PURPOSE OF THE POSITION:
The Homeless Outreach Specialist is responsible for locating, engaging, and building trusting relationships with individuals and families experiencing homelessness wherever they reside or access services, including emergency shelters, soup kitchens, public spaces, vehicles, abandoned structures, and homeless encampments. Outreach is conducted using a trauma-informed, person-centered approach with the goal of connecting individuals to housing, behavioral health services, healthcare, and other community resources that promote long-term stability and recovery.
This position provides behavioral health support through engagement, referral to assessment, development of coping strategies, harm reduction interventions, crisis intervention, and referral to appropriate mental health and community-based services. The Homeless Outreach Specialist monitors participant progress utilizing required assessments, treatment plans, case notes, documentation systems, and evidence-based practices while assisting individuals in overcoming barriers to housing and community integration.
Because outreach occurs in the environments where individuals experiencing homelessness are located, applicants must be comfortable proactively approaching individuals and families believed to be experiencing homelessness and initiating conversations in a respectful, professional, and nonjudgmental manner. Outreach frequently occurs in nontraditional settings, including wooded areas, under bridges, vacant lots, abandoned properties, and homeless encampments. As a result, this position requires the ability to safely navigate uneven terrain, including hills, wooded areas, gravel, mud, rocks, and other outdoor environments that may not have established walking paths.
Applicants should be prepared to work outdoors for extended periods in a variety of weather conditions, including extreme heat, cold, rain, snow, humidity, and other seasonal conditions. The position requires frequent walking, standing, climbing inclines, traversing uneven or rocky terrain, and carrying outreach supplies and equipment as needed while maintaining awareness of environmental and personal safety.
The Homeless Outreach Specialist's primary goal is to engage individuals who may be disconnected from traditional services, establish trusting relationships, promote health and safety, and assist participants in accessing housing, behavioral healthcare, medical care, and supportive services that improve overall well-being and foster long-term community integration.
Successful applicants should possess excellent interpersonal, communication, time management, organization, conflict resolution, and de-escalation skills. Candidates must be comfortable working independently in the community, making sound decisions in dynamic environments, adapting to changing circumstances, and maintaining professionalism while serving individuals with complex behavioral health, substance use, and housing-related needs.
QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS/COMPETENCIES
Must have the following:
- Current and valid driver’s license.
- Must have the following:
- High School Diploma or GED
-Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in a field related to mental health supportive services or serving individuals experiencing homelessness
- Communicate effectively verbally and in writing
- Knowledge of various clinical criteria related to issues confronting our consumers (i.e. mental health, substance abuse, housing)
- Knowledge of local service provider network (i.e. substance abuse treatment, mental health services, employment readiness services)
- Use Rules of Professional Ethics, Regulations and Confidentiality and apply to daily work situations
- Intermediate knowledge of Windows office systems such as Word, Excel and Outlook
WORK CONDITIONS
The Outreach Specialist has a designated office space; but is expected to spend majority of day in the community serving consumers.
- Work does include community-based settings.
- Work does occur outdoors for extended periods in a variety of weather conditions, including extreme heat, cold, rain, snow, humidity, and other seasonal conditions.
- Requires frequent walking, standing, climbing inclines, traversing uneven or rocky terrain, and carrying outreach supplies and equipment as needed while maintaining awareness of environmental and personal safety.
- Must have the ability to safely navigate uneven terrain, including hills, wooded areas, gravel, mud, rocks, and other outdoor environments that may not have established walking paths
- Must be able to lift 50 lbs+ to support program participants in moving household goods, furniture, etc. into housing upon housing location.
Benefits Package Available
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $17.00 - $19.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 403(b)
- 403(b) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Referral program
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
