Engagement Counselor

Since 1984, Larkin Street Youth Services has helped more than 75,000 young adults in San Francisco with outreach, shelter, housing, education, employment, healthcare, and other services.

Today, Larkin Street Youth Services is the largest provider of housing and services to homeless youth in the Bay Area. We serve 1,500 youth annually, operating or partnering to provide more than 500 emergency shelter, transitional, supportive, and subsidy‑based housing beds at several unique sites across San Francisco.

Working at Larkin Street, no matter what department, means making a real difference in the lives of young people experiencing homelessness. Our team is skilled, diverse, and passionate. Our culture encourages achievement and professional development, as well as teamwork and self‑care. Our focus is always on the young people at the heart of our mission and to nurture potential, promote dignity and support bold steps by all.

Under the guidance of the Program Manager, the Engagement Counselor welcomes clients to our main drop‑in center. Engagement Counselors greet youth visitors and help them access food, laundry, shower and case management services. It’s the responsibility of Engagement Counselors to monitor the well‑being of drop‑in clients, offer resources, and organize events and activities to learn life skills, build community, and spark excitement about education, employment and creative development.

This is a full‑time position, eligible for full benefits.

• Contribute to the care and welfare of clients we serve, including crisis intervention and maintaining the safety of the program.
• Provide support to the Engagement & Community Center, including the front desk team and food services.
• Engage successfully with a diverse client population that may be struggling with substance use dependency, untreated mental‑health symptoms, and survival‑based trauma.
• Handle crisis situations through de‑escalation techniques and assist clients as they process social and emotional problems.
• Facilitate and engage youth in groups and workshops.
• Practice life‑skills training for youth through modeling, active counseling, motivational interviewing, and group facilitation.
• Promote wellness of the community through a harm‑reduction approach.
• Ensure the safety and security of all clients, staff, volunteers and the facility.
• Collect client information through intake, assessment and survey distribution; organize that information by entering data into paper‑based and electronic data systems and obtain additional information by coordinating with other professional sources.
• Assist individuals by working with other programs to ensure youth are moving through the continuum of Larkin Street services and/or city services while helping them understand and overcome social and emotional problems.
• In conjunction with internal resources, the counselor may teach or hold group meetings relating to the Larkin Street Core Curriculum and approved educational material.
• Maintain the cleanliness and operations of the facility, including general upkeep of space, preparing and serving meals, maintaining storage areas, scheduling and signage, and other tasks assigned by program management.
• Support program services within the milieu, including crisis intervention and safety maintenance.
• Support staff and client welfare.
• Participate in professional development activities to enhance skill levels for clients.
• Oversee shower, laundry, and clothing closet services.
• Other duties as assigned.

• You are passionate about the Larkin Street Youth Services mission to end youth homelessness.
• You embody our values and core strategies: "This Is How We Roll":
  • Client‑Centered
  • Trauma Informed Care
  • Restorative Practices
  • Harm Reduction
  • Non‑Violent Crisis Intervention
  • Motivational Interviewing
• You have some social services and/or direct‑service experience.
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    * BONUS* You have experience working in drop‑in services, shelter, transitional, and/or permanent supportive housing programs.
• You are most excited to serve Transitional Aged Youth (TAY), aged 18 to 25 of diverse backgrounds.
• You are a self‑starter and team player. Your colleagues describe you as compassionate,…