Hybrid ILP Life Skills and Housing Specialist bei Progressive Life Center, Inc. (PLC)

Progressive Life Center, Inc. (PLC) is an organization, providing culturally-sensitivity human services to children, youth and families in the District of Columbia and surrounding Maryland, throughout Greater Philadelphia, and in most of Delaware. PLC’s array of community-based services includes foster care and adoption, independent living for youth aging out of foster care, family preservation, juvenile diversion, and parenting skills training. For more than two decades, PLC has earned accreditation from the prestigious Council on Accreditation (COA) for its demonstration of excellence in the delivery of services and achievement of outcomes. Learn more at plcCommunity.org. 

Program Summary

The Semi-Independent Living program ensures youth in Prince George’s County, MD make a successful transition from foster care or juvenile justice. PLC runs a scattered site, semi-independent living program for young adults, 18-21 years old, who have been referred and assessed by the Maryland Department of Human Resources and Department of Social Services. 

The program provides a high level of support for youth and their families so that they gain the life skills needed to become independent, capable and productive citizens. Our program is housed in residential communities that are within close proximity to public transportation throughout the county. Residences consist of 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom apartments. Supervision, monitoring and staff support are provided at all residence programs 24 hours a day, seven days per week.

Position Responsibilities

The Life Skills & Housing Specialist empowers young adults in the Independent Living program through life skills coaching, housing support, and mentorship during the day, with on-call support for overnight emergencies. The role centers residents' identities and strengths, aligning with the agency’s values. This role also ensures a safe, supportive environment while fostering the development of essential skills for independence.

Guided by the principles of community, self-determination, and collective responsibility, the Life Skills & Housing Specialist builds relationships rooted in trust, cultural pride, and empowerment. This role affirms the experiences of foster care youth by:

- Uplifting their identities and cultural strengths in goal setting and life skills development.

- Fostering self-awareness, resilience, and leadership through mentoring and advocacy.

- Guiding with a focus on restorative practices, cultural humility, and healing-centered engagement.

Key Responsibilities:

Life Skills Development:

• Facilitate group and individual life skills sessions on topics such as financial literacy, meal planning, household management, and career readiness.
• Develop and implement culturally relevant programming that affirms residents' identities and lived experiences.
• Provide mentorship focused on self-advocacy, healthy boundaries, and goal setting.
• Conduct one-on-one coaching sessions weekly to help residents build time management, conflict resolution, and interpersonal skills.
• Coordinate and accompany residents on life skills activities such as apartment viewings, job fairs, or grocery shopping.

Housing Support & Advocacy:

• Assist residents in securing stable housing by supporting their search, applications, and lease agreements.
• Educate residents on tenant rights, budgeting, and maintaining safe and clean living spaces.
• Mediate roommate conflicts using restorative approaches.
• Conduct regular apartment walkthroughs biweekly and address safety or maintenance concerns.

Financial Literacy:

• Creating and managing monthly budgets.
• Opening and maintaining bank accounts.
• Understanding and building credit.
• Developing savings plans and emergency funds.
• Navigating student loans, taxes, and essential financial systems.
• Identifying and avoiding predatory financial practices.

On-Call and Weekend Emergency Support (Evenings & Overnight):

• Serve as the on-call point of contact during weekend and overnight hours for emergencies such as conflicts, lockouts, or crises.
• Provide guidance and crisis de-escalation over the phone or on-site if necessary.
• Coordinate with the Program Director and external emergency services when required.
• Complete incident reports and follow up with residents and the program team after overnight crises.

Administrative & Program Support:

• Maintain accurate documentation of life skills coaching, resident progress, and incident reports.
• Complete Ansel Casey for each youth every 6 months
• Participate in team meetings, case reviews, and cultural competency training.
• Collaborate with program staff to create culturally relevant workshops and events.
• Provide input on policies and practices to ensure they align with Afrocentric and trauma-informed values.
• Participate in occasional evening or weekend activities (e.g., workshops, cultural events).

Qualifications

• Minimum of a High School diploma or equivalent and demonstrated success working with abused, neglected, and/or at-risk youth and their families.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience working with transition-age youth or young adults, preferably in an independent living or housing program.
• Knowledge of the child welfare system, trauma-informed care, and restorative practices.
• Experience facilitating life skills workshops and providing one-on-one mentoring.
• Strong conflict resolution and crisis management skills.
• Certified in CPR/First Aid.
• Proficient verbal and written skills.
• Proficient usage of Microsoft Office Suite and web-based databases.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation with ability to travel within the Washington Metropolitan area.
• Ability to be on-call during weekends and overnight hours for emergencies.
• Live within a 10 mile radius of one of the scattered sites in Prince George's County, Montgomery County, or Baltimore.
• Certificate in NTU Service Delivery Model within one (1) year of hire.

Benefits

We offer exceptional benefits package with an opportunity for personal and professional growth, which include the following:

• Fringe Benefits – health, dental, vision, retirement fund, and more
• Paid Time Off
• Clinical Training with Continuing Education Units
• Mileage Reimbursement 
• Hybrid work environment after 90-days of employment

Physical Demands

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time.
• Ability to occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc.
• Ability to operate a computer and other office productivity machinery.
• Ability to position self to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Ability to frequently communicate with employees/customers/clients; and must be able to exchange accurate information by perceiving the nature of sound, near and far vision, depth perception, providing oral and written information.
• Ability to frequently move files weighing up to 20 pounds throughout the office space.
• Ability to be on call and often respond to situations during off hours which can disrupt normal sleep patterns and cause fatigue.
• Ability to face a significant amount of emotional stress which can cause related physical stress.

Work Environment

Normal office environment or residential facility, but also may travel locally to visit clients within their homes, meet with service providers, and/or attend meetings in schools, hospitals, mental health clinics, private practices, prisons, corporations, and numerous public and private agencies.

Equal Opportunity Employer

PLC is an equal opportunity employer.  PLC does not discriminate in employment on account of race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, political affiliation, military status, or other non-merit-based factors.