Program Coordinator - Leaphart Place

Growing Hope•West Columbia, SC

1d•$50,000 - $57,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Program Coordinator is responsible for the day-to-day coordination of Leaphart Place, Growing Hope's transitional housing program serving young adults ages 18-21. The Coordinator helps residents develop and monitor individualized goals, connects them with practical resources and community supports, coordinates routine property operations and upkeep, and ensures program records are complete and current. This is a hands-on position that balances direct support for residents living in transitional housing with community partnership development. The Coordinator builds relationships with residents while maintaining clear expectations, professional boundaries, and accountability for program participation, rent, and independent living responsibilities. The role identifies needs, supports problem-solving and skill development, connects residents to appropriate services, and promptly escalates safety, behavioral health, legal, or other concerns that require leadership or specialized intervention. Young adults transitioning to independence need more than housing. They need reliable relationships, clear expectations, practical guidance, access to community resources, and a safe living environment where they can practice the skills required for long-term stability. This role creates the structure that helps residents move from supervised independent living toward greater independence in housing, education, employment, finances, health, and daily living.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in social work, human services, psychology, sociology, education, public administration, community development, or a related field. An equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.
At least three years of experience in youth or young-adult services, transitional housing, independent living, homelessness services, child welfare, community-based support, residential programming, or a closely related setting.
Demonstrated ability to build rapport with young adults while maintaining clear expectations, professional boundaries, consistency, and accountability.
Experience supporting goal development, monitoring progress, coordinating services, and helping individuals navigate practical barriers.
Strong organization and follow-through, including the ability to manage resident needs, vendor appointments, financial tracking, data entry, events, and multiple deadlines at the same time.
Ability to maintain accurate, timely, confidential documentation and enter data into required systems.
Comfort handling rent records, payments, receipts, balances, and other sensitive information with accuracy and integrity.
Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to communicate respectfully with residents, families, referral sources, vendors, volunteers, partners, and agency staff.
Proficiency with Microsoft 365 or comparable office technology and the ability to learn HMIS and other agency systems.
Valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and ability to travel locally for program-related responsibilities.
Ability to successfully complete required background checks and meet agency and funder eligibility requirements.

Nice To Haves

Lived experience in the foster care system.
Experience using case-management or human-services data system.
Experience working with young adults who have experienced foster care, housing instability, trauma, system involvement, or limited natural supports.
Experience coordinating residential program logistics.
Training or experience in trauma-responsive care, positive youth development, motivational interviewing, de-escalation, or independent-living skill development.

Responsibilities

Meet individually with each resident on a consistent schedule, generally beginning with weekly meetings and transitioning to every other week as the resident demonstrates stability, progress, and readiness for increased independence.
Support residents in developing clear, individualized goals and action steps necessary to graduate from Leaphart Place and transition into independence through stable housing, education, employment, finances, transportation, health, life skills, relationships, and other areas affecting successful adulthood.
Monitor progress toward resident goals, document accomplishments and barriers, and help residents identify realistic next steps when progress stalls.
Provide practical coaching, reminders, resource navigation, and problem-solving support.
Help residents strengthen skills such as scheduling appointments, communicating with employers or service providers, budgeting, maintaining a home, resolving conflicts, and following through on commitments.
Partner and collaborate with the DSS caseworker for each resident to provide coordinated support and ensure each resident has access to all the benefits and supports available to them, including Chafee, housing vouchers, and other DSS specific support.
Identify needs outside the scope of the position and coordinate referrals or consultation with agency leadership, behavioral health providers, community resources, or other appropriate supports.
Maintain clear professional boundaries and consistently apply program expectations while using a strengths-based, trauma-responsive approach.
Support transition and exit planning so residents understand and are well-prepared for their next housing steps, financial obligations, available resources, and ongoing responsibilities before leaving the program.
Coordinate small, tailored Leaphart graduation ceremonies for each young resident accomplishing their goals and moving on to independence.
Coordinate the resident intake process, including referral review, collection of required information, scheduling, and communication with applicants.
Lead applicant interviews using consistent program criteria and coordinate on-site tours so prospective residents understand the program, property, expectations, and available supports.
Coordinate move-in preparation and lead first-day orientation, including review of program rules, resident responsibilities, rent expectations, safety procedures, emergency contacts, maintenance reporting, shared-space expectations, and available supports.
Ensure required admission forms, releases, acknowledgements, demographic information, and HMIS records are completed accurately and on time.
Coordinate resident move-outs, including required notices, return of agency property, documentation of unit condition, outstanding balances, and transition information.
Serve as the primary coordinator for routine property needs and resident-reported maintenance concerns at Leaphart Place.
Receive, document, prioritize, and track repair and maintenance requests, distinguishing routine concerns from urgent health or safety issues that require immediate escalation.
Conduct regular walk-throughs of common areas and other authorized spaces to identify maintenance, cleanliness, supply, or safety concerns and coordinate corrective action.
Reinforce resident responsibility for maintaining individual and shared spaces and report repeated concerns, property damage, or significant program violations according to agency procedure.
Provide residents with timely reminders regarding upcoming or past-due rent and clearly communicate balances and expectations.
Follow up on delinquent balances and coordinate with leadership regarding payment arrangements, repeated nonpayment, or other concerns requiring formal action.
Use rent-related conversations as opportunities to reinforce budgeting, planning, communication, and accountability while remaining consistent with program policies.
Regularly engage residents through surveys, meetings, and other opportunities to elicit feedback and lived experience to inform and influence program practice and policy, and ensure it continues to meet their needs.
Administer initial and interval surveys throughout the program and post-departure to assess core elements of stability and independence.
Develop and maintain relationships with volunteers, community partners, employers, educators, service providers, and other resources that can strengthen resident opportunities and transition skills.
Coordinate volunteers and community partners to provide practical training, workshops, mentoring, or resource connections aligned with resident needs and program goals.
Schedule sessions, confirm logistics, communicate expectations, prepare the space, track participation, and follow up with partners and residents as needed.
Coordinate occasional resident gatherings, community-building activities, celebrations, or educational events that support connection, belonging, healthy relationships, and program engagement.
Maintain organized, current resident and program records, including goal plans, meeting documentation, admissions materials, rent records, maintenance tracking, referrals, attendance, and transition information.
Prepare routine program updates, data summaries, outstanding-item reports, and other information requested by leadership or funders.
Maintain a current program calendar for resident meetings, move-ins and move-outs, vendor appointments, partner trainings, events, deadlines, and other key activities.
Complete incident reports and promptly communicate safety concerns, serious policy violations, suspected abuse or exploitation, threats, emergencies, or other significant events according to agency procedure.
Participate in supervision, program meetings, training, quality improvement activities, audits, and other agency processes that support consistent and effective service delivery.
Perform other duties as assigned to support the effective operation of Leaphart Place and the mission and success of Growing Hope.