Youth Empowerment Specialist -- FT

La Casa Norte; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 38,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Union representation

Job summary

La Casa Norte seeks a Youth Empowerment Specialist to join the Casa Corazón Emergency Beds Program in Chicago. This full-time role covers overnights on weekdays and daytime/weekend shifts, supporting youth ages 16–24 in a 24/7 service model.

The position emphasizes housing stability, education, and job readiness within a harm-reduction framework. Responsibilities include supervising residents, documenting interactions, coordinating with staff, and facilitating life-skills workshops to empower

Qualifications

• High School Diploma required.
• Ability to interact with youth to alleviate social, emotional or environmental crisis.
• Skilled in de-escalating aggressive behavior.
• Demonstrate desire and ability to work with homeless, runaway and at-risk urban youth.
• Be bilingual Spanish and English.
• Be willing to work in a diverse environment.
• Demonstrate ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and monitor resident activities to maintain a safe and stable living environment.
• Maintain professional relationships with all residents.
• Supervise and ensure safety of the milieu.
• Complete all required documentation and incident reporting.
• Support Harm Reduction and Sanctuary Model frameworks within the program.
• Use de-escalation and crisis intervention skills when needed.
• Coordinate with Drop-in Case Manager to ensure continuity of services.
• Lead life skills workshops and youth development efforts.

Skills

Bilingual Spanish-English

De-escalation

Crisis intervention

Team collaboration

Communication skills

Youth engagement

Education

High School Diploma

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Job description

Title: Youth Empowerment Specialist – FT
Reports to: Emergency Beds Supervisor

Schedule: Mon - Fri: (6 pm - 12 am) & Sunday (10 pm - 7 am)
Wage range: $18.29 - $19.06 per hour

La Casa Norte’s mission is to serve youth and families confronting homelessness. We provide access to stable housing and deliver comprehensive services that act as a catalyst to transform lives and communities.

JOB SUMMARY

Casa Corazón Emergency Beds Program is aimed at transforming the lives of homeless and at‑risk youth, ages 16‑24, by providing them with the stability, support, and guidance they need to become thriving members of society. The program is open 365 days a year, 24 hours per day and provides immediate housing and other enriching activities to impact the lives of youth and help them achieve their life goals. Program participants will receive street outreach and access to a variety of services including a drop‑in center with youth programming and meals, basic needs such as transportation and toiletries, and case management services focusing on a holistic, strength‑based approach, with a focus on housing stability and educational, job readiness and placement.

This is a full‑time, working weekday overnights, weekend daytime or weekend overnight shifts and is a union position.

Expected Goals and Objectives:

• To supervise and monitor resident activities to maintain a safe and stable living environment.
• Maintain professional relationships with all residents.
• Supervise and ensure safety of the milieu.
• Communicate in a timely and accurate fashion within the program (i.e. client intakes, incident reports, contact with youths’ families, facility inventories, and all shift log entries) and complete all required documentation.
• Support and implement the policies and philosophies of the program and of La Casa Norte including but not limited to Harm Reduction and Sanctuary Model frameworks.
• Utilize de‑escalation and crisis intervention skills when needed in a supportive and caring manner.
• To work in a team approach to assist residents in achieving service plan goals.
• Conduct intake needs assessment, create initial action place and refer residents to appropriate services.
• Engage youth in discussions relevant to goals, strengths and barriers to stability.
• Coordinate with other staff including Drop‑in Case Manager to ensure continuity of services
• Model effective and respectful communication with residents and other staff members while creating a standard of healthy communication for other staff and residents.
• Create and foster leadership opportunities for youth to encourage their personal development and the overall health of the community of Low Threshold Shelter Program.
• Take advantage of key “teachable moments” to help youth develop skills in decision making, conflict resolution, time management, etc.
• Provide and coordinate life skills workshops to youth focused on personal hygiene, sexuality, financial literacy, household management, conflict resolution, anger management, and other areas as needed.
• Implement established structure of support and accountability within the program to allow youth to fully develop in all areas of their life.
• To implement standards of cleanliness and maintenance by performing duties and requesting repairs.
• Leading residents in the upkeep of the Low Threshold Program and working with residents to ensure that necessary tasks are completed.
• Cleaning and sanitizing areas as needed to ensure standards of cleanliness and sanitation are always kept up.

In addition to the responsibilities listed above, all La Casa Norte employees are responsible for contributing to the overall success of La Casa Norte by:

• Attending bi‑weekly staff meetings, monthly all staff meeting and other staff training as assigned.
• Participating in La Casa Norte’s fundraising events.
• Perform other duties as required.

Qualifications:

• High School Diploma required.
• Ability to interact with youth to alleviate social, emotional or environmental crisis.
• Skilled in the techniques of de‑escalating aggressive behavior.
• Demonstrate desire and ability to work with homeless, runaway and at‑risk urban youth.
• Be knowledgeable in the social, economic, and cultural patterns of Latino and African American populations.
• Be willing to work in a diverse environment in regard to race, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation and gender.
• Demonstrate ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Be willing to work flexible hours as needed and have impeccable attendance.
• Have the desire, creativity, and flexibility to work in a new and fast‑growing agency.
• Be subjected to a DCFS background check and complete a medical clearance.
• Must be bilingual (Spanish and English)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree preferable, but not required with relevant experience.

Bargaining Unit Status:

• This position is represented by the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU), Local 39.

La Casa Norte is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, national origin, or disability.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear, sit, use hands, reach with hands and arms, stand, walk, walk up and down stairs, lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.