Youth Ambassador & Outreach Peer Specialist
About The Position
Vita Nova is seeking a motivated and compassionate individual to join our team as a Youth Ambassador & Outreach Peer Specialist. This unique dual role position supports young adults both at our drop-in center and through community-based efforts with our Street Outreach Program (SOP). In this role, you will build trusting relationships with young adults ages 18–25 who are experiencing homelessness, helping them access essential resources, navigate barriers, develop life skills, and connect to services that promote housing stability and self-sufficiency. Your lived experience, empathy, and insight will serve as a powerful tool in encouraging hope, resilience, and positive change. As part of Vita Nova's Street Outreach Program (SOP), you will work alongside outreach staff and community partners to engage vulnerable youth in the community while also helping create a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment at the Spot drop-in center.
Requirements
- Lived experience with homelessness and stably housed – required qualification.
- Passion for supporting vulnerable youth using a trauma-informed and empathic approach.
- Strong communication, problem-solving, and crisis intervention skills.
- Willingness to work independently and collaboratively in fast-paced community settings.
- Reliable transportation with a valid FL driver's license and ability to join company insurance policy.
- Ability to pass drug screen and a Level 2 background check through DCF Clearinghouse
Nice To Haves
- Prior experience in human services or peer support preferred.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and ability to document services in HMIS preferred.
Responsibilities
- Provide oversight and support within the Spot drop-in center to ensure a safe, welcoming, and youth-friendly environment.
- Assist youth in accessing basic needs and essential services including food pantry, clothing closet, showers, laundry facilities, and referrals to emergency shelter resources such as the Sleep Spot.
- Build rapport with youth through meaningful conversations, prosocial engagement, and trauma-informed support.
- Assist with planning and facilitating life skills activities and youth engagement programming.
- Help identify youth needs and connect individuals to case management, housing resources, and supportive services.
- Conduct outreach in parks, streets, libraries, campuses, encampments, shelters, and other areas where youth experiencing homelessness are known to congregate.
- Utilize your lived experience to build trust and provide peer-based encouragement and support.
- Assist youth in overcoming barriers to housing and accessing healthcare, mental health services, substance abuse treatment, identification documents, and other community resources.
- Provide transportation to appointments, shelters, and service providers as needed to help resolve immediate crises.
- Use motivational interviewing and trauma-informed care approaches to support youth in moving toward stability and housing.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
