IHYC Street Outreach Advocate (56020)

YSS•Woodward, IA

1d•$17 - $20•Hybrid

About The Position

YSS is looking for a compassionate, adaptable, and relationship-driven Street Outreach Advocate to join our Youth Opportunity Center (YOC) team. In this role, you'll connect with young adults ages 16–24 who are experiencing homelessness, at risk of homelessness, or recently housed. By building trust, meeting immediate needs, and connecting youth to critical resources, you'll help create pathways toward safety, stability, and independence. Whether you're providing support at the YOC, in a school, at a shelter, or through street outreach across the Des Moines community, you'll help youth meet their immediate needs, connect with life-changing resources, and take meaningful steps toward a more stable future. You will supervise, provide support, and establish rapport with young adults 16-24 who are experiencing homelessness, at risk of becoming homeless and/or recently housed. As an Advocate, you will ensure the safety and well-being of participants, while assisting them in meeting their basic needs and working towards stability. Participant interactions may be in the YOC, community-based settings, emergency shelters, or schools. Interactions may also be in outdoor locations where young people may be, including on the streets of Des Moines, camping areas, abandoned houses, near railroad tracks, and other areas as identified. The goal is to ensure all basic needs of the participants are met, and that they are provided with a safe, welcoming environment in which to work towards stability.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree in social work or a related human services field.
OR Three (3) years of experience working directly with homeless or at-risk youth.
Understanding of the needs of youth experiencing homelessness or housing instability and the ability to provide trauma-informed support.
Knowledge of the Des Moines community and available resources for youth.
Strong communication skills, including active listening, verbal communication, and written documentation.
Calm, patient, and professional when responding to challenging situations.
Ability to build positive, respectful relationships with youth, teammates, and community partners.
Dependable, self-motivated, and great at taking initiative.
Rooted in purpose and driven by equity, inclusion, and positive social impact.
Brings humility, respect, and cultural awareness to every interaction.

Nice To Haves

Speaks a second language (especially one spoken in our communities).
Navigated recovery from addiction, mental health challenges, trauma, or housing instability.

Responsibilities

Build trusting relationships with participants while fostering a safe, welcoming, and respectful environment.
Conduct street outreach and engage youth where they are, connecting them to support and services.
Help participants meet basic needs by coordinating access to food, clothing, hygiene products, transportation, and other essential resources.
Connect youth with housing, healthcare, victim services, employment, education, and other community resources through referrals and advocacy.
Facilitate individual and group programming focused on life skills, crisis intervention, de-escalation, and healthy decision-making.
Complete participant intakes and maintain accurate documentation in ServicePoint.
Promote positive connections with peers, supportive adults, and community partners to strengthen each participant's support network.
Represent YSS in the community by educating partners and stakeholders about youth homelessness and the services available through Iowa Homeless Youth Centers.
Supervising, supporting, and establishing rapport with program participants, while maintaining an atmosphere of safety and respect.
Providing programming to help participants meet their basic needs (food, transportation, clothing, hygiene) such as: increasing participant knowledge of the resources and services available in the community.
Ensuring participants are able to access available resources/services making appropriate referrals to safe shelter, appropriate health care services, victim services, etc.
Enhancing positive community, peer, and adult connectedness.
Facilitating group learning sessions as needed, such as crisis intervention, including de-escalation, and basic living skills.
Completing participant intakes and documenting information in ServicePoint for each participant accessing services.
Representing YSS and presenting information related to Iowa Homeless Youth Centers and youth homelessness in the community as needed.