Position Summary:
Applicants must be committed to ending youth homelessness and available to work a flexible schedule, including two evenings per month. This is a full-time, 37.5-hour-per-week hybrid position involving both onsite work and community outreach.
The Youth Navigator helps young adults ages 18–24 who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness access emergency and permanent housing and work toward greater self-sufficiency. The position coordinates with participants, landlords, partner agencies, the Youth Action Board, and Youth WINS Youth Advisors to remove housing barriers and strengthen support systems.
Responsibilities include conducting interviews, providing counseling and crisis intervention, connecting participants with services and training, monitoring progress, maintaining records, preparing reports, and providing follow-up support. A reliable vehicle and automobile insurance are required for daily use; mileage is reimbursed.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Conduct regular in-reach and outreach with youth and young adults, educating participants on available services, screening for diversion, enrolling them in CHAMP.
- Complete all necessary documentation and intake forms, and supporting connections to case management, shelter, and housing options.
- Support participants in maintaining their health and safety.
- Assess all youth households for mainstream benefits and supportive services available to support eligible individuals through their transition into housing.
- Work with clients to create individualized, strength-based plans addressing housing, employment, income, healthcare, legal aid, harm reduction, and other essential services.
- Provide advocacy and support to help youth and young adults achieve self-sufficiency and well-being.
- Collaborate with external agencies, community partners, and any necessary service providers to meet participant goals and needs.
- Maintain accurate records in HMIS, and internal systems, tracking housing placements, case notes, program outcomes, and client needs.
- Document service referrals, consent forms, and reasonable modification requests in keeping with all program and contract needs.
- Utilize de-escalation skills, a trauma-informed approach, and other best practices to work with participants to diffuse or resolve escalated situations.
- Assist in individual crisis response, interpersonal conflicts, and other emergencies that may arise.
- Work with partner agencies to support program participants in completing applications and applying for supportive documentation to accompany admissions applications.
- Assist with creating, maintaining, and updating landlord/housing list with detailed information to assist in matching program participants with suitable housing options.
- Participate in all requirements of the YHDP policy and procedure, including, but not limited to, completing all training, documentation, and tasks assigned.
- Attend and participate in all required meetings, work professionally and collaboratively with all CAC/Knox Pride team members, participants and stakeholders.
- Contribute and implement pertinent YHDP strategies to engage community stakeholders in addressing and ending youth homelessness.
- Assist Youth WINS and YAB members in coordinating community events and bi-weekly YAB meetings.
- Provide ongoing support to the YAB members, Youth WINS staff and community partners.
- Other duties as assigned.
Knowledge and Abilities: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.
- Lived experience with homelessness, housing insecurity, and/or mental health and substance use challenges.
- Extensive knowledge of community resources related to services to the homeless population.
- Ability to prepare accurate reports and plans.
- Must be computer literate and familiar with common computer word processing, spreadsheet, and database software.
- Must have a reliable automobile, valid driver’s license and automobile insurance for daily use (mileage reimbursed).
- Knowledge of counseling and case management methods and skills.
- Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
- Ability to evaluate situations and make decisions.
- Ability to teach and model problem solving.
- Ability to ascertain facts by personal contact, observation, and the examination of records.
- Ability to write accurate reports, business correspondence, and plans and procedures.
Qualifications: High School Diploma/GED or HiSET or two years’ experience in a related field. An equivalent combination of related work experience and training may be substituted for the education requirement.
Preferred Qualifications:
- High School Diploma/GED or HiSET
- Two years’ related work experience
- Applicant between the ages of 18-24
Compensation and Benefits:
CAC offers an excellent benefits package including:
- Employer-paid health insurance (individual only)
- Life insurance
- Pension plan contributions
- Co-pay dental insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Paid vacation, sick leave, and generous holiday
Salary: Skill Level 6, starting at $15.19 hr/$30,829.50 annually
Resumes may be emailed to cachr@knoxcac.org or you may apply using our online form. Note: Emailed resumes sent as attachments must be provided in Microsoft Word or PDF format.
An Equal Opportunity Employer
KNOXVILLE-KNOX COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTION COMMITTEE
HOMEWARD BOUND – YOUTH WINS