Lead YOC Youth Advocate (56288

Job Details

Job Location:

Youth Opportunity Center - Des Moines, IA 50309

Position Type:
Full Time

Education Level: 4 Year Degree

Travel Percentage:
Minimal

Job Shift: Day

Job Category:
Direct Care - Supportive Housing

The Lead Advocate provides hands‑on support and leadership within the Youth Opportunity Center (YOC), helping create a safe, welcoming, and stable environment for young adults ages 16–24 experiencing homelessness, at risk of homelessness, or transitioning into housing. This role spends approximately 75% of its time supporting YOC operations and participants and 25% providing community‑based support through the Rapid Rehousing program.

As a key member of the YOC team, the Lead Advocate serves as a day‑to‑day resource and leader for Peer Advocates, helping coordinate schedules, support staff development, reinforce program expectations, and ensure YOC services operate smoothly and consistently. The Lead Advocate also provides direct participant support, including crisis intervention, basic needs assistance, independent living skills, and connections to community resources.

Through both hands‑on advocacy and staff leadership, this role helps ensure young adults have the support, stability, and practical tools they need to move toward housing stability, self‑sufficiency, and a stronger future.

• Conduct intakes, orient new participants to YOC services, and provide information about available programs and resources.
• Build trusting, supportive relationships with youth while maintaining appropriate boundaries and consistently reinforcing program expectations.
• Monitor participant activities and provide support with daily routines, including chores, laundry, personal hygiene, and other independent living skills.
• Help youth meet immediate basic needs such as food, clothing, bedding, hygiene supplies, laundry, and personal safety.
• Provide crisis intervention, problem‑solving, advocacy, and connections to community resources.
• Teach practical life skills that support independent living, including cooking, grocery shopping, cleaning, managing a household, setting up utilities and mail service, being a good neighbor, and understanding lease responsibilities.
• Support emergency bed, drop‑in, and other YOC programming to ensure services are coordinated and responsive to participant needs.
• Assist with weekly meal planning and meal program delivery.
• Provide transportation when needed to support participant safety and case plan goals.

• Serve as a leadership resource for Peer Advocates and assist the YOC Program Manager with day‑to‑day staff coordination.
• Help organize staff meetings, schedules, training activities, and program responsibilities.
• Support the YOC Program Manager in holding Peer Advocates accountable to their responsibilities and program expectations.
• Assist with onboarding, training, and sharing program information with YOC staff.
• Help ensure YOC programs operate consistently and work together effectively.
• Assist with monitoring and maintaining accurate program data and documentation in Service Point.

• Help participants access community resources and transition successfully into housing.
• Assist with apartment move‑ins, including transportation, accessing household resources, and connecting participants with needed supplies.
• Conduct proactive home visits at least twice monthly to provide support, advocacy, problem‑solving, resource connection, and encouragement toward housing stability and self‑sufficiency.
• Teach independent living skills that promote successful tenancy and long‑term stability.
• Complete monthly maintenance checks of program apartments.
• Assist with cleaning and preparing apartments when a participant leaves the program.
• Maintain communication with landlords and community partners as needed.
• Participate in the annual Rapid Rehousing landlord appreciation event.

• Monitor participant safety and maintain a clean, organized, and respectful facility.
• Secure pocket knives, potential weapons, or other prohibited items in accordance with program policy.
• Respond…