Floater Youth Counselor

Job DetailsLevel: EntryJob Location: New York, NY 10018Position Type: Full TimeEducation Level: High SchoolSalary Range: $21.60 - $21.60 HourlyTravel Percentage: Road WarriorJob Category: Nonprofit - Social Services    Ali Forney Center   Position Title Floater Youth Counselor Department Housing  Reports To Housing Director  Location   Schedule Sunday-Thursday 10pm-6am Tuesday-Saturday 10pm-6am Sunday-Thursday 2pm-10pm Tuesday-Saturday 2pm-10pm Status Full-Time FLSA Status Non-Exempt  Compensation $21.60 ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION  The Ali Forney Center (AFC) protects LGBTQ+ youth from homelessness and helps them build the tools needed to live independently. Founded in 2002, AFC provides housing, healthcare, and educational support to thousands of youth each year. AFC creates an affirming, supportive environment where LGBTQ+ youth can thrive.  POSITION SUMMARY The Floater Youth Counselor is responsible for filling open schedule needs across AFC programs to support daily operations and provide direct care to residents and clients.    Youth Counselors create and supervise a physically and psychologically safe and affirming environment for residents and clients, helping them meet their needs and progress on their goals. Youth Counselors provide individual support and group programming and oversee the functioning of the site. Youth Counselors must be organized, able to work and solve problems independently and communicate effectively with supervisors    Floater Youth Counselors are required to fill open schedules across programs and travel between sites as needed. AFC may cover some travel needs, for example, if needing to travel after the start of a shift.   KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Resident Support & Engagement  Provide trauma-informed, strengths-based support to residents  Build positive, professional relationships with residents while maintaining appropriate boundaries  Monitor resident safety and well-being throughout each shift  Assist residents in accessing services and community resources Support crisis intervention and de-escalation efforts as needed Encourage resident participation in programming and community activities  Program Operations  Maintain appropriate staff coverage across assigned housing programs  Conduct room checks, safety rounds, wellness checks and other required program duties Assist with resident move ins, move outs and daily program operations  Ensure compliance with Housing Program policies and procedures  Maintain clean, safe and welcoming program environments  Documentation  Complete timely, accurate and objective documentation  Document resident interactions, incidents and shift activities in accordance with agency standards  Review communication logs and program updates at the beginning of each shift  Communicate pertinent information to oncoming staff and leadership  Cross-Program Support  Adapt quickly to different housing programs and operational environments Follow site-specific procedures while maintaining consistent Standards of Care  Collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams across programs  Support staffing needs across the Housing Department Qualifications and Benefits   QUALIFICATIONS Experience working with adolescent/young adult population required  Knowledge of psychosocial needs of LGBTQ/homeless population is helpful  Must be highly organized and able to work independently Ability and willingness to work at different sites across NYC  Ability to remain awake for the entire shift duration  Ability to walk up at least 3 flights of stairs each hour to complete walk-throughs  Ability to lift up to 20 lbs    PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Transgender and gender non confirming people are encourage to apply Strong commitment to the LGBTQ+ community and social justice Persons with lived experience    WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS Work is performed across multiple AFC Housing Programs, including emergency and transitional housing settings  Floater Youth Counselors work a fixed full-time schedule (evening or overnight); work locations may change based on operational needs Employees may be reassigned to another housing program during a shift, with transportation provided by AFC  The role requires frequent walking, standing, climbing stairs, responding to crises and the ability to adapt to changing environments while providing resident-centered services.    CORE & ROLE-SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES AFC Core Competencies  Mission alignment and commitment to affirming, youth-centered practice Cultural humility and ability to work effectively with diverse LGBTQ+ youth populations Trauma-informed, strengths-based approach to service delivery and collaboration Clear communication, professionalism, and accountability Adaptability, sound judgment, and ability to respond calmly in fast-paced environments Role-Related Competencies  Excellent verbal and written communication skills to effectively interact with youth, colleagues and supervisors  Ability to understand and share the feelings of others, providing compassionate support to youth  Strong ability to identify problems and develop effective solutions independently Ability to work collaboratively with other departments and program supervisors  Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and handle emergencies calmly and efficiently  Strong organizational skills to maintain accurate documentation and manage multiple tasks effectively  Awareness and understanding of the cultural and social issues affecting LGBTQIA+ and unhoused youth  Ability to mediate and resolve conflicts among youth and between youth and staff  Thank you for your interest in the Ali Forney Center. Due to the high volume of applications received, only candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted. We encourage you to apply for any positions for which you meet the qualifications .   Ali Forney Center is an equal opportunity employer committed to a workplace where all employees feel respected, supported, and able to thrive. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status.