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Job Opportunities

If you are interested in volunteering for Homeless Youth Alliance, please email development@homelessyouthalliance.org.

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 current programming, ranging from as few as 15 to as many at 40.

Posted: August 18, 2026

Pay: $25.00 – $27.00 per hour

Job description: Outreach Counselor for Homeless Youth Alliance

***Although HYA has administrative offices the majority of our work is street-based.***

JOB DESCRIPTION: The Outreach Counselor conducts street-based outreach and one-on-one case management sessions to youth and young adults experiencing homelessness, runaway adolescents and young adults predominantly in the Haight Ashbury district. 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 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. All applicants must submit a cover letter, answers to application questions, and a resume. 

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Rolling Deadline (This Posting Will Be Deleted When The Position Is Filled)

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, educational 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 partners in informational, non-judgmental discussions about HIV, hepatitis and related health issues.
  • Must be streetwise, 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 clearly communicate 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, and 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 is 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.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

  • The job is 40 hours/week
  • Homeless Youth Alliance is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis (This posting will be deleted when the position is filled). However, we are looking to hire as soon as we find the right fit. 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)

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

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

3) What qualities do you see as important to work with youth experiencing homelessness?

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

5) What types or groups of youth do you work best with? What types or groups of youth present you with the biggest challenge?

6) 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?

7) 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?

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.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

  • Dental insurance
  • Health insurance
  • Life insurance
  • Paid time off
  • Vision insurance

Work Location: In person