Advocacy Manager, Peer Support & Housing

This full-time position reports to the Advocacy Director. The Peer Support & Housing Managesupports young adults with foster care experience who are applying for or have received Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) or Family Unification Program (FUP) housing vouchers. The position helps young adults navigate the voucher and housing process, overcome barriers to securing a home, and maintain stable housing after lease-up.

The Peer Support & Housing Manger serves as a consistent point of connection throughout the housing process. The position works alongside young adults and system partners to develop individualized housing and support plans, identify goals, navigate challenges that may affect housing stability, and connect to community resources and other supports when needed.

This is a peer support and housing navigation role, not a traditional case management position. The manager will have lived experience in foster care and use that experience appropriately to build relationships, offer support, and help young adults navigate systems. While housing is the primary focus of the position, the manager will help young adults identify and connect to resources related to employment, healthcare, mental health, education, transportation, parenting, food, financial stability, and other needs that may impact their ability to maintain stable housing.

Qualifications & Requirements:

• Strong preference given to individuals with lived experience within the foster care system or other out of home placement.
• Education: Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Human Services, Education, or a related field preferred.
• Experience: Experience working with young adults, housing programs, child welfare, peer support, community-based services, or related programs preferred.
• Housing Knowledge: Experience with or willingness to develop strong working knowledge of FYI/FUP vouchers, Public Housing Authorities (PHAs), Housing Choice Voucher processes, and the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program.
• Technical: Proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; comfortable learning and using database/CRM systems, Zoom, G-Suite, Dropbox, and other technology used by SLF.
• Travel: Ability to travel as needed, including occasional nights and weekends; must have a valid driver's license and reliable transportation.
• Must hold or be able to pass a Level II background check.
• Work Environment: Remote work with stable internet connection and dedicated workspace.

Skills:

• Ability to build authentic, consistent relationships with young adults with foster care experience.
• Ability to use lived experience appropriately while maintaining healthy professional and peer-support boundaries.
• Strong strengths-based, person-centered communication skills.
• Ability to listen to young adults, understand their goals and concerns, and work alongside them to identify practical next steps.
• Strong organizational, follow-through and ability to navigate complex systems and explain processes in clear, approachable language.
• Resourcefulness and problem-solving skills, particularly when navigating housing barriers and community resources.
• Ability to establish positive working relationships with PHAs, child welfare agencies, housing providers, landlords, community organizations, and other partners.
• Ability to recognize when a young adult needs support outside the scope of the position and make appropriate connections and referrals.
• Attention to detail, documentation, and confidentiality.
• Ability to work independently while maintaining regular communication with supervisor and SLF team.
• Integrity, credibility, flexibility, and commitment to SLF's mission.

Responsibilities:

FYI/FUP Voucher Navigation

• Support young adults navigating the FYI/FUP voucher process from application through voucher issuance, housing search, lease-up, and housing stabilization.
• Help young adults understand the voucher process, required documentation, responsibilities, timelines, and next steps.
• Help identify and troubleshoot barriers that may delay voucher issuance, housing search, or lease-up.
• Maintain working knowledge of FYI/FUP requirements, PHA processes, and available housing resources.

Housing Navigation & Make a Home Support

• Assist young adults with identifying and navigating housing opportunities after receiving an FYI/FUP voucher.
• Help young adults understand housing applications, deposits, utilities, lease-up requirements, and other steps associated with establishing a home.
• Work with young adults to identify eligible needs that may be addressed through SLF's Make-A-Home financial assistance.
• Assist with documentation and coordination of approved housing-related financial support, including application fees, security deposits, utility deposits, furniture, appliances, household necessities, move-in groceries, and other approved expenses.
• Help young adults identify what they already have and what they need to create a safe, functional home that they can take pride in.

Housing & Support Planning

• Develop an individualized Housing & Support Plan in partnership with each participating young adult.
• Ensure plans reflect the young adult's priorities, goals, strengths, identified needs, and agreed-upon next steps.
• Clearly identify responsibilities and next steps for both the young adult and the Peer Support & Housing Manager.
• Update plans when meaningful changes, new goals, or housing-related needs are identified.
• Celebrate progress, completed goals, housing milestones, and other accomplishments identified by young adults.

Housing Stability & Ongoing Peer Support

• Maintain regular contact with young adults after lease-up, with more frequent support during the first year of housing when challenges to stability may be more likely to occur.
• Complete required housing stability contacts and maintain documentation of communication, changes, concerns, progress, and follow-up.
• Help young adults identify and address issues that could affect housing stability, including changes in income or employment, rent or utility concerns, landlord/property management issues, household changes, or other significant circumstances.
• Help young adults understand when changes may need to be communicated to their PHA or other housing partners and support them in navigating those conversations.
• Identify when information gathered during ongoing contact requires an update to the young adult's Housing & Support Plan.

Resource Navigation & Connections

• Provide supportive navigation and referrals (when appropriate) related to healthcare and health insurance, mental health, employment, education and training, food, transportation, childcare and parenting, financial education, benefits, and other identified needs.
• Help young adults identify the appropriate organization, provider, or contact and support them in navigating the connection when needed.
• Develop and maintain knowledge of community resources available to young adults with foster care experience.
• Establish relationships with organizations and providers that can serve as reliable referral partners.
• Maintain appropriate boundaries so that the position complements rather than replaces case management, clinical services, or other specialized community services.

Financial Stability & Future Housing

• Support young adults in developing an understanding of the financial responsibilities associated with maintaining their home.
• Encourage opportunities to establish banking relationships, build savings, and strengthen financial stability when identified as goals by the young adult.
• After lease-up, encourage young adults to connect with their PHA to determine whether the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program is available.
• Help interested young adults understand how to connect with their PHA or FSS coordinator and navigate the enrollment process when appropriate.
• Support young adults participating in FSS without duplicating the responsibilities of the PHA or FSS program.
• Help young adults think beyond immediate housing needs and prepare for future housing stability and increased financial independence.

Community & Partner Engagement

• Establish and maintain positive working relationships with PHAs, CBCs, DCF, housing providers, community organizations, and other partners involved in supporting participating young adults.
• Serve as an SLF point of contact related to FYI/FUP housing navigation and support.
• Help strengthen referral pathways between SLF and organizations identifying FYI/FUP-eligible young adults.
• Identify gaps, recurring barriers, and emerging needs affecting young adults utilizing FYI/FUP vouchers and communicate those trends to SLF leadership.
• Participate in relevant meetings, training, and community conversations related to FYI/FUP, housing, and young adults transitioning from foster care.
• Maintain current knowledge of available housing resources and opportunities that may support young adults.

Administrative & Communication

• Document Housing & Support Plans, monthly contacts, referrals, housing milestones, financial assistance, and other required program information.
• Maintain appropriate releases, forms, financial documentation, and program records.
• Track voucher progress, lease-up, housing stability, support provided, referrals, goals, and outcomes.
• Communicate regularly with the Advocacy Director regarding participant needs, housing barriers, successes, trends, and challenges.
• Assist with program evaluation, surveys, outcome tracking, and reporting.
• Maintain confidentiality and appropriate handling of participant information.

Other Duties as Assigned

• Serve as an ambassador for Selfless Love Foundation and its mission throughout Texas
• Participate in SLF staff meetings, training, planning sessions, and organizational events
• Maintain flexibility for occasional nights, weekends, and statewide travel
• Must be able to lift to 25 lbs.