Help foster youth development through a mentorship program.
About Sand Point Housing
Our Sand Point Housing campus provides permanent supportive housing, affordable permanent housing, and onsite support services for formerly homeless families. Located in Seattle’s Magnuson Park near Lake Washington, the campus includes renovated historic U.S. Navy buildings and newer construction totaling 183 townhomes and apartments. Today, 400+ people – about half of whom are children and youth – live in a thriving community with onsite support services at Sand Point.
About Mentoring at Sand Point Housing
Volunteer Youth Mentors play a pivotal role in supporting and guiding young people ages 5 to 18 in our community. They work closely with youth programming staff at Sand Point to create a safe and engaging environment for youth residents. This role is designed for individuals who are passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of youth; helping them navigate personal, academic, and social challenges; and fostering their personal growth and development.
Key Responsibilities
- Build Relationships: Develop and maintain a positive, trusting relationship with youth mentees by offering consistent support and encouragement.
- Provide Guidance: Assist mentees with goal setting, decision making, and problem solving, drawing from your experiences and expertise.
- Encourage Development: Support mentees in their academic pursuits, extracurricular activities, and personal interests, and help them explore their strengths and passions.
- Be a Role Model: Demonstrate positive behaviors and attitudes, serve as a role model, and promote values such as respect, responsibility, and resilience.
- Monitor Progress: Track and report on each mentee’s progress and any challenges faced, while maintaining confidentiality and respecting privacy.
- Communicate Effectively: Maintain regular communication with program staff, provide feedback, and attend training sessions and meetings as required.
Time Commitment
Sand Point Housing staff are best able to support volunteers on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3-5:30pm. Volunteers are encouraged to commit to a regular weekly schedule for at least six months.
Qualifications
- Minimum age requirement is 18.
- Willingness and ability to work with children and families from a variety of racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds, with various lifestyles, sexual orientations, and of all ages.
- Ability to work effectively with children in group and individual settings.
- Ability to be nonjudgmental, positive, respectful, creative, consistent, and flexible.
- Have problem-solving skills to manage issues or behaviors that may arise.
- Must have strong people skills to work effectively with a diverse team of staff and participants.
- Experience working in the educational, social, and human services fields is a plus but not required.
Scroll down to apply & view upcoming volunteer orientations.
BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color), and people with the lived experience of poverty are strongly encouraged to apply. This opportunity also qualifies as an RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) activity.
Solid Ground believes poverty is solvable.
Volunteers play a critical role in helping us meet basic needs, nurture success, and promote change – so everyone in our community can achieve their full potential.