Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
The Diversion Specialist collaborates closely with community partners to provide rapid assistance to individuals facing imminent homelessness or seeking shelter, enabling them to swiftly regain stability in their existing housing or secure permanent housing. The Diversion Specialist focuses on empowering individuals in crisis, supporting them in regaining control over their situations and lives. They spend considerable time with clients in immediate need to assess their situation, connect them with family support when available, provide housing search and placement services, secure flexible financial assistance, and connect the client with other mainstream services as needed.
- Connect clients with the appropriate services and resources, enabling them to achieve permanent housing stability.
- Conduct initial screenings and assessments with clients to develop comprehensive case management plans.
- Facilitate appointments and referrals for swift housing stability, permanent housing solutions, or diversion from the shelter system.
- Assist clients in accessing various essential services, such as housing search and placement, financial assistance, CalFresh benefits, healthcare, education, CalWORKS, SSI, and SSDI.
- Serve as a liaison between individuals/families in housing crises and supportive service agencies, landlords, and partner organizations. Track outcomes of diversion activities and make relevant referrals to partner agencies.
- Record and enter relevant information, interactions, and services provided to clients into the ETO database and ECM in a timely manner.
- Maintain accurate daily records, reports, and client files.
- Establish and maintain community partnerships to ensure clients have access to mainstream resources.
- Identify and build relationships with local landlords to expand housing options for clients.
- Represent the agency in meetings as required.
- Handle general clerical duties, including phone calls, photocopying, scanning, filing, and mail management, to ensure efficient office operations.
- Support clients in maintaining their housing through landlord negotiations, housing navigation, and problem solving conversations.
- Staff weekly Coordinated Entry Sites, where you will link persons experiencing homelessness with the appropriate assessment and resources.
- Promote the Program by participating in community events, workshops, and conferences, raising awareness of available services and engaging potential clients.
- Transports clients in the agency-provided vehicle for appointments as needed.
- Maintain high ethical standards in all aspects of the role. Adhere to professional codes of conduct, respect client confidentiality, and prioritize the well-being and rights of clients at all times.
- Be prepared to respond to crisis situations promptly and effectively, providing immediate assistance and access to appropriate resources when needed.
- Responsible for promptly notifying the manager of any work orders that need to be submitted or supplies that need to be ordered.
- Responsible for attending staff meetings, ensuring timely completion of training, and accurately completing timecards.
- Perform related duties as assigned by the supervisor.
- Maintain compliance with all company policies and procedures.
Education and/or Work Experience Requirements:
This section outlines the essential knowledge, skills and abilities are required to perform the daily tasks and job duties bulleted above. Some examples are:
- High School Diploma or equivalent: A minimum educational requirement to demonstrate basic literacy and communication skills.
- Associate's degree in Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
- Proven experience in outreach, case management, or related social services role
- Knowledge of homelessness and housing resources in the local area
- Excellent communication skills: Ability to effectively communicate with shelter residents, colleagues, and external stakeholders.
- Client-centered, trauma-informed, and voluntary services.
- Knowledgeable housing resources and strong housing navigation.
- Crisis intervention skills: Capacity to handle crisis situations and de-escalate conflicts.
- Empathy and compassion: Demonstrating genuine care and understanding for individuals experiencing homelessness.
- Ability to work in a team: Collaboration and cooperation with other shelter staff, volunteers, and external agencies.
- Excellent computer proficiency (MS Office – Word, Excel and Google)
Required Qualifications:
Employment Eligibility Verification:
- Must provide documentation to establish identity and employment eligibility in compliance with legal requirements. This may include a U.S. passport, Permanent Resident Card, or other acceptable forms of identification.
Negative Tuberculosis Test:
- Must provide documentation of a recent negative tuberculosis (TB) test result to ensure a safe and healthy work environment.
Background Screening:
- Successful completion of a comprehensive background screening, which may include criminal record checks, employment history verification, and reference checks.
Pre-Employment Drug Screening:
- Must pass a pre-employment drug screening to ensure a drug-free workplace. A negative drug test result is required.
Driving Skills:
- Must meet the requirements set by our auto insurance carrier.
Insurance Coverage:
- Must be able to qualify for Good Samaritan Shelter insurance coverage, which may include meeting specific criteria related to driving record, insurance claims history, and other factors.
Personal Insurance Coverage:
- Must have personal insurance coverage that meets the requirements set by the employer.
- This may include liability insurance, automobile insurance, or any other type of insurance deemed necessary for the position.
- The coverage must be valid and maintained throughout the employment period.
Benefits:
Full-Time Benefits:
- Health Insurance
- Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
- 401k Matching
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Paid Holidays and Floater Day
- Employee Assistance Program
- Gym Membership Discount
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Working Advantage
Part-Time Benefits:
- 401k Matching
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Employee Assistance Program
- Gym Membership Discount
- Working Advantage
Please note that these benefits are subject to specific eligibility criteria and may be subject to change based on company policies and guidelines.
Work Environment:
Homeless outreach work environments focus on providing dedicated support to individuals experiencing homelessness. Outreach workers demonstrate compassion and empathy while offering resource and referral services, crisis intervention, and a multidisciplinary approach to address their complex needs. They engage directly with individuals on the streets, encampments, and other locations, advocating for access to social services and supporting housing stability. Homeless outreach requires a trauma-informed and safety-conscious approach, often involving partnerships with various organizations and community members to address homelessness effectively. Since some clients may be initially resistant to services, outreach workers continue to show up consistently to build trust and rapport with the individuals they serve.
Physical Requirements:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Ability to safely and successfully perform the essential job functions consistent with the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state and local standards, including meeting qualitative and/or quantitative productivity standards.
- Ability to maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state and local standards
- Must be able to lift and carry up to 40 lbs.
- The role may involve both indoor and outdoor activities, and staff may need to spend considerable time under the sun while engaging with clients and providing support.
- The job might require walking for extended periods, especially when conducting outreach to clients or visiting multiple locations in a single day.
- Capability to navigate stairs multiple times during a shift is required.
- Proficiency in using hands and fingers to perform tasks such as typing, writing, handling paperwork, operating equipment, and assisting residents with daily needs.
- Sufficient vision and hearing capabilities to observe and respond to the environment, communicate with residents and colleagues, and maintain a safe working environment.
Mental Requirements:
The mental demands outlined above are illustrative of the requirements necessary for an employee to effectively fulfill the fundamental duties of this position. Reasonable accommodations can be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to fulfill these essential functions.
- Emotional resilience to cope with challenging situations and provide support to individuals facing difficult circumstances.
- The nature of working with individuals experiencing homelessness can be emotionally draining. Staff must be aware of the signs of compassion fatigue and have strategies in place to manage their own self-care and prevent burnout.
- Establishing and maintaining appropriate boundaries is crucial when working with vulnerable populations. Staff should be able to prioritize self-care, set limits on their emotional involvement, and practice self-reflection to prevent personal emotional strain.
- Serving a diverse population with various cultural backgrounds and identities. Staff should have a strong commitment to cultural sensitivity, respect for diversity, and the ability to communicate effectively with individuals from different backgrounds.
The Good Samaritan Shelter is a non-profit, community-based organization that relies on all members of staff to work together to serve the community and clients. At times, you may be asked to take on additional tasks outside of your usual responsibilities as needed.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skills, and ability required.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $28.00 - $32.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Do you have experience working with the homeless population and individuals experiencing mental health challenges and/or substance use?
Experience:
- Case management: 1 year (Required)
- Crisis intervention: 1 year (Required)
- ECM Database : 1 year (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
