Youth Outreach and Housing Navigator

Lutheran Services Florida (LSF) envisions a world where children are safe, families are strong, and communities are vibrant.

LSF is seeking a talented Youth Outreach and Housing Navigator who wants to make an impact in the lives of others.

Purpose and Impact:

The Youth Outreach & Housing Navigator promotes housing security for youth experiencing homelessness or housing instability by building strong connections between youth and their families, caregivers, landlords, housing providers, and community support systems. This role assists youth in identifying safe and stable housing options, strengthening natural supports, and navigating barriers to housing while preventing homelessness through family engagement and community partnership.

The Navigator uses a trauma-informed, strengths-based approach rooted in positive youth development and housing-first principles.

Essential Functions:

• Develops partnerships within the homeless Continuum of Care, a regional planning body that coordinates housing and services funding for homeless families and individuals.
• Works in the community to identify and engage with unhoused youth, unaccompanied or with family.
• Assist street youth and unhoused families in their environment by identifying and securing safe, stable housing or transitional living arrangements.
• Manages and distributes physical needs supplies to youth and families.
• Collaborate with case managers, outreach teams, and community partners to coordinate individualized housing stability plans.
• Support youth with housing applications, landlord communication, lease agreements, and tenancy education.
• Engage families, relatives, caregivers, and supportive adults to strengthen youth housing options when safe and appropriate.
• Facilitate family mediation to reduce conflict, prevent homelessness, and support reunification where possible.
• Build and maintain relationships with local landlords, property managers, host homes, housing programs, businesses, and community partners.
• Promote landlord education on supportive housing, youth homelessness, and conflict resolution strategies.
• Advocate on behalf of youth to reduce rental barriers related to eviction history, credit, or documentation challenges.
• Conduct regular housing check-ins to promote stability and problem solving.
• Connect youth with wraparound services including education, employment, mental health, substance use treatment, and life skills support.
• Provide warm hand-offs and follow-through to ensure services are successfully accessed.
• Represents LSF in coalitions and public forums, providing community education on issues facing unhoused youth and families, soliciting donated funds and supplies to support the needs of the program
• Maintain accurate case notes, service plans, housing stability plans, and progress reports.
• Track outcomes and program metrics in accordance with grant and agency requirements.
• Ensure adherence to confidentiality, mandated reporting laws, and HIPAA/file security standards.
• Other duties as assigned.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods while performing outreach, home visits, and meetings.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 20 pounds occasionally (files, program materials).
• Manual dexterity for using computers, phones, and office equipment.
• Ability to travel locally to housing sites, family meetings, and partner agencies.
• Ability to communicate clearly verbally and in writing.
• Ability to work in varied environments, including office settings, client homes, shelters, and community spaces.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Able to sit and stand for long periods, uses telephone and computer.

Education:

Bachelor’s degree required in Social Services, Youth Development, Human Services or related field. Higher post-secondary education preferred (Human Services, Marketing, Communications). Supervisory or lead staff experience preferred.

Experience:

2-3 years related experience required working with at-risk youth and/or in community engagement/outreach.

Skills:

• Good written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to demonstrate organization and discipline.
• Knowledge of issues, needs and concerns of the target population(s).
• Knowledge of inter-cultural orientation.
• Experience in community organizing, linkage/referral, outreach, and follow-up services.
• Ability to work flexible hours independently and to meet deadlines.
• Dependability, discretion, and good judgment are essential. This individual must possess the ability to establish effective relationships with co-workers and the general public.
• Strong relationship-building and conflict mediation skills.
• Understanding of trauma-informed care, positive youth development, and housing-first practices.
• Knowledge of local housing systems and community resources.
• Computer skills (Microsoft Office products) are essential.
• Bilingual ability preferred (English/Spanish, English/Creole, or other relevant languages).
• Must possess a clean/valid Florida…