• Understanding of trauma-informed care principles.
• Experience with youth and individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Ability to multipurpose tasks simultaneously.

Responsibilities

• Engage with clients and provide support.
• Build relationships and encourage self-efficacy.
• Perform front desk duties including signing youth in and out.

Skills

Strong interpersonal relationship skills

Ability to engage with guests

Strong organizational skills

Crisis intervention skills

Education

High school diploma required; Associates degree preferred

Job description

About Us

Star House exists to lift young people out of homelessness and into a community of hope. Founded in 2006, Star House operates our nation’s only 24/7/365 drop-in center for teens and young adults experiencing homelessness that offers immediate access to safety and hosts continuous best practice research for effective service. Along with the Finance Fund and Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority, Star House operates the only housing village of its kind in Central Ohio for young people who are exiting homelessness. The organization met the unique needs of 1,528 individual young people in 2024, successfully connecting them with housing, jobs, education, health care, therapy, and a range of community resources.

Star House’s mission is to do whatever it takes to support young people as they exit homelessness and thrive in a community of hope. Our vision is to replicate our evidence-based model of service for youth nationally and globally, based on the demand for our services in other communities.

We are seeking a Youth Advocate who believes in our mission; embodies our values of unconditional love, doing whatever it takes as long as it takes and creating innovative solutions; and who can help us achieve our vision with development expertise.

Job Description

Title: Youth Advocate

Work Location: Star House, 1220 Corrugated Way, Columbus, OH 43201

Reports To: Drop-In Services Supervisor

• Full-Time
• Non-Exempt, Hourly

Youth Advocates are essential employees who build a safe space and foundation of trust that guide youth, ages 14-24, access basic needs, case management, mental health care and achieve connection to crucial resources like housing, employment, education, health care and more. Youth Advocates are responsible for greeting and orienting youth, operating front desk duties, building trusting relationships, assistance in daily activities, enforcing guidelines, maintaining an orderly environment and a host of other duties that allow Star House to achieve its mission.

Responsibilities and Essential Functions

The following duties are representative of performance expectations; however, the list below is not ranked in order of importance.

• Engages with clients, providing support, encouragement, a friendly face and understanding
• Informs youth of available activities and resources in the house and around the community
• Builds positive appropriate relationships and leverages those relationships to help build youths’ ability and self-efficacy
• Monitors day-to-day activities around the center including cooking, cleaning and activities
• Assists with upkeep of facility which includes housekeeping duties, distributes and restocks supplies and resources.
• Performs front desk duties including answering and directing phone calls, signing youth in and out of the house, distributing mail, bus passes and bathroom keys
• Exhibits a proactive approach and ability to recognize potentially adverse situations
• Maintains a high level of patience and understanding
• Diffuses, de-escalates and provides crisis-intervention as situations require
• Performs other specific job-related duties as assigned by the Chief Executive Officer or his/her designee

Job performance is evaluated according to the policy provisions of Star House and the Educational Service Center of Central Ohio-Council of Governments.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma required; Associates degree preferred
• Able to demonstrate an understanding of the basic principles of trauma-informed care and how they may apply to working with youth
• Able to demonstrate a belief in our mission statement
• Experience working with those experiencing homelessness, substance abuse, and adolescents/young adults strongly desired
• Strong interpersonal relationship skills
• Ability to engage with guests to identify immediate needs to assist guest during their crisis
• Have the ability to resolve crisis and non-crisis situations in a timely manner
• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to multi-task
• Strong oral and written skills
• Ability to relate effectively to diverse groups of people from all social and economic status
• Experience working in a collaborative team approach to solving challenging situations
• Strong computer, organizational and customer service skills
• Documentation of a clear criminal record in compliance with state statute
• Complies with drug-free workplace rules and Star House and ESC-Council of Governments policies

Note:This assignment may require a valid driver’s license and access/availability of a reliable vehicle.

Star House is committed to equal opportunity employment, regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, socio economic status, national origin, veteran or disability status. In order to further Star House’s mission, achieve our vision and live out our values, drawing from the collective wisdom of a diverse group of individuals is essential. With diverse minds influencing our work and decisions, we can go further for the young people we serve, ensuring that our continued programming and the solutions developed along the way are influenced by the best minds.