Peer Outreach Worker

As a member of the SOP, the Peer Outreach Worker must be a driven and creative individual with lived experience around homelessness and/or housing insecurity, ensuring a strong connection and trust with the youth and young adults being supported.

About the role

Responsible for conducting street outreach, providing on-the-spot referrals, and supporting youth and young adults who are homeless, runaway, or at high risk of becoming homeless. The role involves offering case management, immediate shelter, meals, employment, and medical or mental health services.

Reports to: Program Director
Locations: NYC/City Wide (Mobile Van) – positions based between Harlem & Brooklyn. Must be flexible with travel.

Responsibilities

• Provide targeted outreach in teams of two or more across the five boroughs of NYC to identify homeless, runaway, and at-risk youth and young adults through street and site-based outreach.
• Use engagement techniques to build rapport with youth and young adults encountered.
• Provide age-appropriate interaction while adhering to agency guidelines and ethics regarding youth treatment and services.
• Screen for basic needs; provide resources, referrals to service agencies, shelters, and drop-in centers.
• Provide crisis intervention as needed.
• Deliver psychoeducation and prevention on various topics to homeless, runaway, and at-risk youth and young adults.
• Build networks with other street outreach program workers and local drop-in centers.
• Assist in locating safe housing—emergency, transitional, and permanent.
• Maintain appropriate and relevant documentation of all contacts, efforts, and events.
• Respond to Fair Hearing requests.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Stay in constant contact with the Program Director for accountability and guidance.
• Attend all staff meetings on time and participate in other internal and external meetings as directed.
• Work evenings and weekends as required.

Requirements

• High School diploma required.
• 2 years' experience working with runaway and/or homeless youth/young adult population; direct street outreach experience desirable.
• Lived experience around homelessness, at risk of homelessness, or housing insecurity is a plus.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.
• Must be able to establish working relationships with participants in need of supportive services.
• Valid Driver’s License required.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to use public transportation to travel throughout New York City.
• Commitment to a strength-based and/or youth development perspective.
• Computer literate—knowledge of computer assessment tools, database systems, and Windows operating systems. Proficient in Microsoft Office.

Pay

$43,000–$48,000 annually, based on relevant experience.

Schedule

35 hours per week, non-exempt.