JOB DESCRIPTION
Position Title: Team Lead – Homeless Outreach
Reporting To: Homeless Outreach Coordinator
Department: Homeless Services
Position Status: Full-Time Non-Exempt Position with Benefits
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Organizational Summary:
Prevention Point Philadelphia (PPP) is a multi-service public health organization dedicated to protecting the health and welfare of the homeless, drug users, sex workers, and the uninsured. Using a harm reduction approach, PPP offers culturally sensitive, non-judgmental services to address the health and social service needs of drug users and sex workers in Philadelphia. PPP meets people where they are, providing information and access to resources with dignity and respect. PPP promotes harm reduction through mobile medical care, sterile syringe exchange, referrals to social services, and comprehensive prevention case management services.
Position Overview:
The Homeless Outreach Team Lead provides direct support to the Homeless Outreach Coordinator by helping guide day-to-day outreach operations, supporting staff in the field, and strengthening PPP’s external outreach presence in the community. This role is especially focused on evening and Saturday outreach coverage, neighborhood zone coordination, helping the team respond in real time to barriers related to housing, treatment, and re-linkage. The Team Lead serves as a steady field-based support for outreach staff while helping ensure that efforts remain organized, documented, participant-centered, and aligned with PPP’s mission and expectations.
Job Duties and Responsibilities:
- Assist the Homeless Outreach Coordinator with training new Homeless Outreach Workers and provide ongoing coaching, support, and guidance to outreach staff.
- Support the Coordinator with daily supervision of outreach staff, including responding to immediate staff needs, providing field direction, and completing documented supervision in the coordinator’s absence as assigned.
- Must be available to support evening outreach coverage through 11:00PM and Saturday outreach operations as needed.
- Identify and engage individuals experiencing homelessness and substance use disorder through street-based outreach, with a specific focus on the Kensington neighborhood and assigned outreach zones.
- Support coordination of external outreach efforts, including neighborhood zone work, partner communication, and field-based collaboration with other outreach providers.
- Assist Outreach Workers in linking individuals who meet criteria to housing placements, including emergency shelter, safe haven, Housing First, Journey of Hope, and other appropriate placement options. Assist the team in troubleshooting barriers to treatment, housing access, transportation, re-linkage, documentation, and participant engagement.
- Support outreach and re-linkage efforts for individuals who have left treatment, shelter, housing placement, or other services.
- Collaborate with referral service providers, including assessment centers, the Office of Homeless Services, DBHIDS, housing providers, treatment providers, and other community partners.
- Maintain an up-to-date focus list of 10 to 15 individuals and review participant status, engagement efforts, barriers, and next steps with Outreach Workers regularly.
- Attend regular meetings with the Coordinator, DBHIDS, OHS, and other outreach providers, including monthly director meetings, focus list meetings, and other required partner meetings as assigned.
- Assist with the coordination of PPP’s participation in the quarterly city-mandated overnight homeless census.
- Review required paperwork and data collection, including outreach encounters entered into WebFocus, HMIS, Excel, and other required tracking systems.
- Assist with inventory management, supply organization, and distribution of outreach supplies to staff and participants.
- Schedule regular vehicle maintenance and coordinate vehicle repairs as needed to support safe and consistent outreach operations.
- Participate in the department leadership on-call rotation.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
Minimum Qualifications:
- A bachelor’s degree in public health, social work, psychology, or a related field and/or a minimum of 2 years equivalent work experience
- Valid driver’s license required
- Previous experience in Homeless Outreach is strongly preferred.
- Knowledge of Philadelphia homeless, housing, and behavioral health services including data systems (HMIS and WebFocus)
- Demonstrated commitment to advocacy and social justice, particularly as related to harm reduction, poverty, and homelessness
- Bilingual (Spanish) strongly preferred
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Other Requirements:
- This position requires working some non-traditional hours including evenings and weekends.
- This position includes the normal physical demands of a community-based health program, including lifting/moving up to 25lbs, bending, and carrying. Other physical requirements include walking and standing for long periods and sitting for up to 60 minutes.
- This position requires travel to outreach locations within Philadelphia and the ability to work out-of-doors for up to 8 hours.
- This position is exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From $48,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 403(b)
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Vision insurance
People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply
Application Question(s):
- Are you comfortable working outside in the Kensington area, including inclement weather?
- Why are you interested in outreach work?
- How do you implement "Harm Reduction" into your approach to doing street outreach?
- How comfortable are you working with individuals experiencing homelessness with substance use and/or mental diagnoses.
License/Certification:
- Driver's License (Required)
Work Location: In person
