Job Opportunities

We currently are hiring for three positions!

• Outreach Counselor
• Syringe Access Site Support
• Associate Director of Operations and Finance (ADOF)

About Homeless Youth Alliance

Our Mission

Our mission at Homeless Youth Alliance (HYA) is to meet youth experiencing homelessness where they are at, to see all of them as individuals with unique experiences and life stories, and to help them to build healthier lives for themselves. We believe reducing harm is possible through the provision of accessible, non-judgmental relationships, services, information, and opportunities. We strive to empower youth experiencing homelessness to protect themselves, educate each other, reduce harm within the community, and, when they are ready, transition off the street.

Organization Background and Description

While many of our programs have existed in one form or another for decades, in 2006 these various programs coalesced under the umbrella of a single, stand-alone organization, Homeless Youth Alliance (HYA), making it the city’s only grassroots, harm reduction coalition designed for youth by youth experiencing homelessness. Our services consist of peer-based outreach, case management, medical care, mental health services, syringe access, workshops, HIV/HCV testing, a buprenorphine clinic, a transitional housing program and a temporary Safe Sleeping Village known as CAMP (Community Action Made 4 People). On average, HYA serves up to 120 youth per day, and additional people of all ages, through our various programs. Annually, we conduct more than 1,000 case management sessions, have 1,200 therapeutic contacts with 510 youth, broker 1,400 medical appointments, and connect approximately 370 young people to housing, drug detoxification, and residential treatment programs.

Current Organizational Structure

In 2019, HYA became our own 501(c)(3) after 12 years of operating with a fiscal sponsor. We have grown our programming significantly in the past two years to include a transitional housing program for transition age youth, and most recently began operating San Francisco’s 2nd Safe Sleeping Village in a direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The size of HYA’s staff fluctuates based on programming, ranging from as few as 15 to as many at 40. While our services and front-line staff have grown significantly in recent years, the administrative team has not. One of our current hiring goals is to expand our administrative team by adding an Associate Director of Operations and Finance. Our vision is that the individual in this role would provide additional administrative support for HYA’s growing array of programs as well as to lessen HYA’s reliance on our Executive Director for day-to-day administrative functions.

Outreach Counselor

Position Type: 32-40 hours per week; on-site; hourly
Compensation: $21-23/hour
Benefits: Full
Reports to: Executive Director
Location: Haight Ashbury district of San Francisco
Application Deadline: Rolling deadline; posting will be removed when job is filled

Job Description

The Outreach Counselor (OC) conducts street-based outreach and one-on-one case management sessions to youth experiencing homeless, runaway adolescents and young adults predominantly in the Haight Ashbury district of San Francisco. Many youth we work with are injection drug users and experience high levels of trauma. The OC promotes an understanding of the risks associated with homelessness, drug use and alcohol use, including hepatitis, HIV and overdose. The OC builds non-judgmental, supportive relationships with young people, guides them to appropriate referral resources, and advocates for their care. Most importantly, the OC accepts youth exactly the way they are and allows them to set their own goals at their own pace. (***Although HYA has administrative offices the majority of our work is street-based.***). 

Essential Job Functions

• Treat all participants and team members with kindness, respect and dignity
• Provide services and support free of judgement
• Contact and build relationships with participants in the target population during daily street outreach and at syringe access and disposal sites 
• As needed, engage with youth experiencing homelessness around housing resources (primarily through the City of San Francisco’s Coordinated Entry System)
• Distribute harm reduction supplies, hygiene supplies, education materials and snacks 
• Provide preventive health education around substance and alcohol use and safer sex practices, using harm reduction techniques 
• Refer participants into counseling, mental health and medical services.
• Refer participants into drug treatment and housing
• Attend staff meetings, staff groups, trainings and conferences as assigned.
• Maintain good self-care
• Role model healthy and professional behavior
• Perform manual duties, such as cleaning, preparing snacks and stocking supplies
• Maintain confidentiality, appropriate boundaries and a sense of humor

Qualifications

• Personal experience with homelessness or extensive knowledge of issues facing youth experiencing homelessness.
• A minimum of one year of professional or volunteer experience in harm reduction, HIV prevention outreach or similar work with the target population.
• Must have the ability to engage IDU’s and their sex partners in informational, non-judgmental discussions about – HIV, hepatitis and related health issues.
• Must be streetwise and be able to think critically and solve practical problems.
• Must be comfortable and confident approaching and engaging with a diverse population of young people.
• Must be able to advocate for participants with medical, treatment and other social service providers and police.
• Must be able to keep consistent written records and be proficient with Google programs (docs, word, excel, calendars, email, etc.) and basic math skills.
• Must be able to read and write in English at a functional level.
• Must have excellent communication and listening skills, including the ability to speak with, understand and have clear communication with participants and other service providers. 
• Must maintain strong confidentiality and appropriate boundaries.
• Must be sensitive to multicultural issues of race, ethnicity, gender and sexuality.
• Must have strong self awareness, be open to learning new approaches and concepts, be open to giving and receiving feedback.
• Must be able to work in a stressful, fast-paced environment and both autonomously and as part of a team.
• Valid CA Drivers License a plus.
• Familiarity with San Francisco and local services for youth experiencing homelessness a plus.
• If in recovery, two continuous years are suggested.
• If from the target population or a former HYA participant, two continuous years not engaged with our services is essential and required, no exceptions.

Physical Demands

Must be able to walk for three hours, stand for two hours and climb stairs daily. Must be able to lift and carry 30 lbs.

Application Instructions

The position is posted until filled. A complete application package must include: cover letter, resume, and responses to the 7 questions below, sent to hiring@homelessyouthalliance.org. Incomplete or improperly submitted applications will not be considered. You must be available to come to our office for an in-person interview. 

In addition to providing an up-to-date resume, in your application, please respond in writing to the following 7 questions: (applicants who do not respond to the questions will not be considered)

• What interests you in working for Homeless Youth Alliance?
• Do you have a personal connection to our mission?
• What qualities do you see as important to work with youth experiencing homelessness?
• What are your feelings about drugs and alcohol and working with active often chaotic users?
• What types or groups of youth do you work best with? What types or groups of youth present you with the biggest challenge? 
• When someone you care about makes a decision you don’t personally agree with, or finds themselves in a tough situation, how do you deal with it? How would you deal with the same situation working with the youth at HYA?
• Have you accessed or received services during periods of instability in your life? If so, can you describe what you found to be positives and negatives of that support?

Again, to be considered for this position you must send:

• a cover letter
• a resume, AND
• answers to the questions above

to hiring@homelessyouthalliance.org 

Equal Opportunity Employer

HYA is an equal opportunity employer. Applications are strongly encouraged from women, people of color, young people, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender and genderqueer people, people living with HIV/AIDS, people with disabilities, and bilingual and bicultural people. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. We have a long practice of aiming to hire and retain staff who have lived experience that reflects the population we are honored to work alongside.

Syringe Access Site Support

Position Type: 32-40 hours per week, on-site
Benefits: Full
Reports to: Executive Director
Location: Haight Ashbury district of San Francisco
Application Deadline: Rolling deadline; posting will be removed when job is filled

Background

Homeless Youth Alliance is a street based program that provides a range of in depth social, emotional, and practical supports for youth experiencing homelessness. We operate within a community culture that recognizes the autonomy, dignity and inherent worth of youth regardless of their housing status. Our services are provided in a harm reduction context, without judgment, blame or the stigma that has followed these youth for most of their lives. We believe, given the right tools and support, youth can achieve healthy and fulfilling lives, regardless of their past experiences. 

HYA strives to employ individuals who come from or have personal experience with the community that we serve. For us, by us.

Position Summary

This role’s primary function is to staff our syringe access site in the Haight as well as ensure the site have the supplies needed for these services to be fully carried out. This position is also responsible for logistics that go into day-to-day operations. This position works alongside the front-line staff and closely with participants to fulfill HYA’s mission while upholding our ethos and core values. This means we need someone who is good under pressure, works well with the community and behind the scenes. This job is between 32-40 hours per week with full benefits.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

• Drive HYA van to all sites and run various errands 
• Staff syringe access site Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings
• Engage with a high number of participants in a respectful and attentive manner
• Keep inventory of all harm reduction supplies  
• Order and restock supplies 
• Prepare the van for mobile sites 
• Assist other team members in other program support requests 
• Attend staff meetings, groups, and trainings as assigned 
• Other logistics, administrative and/or operational duties as assigned
• Treat all participants and team members with kindness, respect and dignity
• Provide services and support free of judgment

Qualifications: Knowledge, Experience, Skills and Abilities

• Personal experience with homelessness as a young person or extensive knowledge and experience of issues facing youth experiencing homelessness
• A minimum of one year of professional experience in HIV prevention, harm reduction outreach or similar work with the target population 
• Must be streetwise and be able to solve practical problems and think critically
• Must be sensitive to multicultural issues of race, ethnicity, gender and sexuality
• Must have strong self-awareness, be open to learning new approaches and concepts, and be able to give and receive constructive feedback.
• Must be able to work in a stressful, fast-paced environment
• Must be dedicated to teamwork and health team dynamics with the ability to also work autonomously
• Must be able to multitask
• Must be able to keep consistent and accurate records and inventory lists 
• Must have a basic knowledge of Microsoft Office and Google apps (Docs/Word, Sheets/Excel calendars, email, etc.) and basic math skills 
• Must have excellent communication and listening skills 
• Must maintain good self-care
• Must maintain confidentiality, appropriate boundaries and a sense of humor
• Must remain calm in tense situations and be comfortable to de-escalate others
• Must be able to read and write in English at an intermediate level
• Must be able to drive safely and have a valid CA Driver’s License and a good record of driving history
• If in recovery, two continuous years are suggested.
• If from the community or a former HYA participant, two continuous years not engaged with our services is essential and required, no exceptions.

Physical Demands

This job is quite physical, requiring climbing many stairs repeatedly during a shift, and walking while carrying heavy materials and supplies (30 lbs). Must be able to drive (and parallel park) the HYA van throughout San Francisco. These requirements are non-negotiable.

Please respond to the following questions: (applicants who do not respond to the questions will not be considered)

1) What interests you in working for Homeless Youth Alliance?

2) Do you have a personal connection to our mission?

3) What are your feelings about drugs and alcohol and working with active, often chaotic users?

4) Have you accessed or received services during periods of instability in your life? If so can you describe what you found to be positives or negatives of that support?

5) This job involves working in a fast paced environment where conflicts may present themselves. How do you handle stressful, chaotic situations? Can you give an example of when you’ve deescalated someone in crisis?

To apply for this position you MUST send:

• a cover letter
• a resume, AND
• answers to the questions above

to hiring@homelessyouthalliance.org

Application packages missing a resume, cover letter, or answers to the questions will not be considered.

This position is posted until filled.

Equal Opportunity Employer

HYA is an equal opportunity employer. Applications are strongly encouraged from women, people of color, young people, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender and genderqueer people, people living with HIV/AIDS, people with disabilities, and bilingual and bicultural people. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. We have a long practice of aiming to hire and retain staff who have lived experience that reflects the population we are honored to work alongside. 

Associate Director of Operations and Finance

Position Type: Full-time (40 hours per week); Exempt; at least 40% onsite with the rest either remote or onsite for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic
Reports to: Executive Director
Location: Haight Ashbury district of San Francisco
HYA Staff Size: Range from 15-40, depending on programming

Position Summary

The Associate Director of Operations and Finance (ADOF) is responsible for overseeing HYA’s financial and administrative functions, monitoring for sound financial and regulatory compliance, managing contracts, and developing and strengthening systems. This position is responsible for enhancing the internal workings of the organization and infrastructure necessary for HYA’s success and growth. The ADOF develops and maintains efficient and effective administrative systems, provides financial leadership, manages and coordinates day-to-day finance responsibilities, and ensures that appropriate policies, procedures and internal controls are maintained to safeguard the organization and facilitate effective nonprofit management. An ideal candidate should be able to think broadly and strategically about the organization’s work, as well as be detail-oriented and organized about the structures necessary to turn their vision into reality.

Responsibilities

Financial Management

Public Contract Management and Compliance

1. Preparation and submission of government contract budgets, monthly invoices, and budget modifications, in compliance with applicable rules/regulations
2. Co-management (with ED) of relationships with funders, including attendance of bidder’s conferences, grantee convenings, and site visits, ensuring strong working relationships and contract compliance with funders
3. Management of annual filings, including joint fiscal monitoring report, annual economic statement, business registration, welfare exemption, secretary of state information filing for nonprofit entities
4. Development of budget and budget narrative for funding applications

Leadership and organizational development

1. Help to develop and oversee high-level organizational systems in the area of finance, personnel and operations, and provides support to program and fundraising staff on systems development
2. Maintain and oversee organizational calendar for key organizational functions, ensuring that the organization is meeting deadlines and staying on top of its responsibilities
3. Supervises relevant staff of operations
4. In partnership with the ED and Program Managers, works to create a culture of follow through and accountability for all members of the organization, including staff, board, and volunteers
5. Serve as a source of support for and as a liaison to the Board.
6. Participate in strategy and funding conversations with ED, Management Team, and Board
7. Help cover ED responsibilities in ED absence
8. Helps strengthen a culture of professional development, continuous feedback, and mutual support among staff and in collaboration with other directors

Personnel

1. Oversight of payroll processing and reconciliation, including management of related accounts such as retirement accounts, payroll advances, garnishments, and benefit contributions, as applicable
2. Primary contact person for all communication with outside payroll company
3. Preparation and dissemination of 1099s and other annual reports
4. Ensure compliance with all applicable county, state, and federal tax reporting requirements
5. Management of health benefits, including employee enrollment and termination, annual benefit renewal and open enrollment process, and applicable payroll deductions
6. Management of Human Resources in conjunction with service provided through Gusto’s conciergeservice

Other organizational responsibilities

1. Attends staff meetings as well as other organizational retreats and gatherings
2. Participates in interviews of job candidates with other members of the team as needed
3. Engages with HYA youth, staff, and board in organization-wide fundraising activities
4. Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

1. A minimum of 3 years of nonprofit management experience, including at least 2 years supervising a direct report
2. Experience in nonprofit budget development, financial management, bookkeeping, grants, and contract management. Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) a plus.
3. Proficiency with accounting software (QuickBooks Online), MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), and Google Apps.
4. Competent working in a multiracial, multicultural, multi-gendered, and intergenerational environment.
5. Highly consistent and self-motivated; able to take initiative, manage, and complete multiple tasks within deadlines.
6. Excellent written, verbal, communication and math skills.
7. Highly organized, detail-oriented, and action-oriented with strong problem-solving skills.
8. Ability to seek out, encourage, and exchange feedback with supervisor.
9. Ability to address challenges directly by de-escalating conflict and fostering mutual understanding.
10. Commitment to ongoing self-assessment, self-improvement and professional development
11. Desirable, but not requite: degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or nonprofit Management; Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Certified Government Management Accountant (CGMA), Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), or other relevant licenses/certifications.

Compensation

$70-,000-$75,000

Other benefits include:
– Full coverage of medical, dental, vision insurance – Holiday, vacation, sick, and personal leave
– Flexible schedule to support work/life balance.

To Apply

Applications are being accepted now and the position will remain open until filled. We will post a notice on HYA’s website (www.homelessyouthalliance.org) when applications are no longer being accepted for consideration.

To apply, please send an email to hiring@homelessyouthalliance.org with “ADOF” in the subject line, and include as attachments (in pdf format only):

1. Cover letter with full contact information 2. Résumé

Due to the volume of applications we expect to receive, we ask that you please do not contact us regarding your application unless we have invited you to move forward with the process. At that time, we will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Thank you in advance for your interest in the position!

Equal Opportunity Employer

HYA is an equal opportunity employer. Applications are strongly encouraged from women, people of color, young people, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender and genderqueer people, people living with HIV/AIDS, people with disabilities, and bilingual and bicultural people. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. We have a long practice of aiming to hire and retain staff who have lived experience that reflects the population we are honored to work alongside.