Peer Navigator

Position Summary:

Peer Navigators are young adults (ages 18–30) with lived experience of unaccompanied
homelessness during their youth. They provide mentorship, advocacy, and connection to
resources for youth and young adults currently navigating the RHY continuum. Peer Navigators
help build trust, promote youth voice and choice, and walk alongside young people in their
journeys. Peer Navigators promote long-term stability and act as a connector between youth, staff,
community, and service systems.

Core Responsibilities:
Engagement, Relationship-Building & Mentorship
• Engage Youth and Young Adults (YYA) during Drop-In Center hours and through outreach
activities support access to services and sustain youth participation in programs.
• Conduct one-on-one peer mentorship sessions that focus on goal setting, coping skills,
housing readiness, and navigating services systems.
• Facilitate and co-create peer-led programming, groups, and wellness activities that reflect
youth voice and needs.
• Support the facilitation and development of Advisory Boards to elevate youth leadership
and decision-making.

Systems Navigation & Advocacy
• Assist youth in accessing resources.
• Where appropriate, accompany youth to appointments when requested.
• Participate in case conferences, service plan reviews, and discharge planning meetings.
• Assist youth in building self-advocacy skills, understanding their service plans, and
becoming active participants in their case plans.

Additional Responsibilities
• Participate in virtual and in-person DYCD peer meetings.
• Maintain documentation, including session notes, attendance logs, and referral logs, in
accordance with agency and DYCD RHY program guidelines.
• Help identify gaps in services and advocate for enhanced programming and resources that
are based on youth feedback.
• Participate in staff trainings, team meetings, and regular supervision.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience:
• Commitment to supporting youth who are experiencing or exiting homelessness.
• Knowledge of NYC Runaway & Homeless Youth system and other youth-serving programs.
• Awareness of community resources, including but not limited to educational services,
housing resources, career opportunities, etc.
• Familiarity with approaches such as harm reduction, trauma-informed care, positive youth
development, and peer support models.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to relate to young people from diverse
backgrounds.
• Ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams while maintaining appropriate
boundaries and confidentiality.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development, including continuing education and
supervision.
• Uphold Youth Peer Advocate (YPA) Code of Ethics standards.
• Promote positive youth development, harm reduction, and wellness strategies in every
interaction.

Qualifications:
• Lived experience of unaccompanied homelessness or housing instability as a youth (ages
16–24).
• High School diploma or equivalent required
• Must be committed to obtaining the Youth Peer Advocate (YPA) Credential within 6 months
of hire.
• Must complete 600 hours of supervised peer support experience to maintain credential.

Work Environment:
• This position may require evening or weekend hours based on agency youth engagement
needs.
• Some travel within the five boroughs to accompany youth or attend community events may be required.