Youth Rehousing Advocate (Ames, IA)
We are YSS:
YSS's Rapid Rehousing Program helps those who are non-system involved, meaning they are not placed or directly supported by any governmental payment agency. An advocate works one-on-one with each client to help them set and achieve educational, employment, and independent living goals.
The role:
As a Youth Rehousing Advocate, you will provide housing support, community advocacy, and voluntary case management services for homeless clients in Ames that come from the streets or emergency shelters. You will provide intensive one-on-one services to individuals between the ages of 18 to 25 that reside in scattered site apartments. The typical caseload will consist of 12-18 participants.
What you will need:
- Associate's degree in social work or related human services field with at least four years of direct youth work experience OR
- Bachelor's degree in social work or related human services field with two or more years of direct youth work experience
- At least 21 years old with a valid driver's license to meet requirements to drive agency vehicles.
What you will do:
- Assess housing barriers of individuals experiencing homelessness to determine housing and service needs with the overarching goal of self-sufficiency and housing stability.
- Provide mediation and advocacy with landlords on the client’s behalf to develop a workable plan to obtain and or maintain housing.
- Assist participants in locating, securing, and moving into housing within the available options provided by local landlord partners.
- Facilitate program participants accessing furniture from the Free Store & then moving into their own apartment.
- Pay month rent and perform monthly maintenance checks on each program apartment.
- Provide information and referral assistance regarding available support from appropriate social service agencies and/or community programs.
- Help all program participants to establish a bank account and budget monthly.
- With participant input, set both short-term and long-term goals with each participant. Evaluate progress on goals at least monthly with participants.
- Provide pro-active follow-up home visits at minimum twice a month to ensure stability and further progress towards self-sufficiency; to assist with reintegration of participants in the community after program is done.
- Transport clients as deemed necessary to meet their case plan goals.
- Educate participants on public transportation options in our community and teach them how to access and use this resource.
- Complete program participant progress notes continued assessments, continued stay reviews, and other required HUD paperwork in HMIS (ServicePoint) in a timely fashion (i.e HUD Rent Reasonableness, Income Verification, HQS Reports, and other HUD mandated paperwork).
- Teach youth living skills around independent living (i.e. thermostat, setting up utilities, grocery shopping, cooking, use of kitchen appliances, cleaning best practices, what does and does not go in a toilet, setting up mail service, cable/internet, being a good neighbor, how to follow a lease).
- Other duties as assigned.
What we offer:
- Fun team environment
- Mission-driven work
- Wellness program offerings
- Discounts on pet insurance
- Flexible shift and hours
- Training and development opportunities
Full-time employee benefits include:
- Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
- Supplemental accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity insurance
- Retirement
- Birthday as a paid day off
- Paid time off
- Holiday pay
- Employee Assistance Program
- Years of service recognition
- YSS is a qualified employer under the Public Student Loan Forgiveness Program.