Covenant House California (CHC) is a nonprofit organization that provides sanctuary and support for youth overcoming homelessness, ages 18-24. CHC believes that no young person deserves to be homeless; that every young person in California deserves housing, food, clothing, education, and most importantly, to be loved. CHC provides a full continuum of services to meet the physical, emotional, educational, vocational, and spiritual well-being of young people.

CHC’s doors are open to youth and staff regardless of their race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. We believe that youth and team members deserve to be in an environment that is inclusive and affirming; where everyone is treated with dignity and respect and valued and appreciated for who they are. Maintaining a diverse community of youth and staff is key to our ability to achieve our mission most effectively. We are also committed to being a leader in advancing anti-racism, and to promoting opportunities for the free expression of the lived experiences of our youth and staff.

We are looking for people who, like us, believe that every young person deserves a place to belong. We think it takes all kinds of people to create diverse solutions to end youth homelessness and we are on a committed journey to build an inclusive and equitable work culture that brings out the best in everyone. In our Oakland location, which has been operating since 2005, we offer a full continuum of housing and support services to young people. Our program is continuing to grow and will be adding 20 new beds for young people over the next year.

As this position provides direct care to young people that are 18-24 years old, we require that applicants are at least 25 years old.

Covenant House California offers an excellent benefits package, (most benefits effective date of hire), including medical, vision, dental, an EAP program, 403b retirement account, and a generous vacation package.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Peer CES (Coordinated Entry System) Specialist will be based in the Housing Resources Center / Wellness Center in Hayward and Oakland and will work under the supervision of the Support Services Director. The position will be responsible for assisting/ supporting the youth in completing CES assessments, assisting the youth in the wellness center with resources that meet their needs, linking them to services and supports, as well as providing workshops. Work includes engaging with youth experiencing homelessness surviving on the streets of Alameda County, in other drop-in centers across the County, on Junior College Campuses, and in CHC Wellness Center. The position is responsible for working collaboratively with CHC teams, staff, and other service providers in the community. The position requires a passion and skillset for positive youth engagement, the ability to problem-solve creatively, and comprehensive case management activities including building relationships, linkages, crisis prevention, and intervention.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Model positive youth engagement and support throughout the Wellness Center to all youth experiencing homelessness. Maintain a safe youth-focused environment, support referrals and linkages for youth, provide support in the space, complete case management-related tasks as assigned, and lead/co-lead workshops and activities as needed.
2. Develop and maintain strong collaborative relationships with staff from local and state resources as required by HUD Coordinated Entry System teams within Alameda County. Support agency implementation of Alameda County’s Coordinated Entry assessment tool to aid youth in the admission and application procedures for relevant housing programs.
3. Maintain a strong understanding of community housing resources, mental health issues, and state and county resources available for youth experiencing homelessness.
4. Work with your supervisor and the team to create safe, inclusive, and affirming spaces for all youth that we welcome into the HRC or Wellness Center space. Participate in any Youth Advisory Boards or Youth Action boards as appropriate. In addition, help youth get connected and engaged in those opportunities.
5. Maintain a strong understanding of best practices in the field with regard to engagement, outreach, and intervention strategies specifically targeting runaways, homeless, and those in danger of sexual exploitation.
6. Develop and maintain strong interventions for programs that stem from the framework of trauma-informed, harm reduction, and positive youth development models.
7. Ensure that all written correspondence, demographic data, contract reports, and all other documentation are completed and submitted for review in an accurate and timely manner in ETO and HMIS.
8. Act as a representative of Covenant House California when attending community meetings or forums on issues centering on homelessness or mental health issues. Maintain a presence at North-County Outreach Collaborative and other community-based meetings as appropriate.
9. Travel between the spaces located in Oakland and Hayward. Collaborate with the other team members in those locations and ensure that youth know when and where to find us.
10. Attend all onsite trainings hosted by CHC and those that are hosted by the County of Alameda. Stay up to date on all HMIS and CES trainings and reporting guidelines with the team.

1. Other duties as assigned.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

EDUCATION: High School diploma or GED preferred but not required.

EXPERIENCE: Lived experience is required. Minimum of 1-2 years of youth work experience is required in addition to having experience working with community-based programs for youth experiencing homelessness and vulnerable populations. Must be a self-starter and team player with the ability to work with other staff members, clients, vendors and the public.

SKILLS: Must exercise appropriate independent authority when needed. Must have the ability to make independent decisions for client placement. Must be knowledgeable in the areas of crisis intervention, mental illness, and community-based service delivery. Must have good organizational skills. Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills.

TRANSPORTATION: Must have reliable transportation. A valid California driver’s license with a good driving record is preferred.

WORKING CONDITIONS: Full Time, must be able to stand for extended periods of time, bend and lift as needed 30-40 pounds.

SUPERVISORY: N/A

Covenant House California is an Equal Opportunity Employer.