Youth Advocate - Residential Support

Type: Full-Time (40 hours/week), Non-Exempt
Reports To: Youth Services Manager
Location: In-person, San Francisco, CA

About LYRIC

Since 1988, LYRIC (Lavender Youth Recreation & Information Center) has been a home base for LGBTQQ+ youth in San Francisco. Each year, we support nearly 2,000 young people through programs rooted in love, equity, and youth leadership.

Our mission is simple and powerful: to build community and inspire social change through education enhancement, career training, health promotion, and leadership development. With a $4M+ budget and a dedicated staff team, LYRIC is a place where young peopleespecially trans, nonbinary, BIPOC, disabled, undocumented, and system-impacted youthcan lead, heal, and thrive.

Whats This Role All About?

We're looking for a Youth Advocate to join our Youth Services Team and support LGBTQQ+ youth and young adults through LYRIC's community-based programs and supportive housing initiatives.Youth Advocates play a critical role in program planning, implementation, and evaluation while providing direct services, case management, youth leadership development, housing stabilization support, and community-building opportunities.

This role works closely with youth experiencing housing instability, homelessness, mental health challenges, system involvement, and other barriers to well-being. In addition to providing case management and facilitating youth development programming, Youth Advocates support formerly homeless young adults living in LYRIC-affiliated housing programs by promoting housing stability, independent living skills, and community engagement.

This is a full-time, in-person position. Occasional evenings, weekends, and participation in crisis response may be required.

What You'll Do

Direct Support, Case Management & Housing Stabilization

• Provide youth-centered, culturally responsive case management and advocacy services for LGBTQQ+ youth and young adults.
• Conduct intakes, assessments, goal planning, and individualized service plans using strength-based, trauma-informed, and social justice-centered approaches.
• Maintain an active caseload and support participants in achieving goals related to housing, education, employment, health, financial stability, and personal development.
• Provide supportive residential services for formerly homeless LGBTQQ+ young adults living in LYRIC-affiliated housing programs.
• Build trusting relationships with youth and residents while fostering a safe, welcoming, affirming, and community-oriented environment.
• Conduct regular wellness check-ins and provide ongoing support to promote housing retention, personal growth, and overall well-being.
• Assist residents in developing independent living skills, including budgeting, meal planning, housekeeping, time management, communication, conflict resolution, and navigating landlord-tenant relationships.
• Support participants in accessing healthcare, behavioral health services, public benefits, employment resources, educational opportunities, legal services, and other community resources.
• Ensure smooth transitions between LYRIC services, housing programs, and external systems of care.
• Provide crisis intervention, conflict mediation, de-escalation, and safety planning in response to emergencies, mental health concerns, interpersonal conflicts, and housing-related issues.
• Support residents in understanding and complying with housing policies, community agreements, and program expectations using restorative justice and harm reduction practices.

Youth Development & Program Facilitation

• Develop, implement, and evaluate youth development programming rooted in evidence-based and culturally responsive practices.
• Facilitate support groups, leadership development programs, workshops, and skill-building activities.
• Develop and deliver curriculum utilizing popular education, thematic learning, and project-based approaches.
• Create opportunities for youth leadership, civic engagement, peer mentorship, and community building.
• Supervise, coach, and mentor youth leaders and facilitators.
• Support youth in identifying strengths, building resilience, and developing pathways toward self-determination.

Outreach & Community Partnerships

• Conduct outreach to high-need communities, including QTBIPOC youth, undocumented youth, youth experiencing homelessness, disabled youth, youth engaged in survival economies, and youth living with chronic health needs.
• Develop and maintain relationships with schools, supportive housing providers, healthca