Intake & Outreach Peer Specialist

Intake & Outreach Peer Specialist

Location: West Palm Beach, FL

Schedule: Full-time (40 hours/week) | Weekdays with occasional evenings/weekends

Organization: Vita Nova, Inc.

Are you a compassionate individual who has overcome homelessness and is now stably housed? Want to use your experience to make a real impact on the lives of others?

Vita Nova is seeking a motivated and compassionate individual to join our team as a Youth Ambassador & Outreach Peer Specialist. This unique dual-role position supports young adults both at our drop-in center and through community-based efforts with our Street Outreach Program (SOP).

In this role, you will build trusting relationships with young adults ages 18–25 who are experiencing homelessness, helping them access essential resources, navigate barriers, develop life skills, and connect to services that promote housing stability and self-sufficiency. Your lived experience, empathy, and insight will serve as a powerful tool in encouraging hope, resilience, and positive change.

Key Responsibilities:

Intake & Assessment Services

• Provide intake and assessment services to homeless and disconnected youth to facilitate access to essential services, including but not limited to housing, shelter, and meeting basic needs.
• Enter data and case notes in Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and utilize the PBC Coordinated Entry System while maintaining client confidentiality.
• Partner with youth to create an individualized service treatment plan to include meeting basic needs, service coordination, life skills development, social & emotional well being, permanent connections and plan for safe and stable housing.
• Advocate and connect people to needed services for medical, mental health, substance abuse, domestic violence, and other social supports as applicable.
• Facilitate weekly individual and group Life Skills training at the Spot drop-in center and within the community as assigned.

Street Outreach & Peer Support

• Conduct outreach in parks, streets, libraries, campuses, encampments, shelters, and other areas where youth experiencing homelessness are known to congregate.
• Utilize your lived experience to build trust and provide peer-based encouragement and support.
• Assist youth in overcoming barriers to housing and accessing healthcare, mental health services, substance abuse treatment, identification documents, and other community resources.
• Provide transportation to appointments, shelters, and service providers as needed to help resolve immediate crises.
• Use motivational interviewing and trauma-informed care approaches to support youth in moving toward stability and housing.

Qualifications:

• Lived experience with homelessness, now stably housed – required qualification.
• Passion for helping others through a trauma-informed and empathetic approach.
• Prior experience in human services or peer support preferred.
• Willingness to work in an office setting and in the community.
• Strong communication, problem-solving, and crisis intervention skills.
• Willingness to work independently and collaboratively in fast-paced community settings.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and ability to document services in HMIS.
• Reliable transportation with a valid FL driver's license and ability to join company insurance policy.
• Ability to pass drug screen and a Level 2 background check through DCF Clearinghouse: https://info.flclearinghouse.com (Existing DCF Exemption Waivers will be considered)

What We Offer:

• Competitive Pay with annual Cost of Living Adjustments
• Access to Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Benefits
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision with significant employer contributions, including 100% employer-paid plan options
• General Paid Time Off, including holidays, PTO days, sick & vacation accruals, and birthday leave
• Retirement Planning: Option to participate in 401(k) plan after one year of employment

Why Join Vita Nova?

This is more than a job. This is a unique opportunity to turn your experience into purpose and make a real impact. Your story can help someone feel seen, supported, and empowered to create a better future.

Apply today and help change the path for young people facing homelessness.